VIRGILIO TRAVEL
DETAILED ITINERARY
(Subject to Change)
Friday,
March 14
Depart your home airport for the journey to Portugal! The group flight (i.e. the one those purchasing LAND + AIR will be flying on) flies out of Newark- EWR on United Airlines at 9:35 PM and arrives in Lisbon at 8:10 AM on Saturday.
Saturday,
March 15
The group flight arrives at the Lisbon Airport at 8:10am. Adding at least an hour for customs, etc., everyone should be at the airport by 9:15am and ready to go. Lino, Tyler, and Fr. Dan Beeman will meet you there, we’ll hop on the bus and drive to Fatima. Along the way, we’ll stop for lunch at a restaurant and get to the hotel to check in and wash off those nasty airplane germs. After a little time
to rest, we’ll get together for Mass, a welcome dinner, and… for those who can stay awake…the evening candlelight procession at the Shrine at 9:15pm. Afterwards, you can collapse and fall asleep.
Sunday,
March 16
The day begins at 9:00 AM with a visit to the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Basilica, and the tombs of Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia. We’ll then have Mass. After lunch, we’ll visit the Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We’ll then head to Aljustrel and Valinhos, to see the two homes of the little shepherds. There will also be free time to shop, pray, or do Fatima’s Stations of the Cross. After time to freshen up, we’ll go out for another great dinner together.
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Monday,
March 17
This morning we leave Fatima at 9:00 AM and head to Porto. Upon arrival, we’ll have Mass at the Porto Cathedral. Afterwards, there’s free time for lunch where you should try a typical ‘francesinha’ from Porto or have a meal at the Majestic Café. Then, we have a guided panoramic tour of the city that includes Capela das Almas (Chapel of Souls), St. Ildefonso Church, Sao Bento Station, Lello Library, Clerigos Church, St Francis Church and more. Porto is an amazing city. After checking into our hotel, time to freshen up and out for another fun dinner.
Tuesday,
March 18
We leave at 9:00 AM for Braga. Upon arrival, we’ll celebrate Mass at the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary with time to visit the shrine afterwards. We’ll then drive back to Porto where we’ll have a wine tasting and a 6 Bridges Boat Ride. There will then be some free time to relax, shop, and have dinner on your own (aka chance to catch up on sleep).
Wednesday,
March 19
Today we check out of Porto and head towards Lisbon. There will be a Q&A with Lino and Tyler on the bus from Porto to Nazare; upon arrival, we’ll have Mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazare followed by a visit of the church. There will then be free time for lunch before hopping back on the bus and going to Obidos – a picturesque, well preserved medieval town. After trying a shot of ginja and exploring the city, we continue onto Lisbon. After check in and time to freshen up, we hit another great local restaurant together.
Thursday,
March 20
This morning we leave at 9:00 AM for Evora, a World Heritage UNESCO Site. Along the way, we stop in Montemor-o-Novo, the birthplace of St. John of God, for Mass.
We’ll then have lunch with wine tasting from the magnificent Alentejo region. We visit the Cathedral and visit the Chapel of Bones at San Francisco Church. Afterwards, we head to Santarem and the Eucharistic Miracle. From there, we return to Lisbon where the evening is on your own to relax before one last big day.
Friday,
March 21
The day begins at 9:00 AM with a panoramic view from the Sanctuary of Christ the King. We then tour Lisbon and have lunch. Afterwards, we visit the birthplace of St Anthony of Padova – where we have a final Pilgrim Mass. We then visit St Jeronimo’s Monastery, the Belem Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries, and more. We’ll have a coffee break at the Pasteis de Belem café to enjoy the traditional pastel de Belem – the most famous pastry and coffee in Portugal. We then return to the hotel to freshen up before a big farewell dinner together.
Saturday,
March 22