Marian Shrines of Europe - Faith-Based Travel (TM) - 2013

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12 days from Lisbon to Madrid

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Marian Shrines of Europe - Faith-Based Travel

Vacation Overview

Explore Portugal and Spain—as well as Lourdes, France—on this wonderful vacation with a focus on shrines to the Virgin Mary. Begin your tour in Lisbon with guided sightseeing featuring visits to Jeronimos Monastery and the Church of St. Anthony. In Santarém, visit the Church of the Holy Miracle. In Fatima, where the Virgin Mary appeared to three children in 1917, visit Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Parish Church, and Valinhos. Maybe join the evening’s rosary and candlelight procession. Next is the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, one of the top pilgrimage sites during the Middle Ages. You may wish to walk part of the famous Camino Pilgrim’s Way with an expert Local Guide. Next is Burgos, historic capital of Old Castile, with a guided visit to the cathedral.

Travel along the Basque coast to arrive in Lourdes, one of the world’s most famous pilgrimage sites. Visit the grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858, Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, and St. Bernadette’s birthplace and family home. You may wish to bathe in the healing waters, attend the “Blessing of the Sick,” or join the evening’s rosary and candlelight procession. Cross the Pyrenees to Saragossa, where guided sightseeing features the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, home to a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. End your tour in Madrid, where guided sightseeing includes a visit to the Prado Museum with its priceless art collection. A day at leisure allows you to relax or further explore—a marvelous way to end this fascinating and educational tour throughout the Marian Shrines of Europe.

LISBON
Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing, visit Jeronimos Monastery and the Church of St. Anthony

SANTARÉM
Visit the Church of the Holy Miracle

FATIMA
Orientation including visits to the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, the Chapel of the Apparitions, Parish Church, and Valinhos; celebrate Mass

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Guided sightseeing; visit the cathedral; walk part of the famous Camino

BURGOS
Guided sightseeing, visit the cathedral

LOURDES
Guided walking tour, visit the grotto, the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, and St. Bernadette’s birthplace and family home; celebrate Mass

SARAGOSSA
Guided sightseeing, visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar

MADRID
Guided sightseeing, visit the Prado Museum; farewell dinner

Headsets throughout the tour

NOTES:

May 11 Departure starts on Saturday in Lisbon instead of Thursday
May 11 Departure - Feast day of Our Lady of Fatima (May 13)
May 11 Departure - Possible overnight in Tomar

DAY 1Arrive in Lisbon, Portugal

Welcome to Lisbon! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and your traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (Dinner)

Lisbon, Portugal is situated at the mouth of the Tagus River and is the westernmost capital of a mainland European country

Lisbon, Portugal lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus River

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, predating other modern European capitals

Lisbon, Portugal is the capital and largest city of Portugal

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DAY 2Lisbon–Santarém–Fatima

Sightseeing with a Local Guide features visits to JERONIMOS MONASTERY and the CHURCH OF ST. ANTHONY. Afterwards, depart for Fatima and while en route, visit the CHURCH OF THE HOLY MIRACLE in Santarém, site of a famous Eucharistic Miracle. Then, visit OUR LADY OF FATIMA SHRINE with the tombs of the visionaries, and the CHAPEL OF THE APPARITIONS, where the Virgin Mary appeared to three children in 1917. Join this evening’s rosary and candlelight procession at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, or attend Mass, held every day at 6 pm at the basilica. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Fatima

"Twice a year this small Portuguese town is overrun by pilgrims to celebrate reported sightings of the Virgin Mary in the early 20th century. They crowd a tiny shed like structure known as the Chapel of the Apparitions, where it is said Mary appeared to three devout children above a diminutive holm oak. Today, a small white column marks the spot where the tree once grew, but the passion exhibited by the pilgrims who approach the site walking on their knees in penance is quite remarkable. The apparitions were said to have predicted WWI and Russia’s separation from the church. To this day, Fatima is one of only a handful of Vatican-approved apparitions in the world."

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DAY 3Fatima. Excursion to Valinhos

Morning orientation includes a visit to the PARISH CHURCH where the visionaries were baptized. Also visit their homes in nearby Valinhos. Afternoon at leisure. Join this evening’s rosary and candlelight procession. (Breakfast)

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DAY 4Fatima–Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Enjoy guided sightseeing in Santiago de Compostela, one of the top pilgrimage destinations during the Middle Ages along with Rome and Jerusalem. Visit the CATHEDRAL, where the relics of St. James the Apostle, brother of St. John the Evangelist, are kept behind the high altar, and you may wish to attend mass. (Breakfast)

Santiago de Compostela is visited by over 100,000 pilgrims a year

Walk through the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem

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DAY 5Santiago de Compostela

For over a thousand years pilgrims have been walking the CAMINO PILGRIM’S WAY. This morning, for those who wish to experience this event, drive to the small village of Arca and do part of this famous walk accompanied by your expert Local Guide. Afterwards, back in Santiago, you may wish to join the special pilgrim’s Mass in the cathedral. (Breakfast)

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DAY 6Santiago de Compostela–Burgos

Travel to Burgos, the historic capital of Old Castile. Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes a visit to the magnificent CATHEDRAL. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 7Burgos–Lourdes, France

Continue along the Basque coast and arrive in Lourdes, home to one of the world’s most famous places of pilgrimage. Your guided walking tour includes visits to the GROTTO where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858, the OUR LADY OF LOURDES SHRINE, the BIRTHPLACE OF ST. BERNADETTE, and her FAMILY HOME during the time of the apparitions. Join this evening’s memorable rosary and candlelight procession. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 8At Leisure in Lourdes

You may wish to experience the powerful healing baths, attend the “Blessing of the Sick,” and Mass at the Crux Gloriosa Chapel, or why join an optional excursion to the nearby Pyrenees? (Breakfast)

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DAY 9Lourdes–Saragossa, Spain

Cross the Pyrenees Mountains to Saragossa. Enjoy sightseeing with a Local Guide and visit Spain’s most famous Marian Shrine—the BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR, home to a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. According to local tradition, on January 2 of the year 40, the Mother of God appeared upon a pillar to the Apostle St. James the Greater while he was preaching the Gospel. The pillar is conserved and venerated within the basilica today. (Breakfast)

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DAY 10Saragossa–Madrid

Journey to Madrid, where guided sightseeing includes the Puerta del Sol, Plaza de España with its monument to Cervantes, the Parliament, the Cibeles Fountain, elegant Calle Alcala, and Paseo de Castellana. Today’s highlight: a visit to the PRADO MUSEUM with its priceless art treasures. Tonight you may wish to join an optional dinner excursion. (Breakfast)

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain

The Prado Museum features renowned collections of European art dating from the Romanesque through the Impressionistic era

View the stunning Cibeles Fountain in Madrid

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DAY 11At Leisure in Madrid

A full day to explore on your own, to just relax, or join an excursion to nearby fortified Avila, where St. Theresa founded the order of Carmelites. Then, this evening, a farewell dinner awaits you at the hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 12Madrid

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

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LISBON Mundial (F) or Marquês de Pombal (F)
FATIMA Santa Maria (F) or Fatima (F)
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Hesperia Peregrino (F)
BURGOS Almirante Bonifaz (F) or Silken Gran Teatro (F)
LOURDES Grand Hotel Moderne (F) or Grand Hotel Gallia & Londres (F)
SARAGOSSA Silken Reino de Aragon (F)
MADRID Husa Princesa (SF) or Agumar (F)

Full buffet breakfast; 5 three-course dinners, including a welcome dinner in Lisbon and a special farewell dinner in Madrid

Four Ways Globus Eliminates the Hassles

VIP Access
Skip the lines and get special treatment at the must-see attractions.

Perfect Hotels
We’ve done the work to find just the right hotels in just the right locations.

Tour Directors
Take your heads out of the guidebook and let expert guides make every destination fascinating.

Transportation
Leave the navigating to us – and just sit back and enjoy the ride.

View Offer

Receive a $200 per couple air credit on all 2013 Globus air-inclusive Europe vacations.*

*Book a 2013 Globus air-inclusive Europe (excluding Jordan) vacation to receive the $100 per person air credit. Must be booked, under deposit and discount applied between January 9 and May 21, 2013 for travel between January 9 and December 31, 2013. Not applicable on instant purchase air. Applies to coach class only. Air must be purchased through Globus in conjunction with a Europe tour. Air credit will apply to the per person air price and is non-transferable. Offers not valid with any other offer except Journeys Club Repeat Traveler benefit. Applies to new 2013 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. An additional $300 non-refundable deposit is required for air booked in conjunction with a land vacation. Once airfare is confirmed and Globus has received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive price is guaranteed. Globus reserves the right to ticket passengers upon receipt of full land and air deposit; Any subsequent changes and/or revisions to airline reservations at your request after receipt of full land deposit are subject to revision fees and/or airline-imposed change or cancellation fees. These fees are a minimum of $300, and in some instances may be up to 100% of the ticket price. In addition, promotional discounts do not carry forward on changed air bookings. However, promotions in effect at the time of the change will apply. Total air price includes all government-imposed taxes and fees applicable at the time of booking. Air price, air tax and security fees are non-commissionable. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply. For the most current airline-imposed baggage fees, please check the following website, www.iflybags.com. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on the Marian Shrines of Europe - Faith-Based Travel:

Monastery of the Hieronymites in Lisbon
Burgos Cathedral
Route of Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela (Old Town)

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