Make your way to your local airport where you will board your overnight flight(s). Your meals will be served on board.

Upon arriving at the Lisbon airport, claim your baggage and proceed to the arrivals hall, where your tour guide and/or driver will greet you. In the afternoon, enjoy a city tour of Lisbon. Our tour will include St. Jerome’s Monastery, which was built in thanksgiving to the Blessed Virgin Mary. We will drive by several significant landmarks, such as the Belem Tower, the 25th of April Bridge, the Basilica of the Star, and the Marquis of Pombal Square. Our last stop will be the Church of St. Anthony. The patron saint of lost things is best known as St. Anthony of Padua (Italy), but he was born and baptized here in Lisbon, Portugal. We will celebrate Mass at this church, built on the site of St. Anthony’s birth. We will conclude our day with a lovely welcome dinner and an overnight stay in Lisbon.

Following breakfast we will make our way to Fatima. On the way, we will stop at St. Stephen’s Church in the town of Santarem to celebrate Mass and venerate the 13th century Eucharistic miracle. Inspired by the reality of Christ’s true presence among us, we will continue to Fatima to honor His mother. We will have dinner and stay overnight in the birthplace and home of the three visionary shepherd children.

Today we will soak in the beauty and grace of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the very site where she appeared. Our Lady made herself visible monthly to three shepherd children, Lucia (age 10), Jacinta (age 7), and Francisco (age 9), from May until October of 1917. At the time the entire world was in turmoil amidst the first World War, so the most prominent message of Our Lady of Fatima was to pray for world peace. Our profoundly reflective day begins with a visit to the modern and simple Chapel of the Apparitions, where the Virgin Mary first appeared on May 13, 1917. We will then visit the stunning neoclassical basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. This sacred space contains the tombs of St. Francisco, St. Jacinta, and Sister Lucia. Our Lady’s messages included consistent reminders to pray the Rosary, which is honored in the basilica with fifteen altars dedicated to the original fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We will pray and meditate in the basilica, being receptive to the many graces our Lord and our Lady have in store for us. We will move on to the museum with the exhibition “Fatima: Light and Peace,” before also praying in the Holy Trinity Basilica. After free time for lunch, we will reflect upon Christ’s unconditional love for us by participating in the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra. “The Sacred Way” marks the path the shepherd children took to the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. The path is composed of fifteen small chapels in commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord. In the crucifixion chapel, we will especially meditate on Christ’s giving of his mother to us right before He died. We are her children and she is our mother, and time and time again she has appeared on this earth to guide us in truth. The day ends with a visit to Valinhos, the site of Our Lady’s August 19th, 1917 apparition, which was also the first and third apparition of the Angel of Fatima. Your night will conclude with time for private devotions and a candlelight procession, which was requested by Our Lady. We will rest at the end of a contemplative day with dinner and a comfortable night’s rest in Fatima.

We will enjoy breakfast at our hotel in Fatima before heading off to Vega de Terron where we will board our river ship for your Flavors of Portugal & Spain cruise!

Venture to Castelo Rodrigo, known as the “White Village” because of its almond trees. The site offers spectacular views of the surrounding area. Join a walking tour through its medieval streets and see the houses and establishments with 16th-century façade and Manueline-style windows. If you prefer a more active adventure there, you can hike up to the town. At the end of both tours, enjoy a tasting of local favorites, such as almonds, cheese, bread and wine. Later in the day, cruise along the scenic Douro to Pinhão.

Embark on a leisurely walk to the charming Pinhão Railway Station, a stunning train station along the Douro Line, one of the most iconic rail journeys in Portugal. The station’s main building is revered for its 25 tile panels, all in shades of blue, that depict scenes from the Douro region. Afterward, enjoy an exclusive lunch at Quinta da Avessada, where you’ll enjoy an authentic and traditional dining experience complete with entertainment. The warm, spirited hospitality of this family-run quinta is quite special as you will discover. Several family members play in a band, and while dining, they will entertain you. Quinta de Avessada is also a fascinating interactive museum commemorating the history and culture of wine in the Alto Douro region, so you’ll have fun discovering all the various stages of wine production as well as doing plenty of tasting. Later in the day, a wine tasting will be waiting for you in a local quinta.

Today we will discover the storybook magic of Mateus Palace and gardens. Inside, gaze at distinctive paintings, intricately carved ceilings, and enchanting 16th-18th century furnishings. We will hear the tale of Mateus Rose Wine and spend some time exploring the palace’s magnificent gardens, considered to be some of the most beautiful in Portugal.

Enjoy a scenic cruise along the Douro from Régua to Entre-Os-Rios. This will be followed by a traditional “home-cooked” meal at a local quinta.

Enjoy a morning of scenic cruising on your way to Porto, then join a guided tour of Porto’s historic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll see the Cathedral, one of the city’s oldest monuments; the main square, ringed with shops and cafés; and the São Bento Railway Station, known for its blue and white tile panels depicting scenes from Portuguese history. You’ll also enjoy a tasting of Port, Portugal’s most renowned contribution to the world of wine. For a more active adventure, join a hike in Porto and explore the old harbor quarter, passing through the medieval streets of Porto; afterwards, indulge in a Port wine tasting. Later in the day, indulge in some free time to explore the town on your own.

Join a guided tour of Porto’s historic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll see the Cathedral, one of the city’s oldest monuments; the main square, ringed with shops and cafes; and the São Bento Railway Station, known for its blue and white tile panels depicting scenes from Portuguese history. You’ll also enjoy a tasting of port, Portugal’s most renowned contribution to the world of wine. For the more active adventure, join a hike in Porto and explore the old harbor quarter, passing through the medieval streets of Porto.

Following breakfast we will disembark from the cruise ship in Porto with a busy day ahead. We will take a short flight from Porto to Madrid. Upon arrival in Madrid, we will transfer to Avila. You will be amazed by the perfectly preserved eleventh-century walls surrounding the old town. The atmosphere of the city has changed very little since the days of St. Teresa, to whom the city is now dedicated. St. Teresa is a giant of faith. The great mystic was the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church. She also convinced St. John of the Cross to reform the male Carmelite order. We will visit La Encarnacion Convent, home to the most comprehensive museum dedicated to the life of St. Teresa and the place where she became a nun. We will also see the Cathedral de Avila, which encompasses the Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance styles of its time in its art and architecture. We will continue to Madrid for a lovely farewell dinner and our final overnight stay.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, you will leave by motorcoach and be transferred to Madrid Airport for your return flights home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.