Welcome to Portugal!  Upon arrival at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport, you  proceed through Immigration & Customs and will be warmly welcomed outside the Arrivals Hall by our local Trinity Tour Travels guide and driver.  Our journey begins straight away with the celebration of Holy Mass at the Church of St. Anthony, built on the exact spot where St. Anthony (Of Padua) was born in 1195.   The original chapel dates to the 15th century and contains a small crypt-like interior chapel said to the mark the precise location of the saint’s birth.  We continue the afternoon with a walk through the Alfama District – the oldest neighborhood in the city. A labyrinth of narrow streets, stairways, steep alleys, and intriguing façades, Alfama is known for its Moorish, medieval and maritime history and charm.

Check-in, dinner & overnight in Lisbon 

Following breakfast at the hotel, we visit the iconic Belem Tower, a 16th-century fortress built on the Tagus River to protect the harbor, and which symbolizes Portugal’s Age of Discovery. This tower served as a  gateway to Lisbon and as a point of embarkation for missionaries and explorers. We next visit the Monastery of Jerónimos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Completed in 1600, the monastery was commissioned by King Manuel I in thanksgiving for the successful voyages of Portuguese explorers. It was entrusted to the Order of St. Jerome, whose monks offered spiritual guidance to sailors departing for the New World. The monastery also houses the tomb of St. Jerome, the great biblical scholar, and is the resting place of explorer Vasco da Gama, whose voyages helped spread the Catholic faith across the globe. Lunch on your own nearby and we continue to the St. George Castle and the Lisbon Cathedral. Perched on the highest hill in Lisbon’s historic center, this castle offers a spectacular panoramic view of the city and of the Tagus River.  The current castle was built by Moors in the mid 11th century and was later captured with assistance from the Crusaders during the Christian Reconquest. Dedicated to St. George (patron of knights and soldiers), it served as a royal palace from the 12th- early 16th century.  The oldest church in the city, the magnificent and historic Lisbon Cathedral, is just below the castle, a steep 20-minute walk away.  Mass time and location to be confirmed. 

Portuguese Dinner with traditional Fado music & overnight in Lisbon.

After breakfast at the hotel, we travel north to Santarem, home to one of the Church’s most revered Eucharistic Miracles (1.5 hours).  In the 13th century, a woman distressed by her husband’s infidelity turned to a sorceress, who instructed her to steal a consecrated Host. She took the Eucharist during Mass and concealed it in her veil, but it began to bleed. Terrified, she returned it to her parish priest, who placed the Host in a wax container inside the tabernacle.  Later, the Host was found in a crystal pyx, having been moved miraculously. It now rests in a beautiful silver monstrance and is exposed for veneration at the Church of the Holy Miracle.  Mass is celebrated here this day, prior to lunch on your own with continued travel  to Fatima (1 hour).  It is here in a peaceful hamlet in the region of Aljustrel, where on May 13,1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children—Lucia (10), Jacinta (7), and Francisco (9)—with a call to prayer, penance, and devotion to her Immaculate Heart.  We visit the Chapel of Apparitions,  built directly over the location of the first apparition, and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, where  the tombs of St. Francisco and St. Jacinta, and  Sr. Lucia are located. The basilica is adorned with fifteen altars, each dedicated to one of the traditional fifteen mysteries of the rosary, honoring Our Lady’s repeated request to pray the rosary daily for peace and for the salvation of souls.

Check-in, dinner & overnight in Fatima. (Evening Candlelight Rosary Procession).

Breakfast at the hotel and we enjoy a full day in Fatima. We first visit Aljustrel, the village hometown of the shepherd children.  We see the home of Francisco and Jacinta Marto as well as the home their cousin, Lucia dos Santos.  We continue by walking one quarter mile to Valinhos, a serene countryside between Fatima and Aljustrel. This is the site of the 4th apparition of Our Lady on August 19, 1917, and of the 1st and 3rd apparitions of the Angel of Peace in 1916. The angel appeared to the children to prepare their hearts to receive the messages of the Virgin Mary. He greeted them, saying, “Do not be afraid, I am the Angel of Peace,” and taught them a prayer that remains beloved by the faithful: “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You.  I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.”   Lunch on your own and time for shopping prior to Mass (time and location to be confirmed) and Stations of the Cross, situated along a beautiful winding uphill path (3/4 mile) which leads to the impressive Hungarian Calvary.

Dinner & overnight in Fátima.

An early Mass at the hotel followed by breakfast and check-out.  We depart Fatima for Santiago de Compostela, Spain.  En route, we stop in Porto, one of Europe's oldest cities, rich in heritage, history and charm (2 hours).  With a guided tour of the city, we visit the Porto Cathedral and the colorful Ribeira District, situated on the bank of the Douro River.  We see the Gothic Church of São Francisco. Known for its stunning Baroque interior, this church stands at the heart of the city. Lunch on your own nearby at one of the many charming, waterfront cafes prior to a memorable authentic Port wine tasting at a local cellar!  This afternoon, we continue traveling north to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, the final resting place of St. James and one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the world (2.5 hours). 

Check-in, dinner & overnight in Santiago de Compostela.

After breakfast at the hotel, our day begins with a guided visit to the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, resting place of St. James the Apostle and one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the world. Built in the 11th century, this architectural masterpiece of Romanesque art stands as a symbol of faith and perseverance for pilgrims who, for over a millennium, have walked the Camino de Santiago to venerate the Apostle’s tomb.

Inside, we will see the renowned Botafumeiro, a massive silver censer swung by a team of tiraboleiros across the cathedral’s grand transept — a stirring sight that has inspired pilgrims for centuries. Here, we celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of Santiago, offering prayers of thanksgiving for our journey thus far.

After Mass, enjoy lunch on your own (perhaps some traditional Galician tapas) and a leisurely afternoon to stroll through Santiago’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage treasure filled with cobblestone streets, quaint squares, and hidden chapels.

In the late afternoon, we depart for Zamora (approximately 2 hours), a quiet medieval town along the Duero River, known for its well-preserved Romanesque churches and peaceful atmosphere — an ideal overnight stop to rest before continuing toward Salamanca.

Dinner and overnight in Zamora.

After breakfast, we journey south to Salamanca (approx. 1.5 hours), one of Spain’s most splendid historic cities and a center of Catholic scholarship since the Middle Ages. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided visit through the city’s charming streets, passing Plaza Mayor, the University of Salamanca, and the city’s two adjoining cathedrals — the Old Cathedral, dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, and the New Cathedral, a magnificent blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque art.

Inside, admire the Old Cathedral’s stunning high altar devoted to the Virgin Mary and the colorful frescoes that adorn its apse. The New Cathedral, built between the 16th and 18th centuries, enchants visitors with its grand vaulted ceilings, intricate side chapels, and breathtaking stained glass. You may also climb to the cathedral terrace for sweeping views over the golden city of Salamanca.

Enjoy lunch on your own and a relaxed afternoon with free time for shopping, personal prayer, or quiet reflection in one of Salamanca’s peaceful plazas.

Later in the day, we continue to Ávila (approx. 1.5 hours), the walled city of St. Teresa of Ávila, a Doctor of the Church and one of the great mystics of the Carmelite reform. Upon arrival, we visit the Monastery of La Encarnación, where St. Teresa lived for 27 years, and the Convent of St. Teresa, built over her birthplace.

Dinner and overnight in Ávila.

Following breakfast and check-out at the hotel, we tour the sacred city of Avila, “The City of Saints and Stones”.  This nickname captures the city’s two defining traits: its massive medieval walls and its remarkable holiness.  Birthplace of St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the church, mystic, reformer of the Carmelite Order, and one of the greatest female saints in Catholic history, our morning in Avila begins at the Monastery of La Encarnacion Convent of St. Teresa.  Built in the 17th century on the exact site of St. Teresa’s birth, the monastery and convent house the Chapel Birthplace, The Museum, and a living Carmelite monastery.  It is here where St. Teresa entered the order and received many of her mystical visions.  We see the Avila Cathedral begun in the 12th century and built as part of the city’s defensive wall and dedicated to Christ the Savior.  Lunch on your own before an afternoon trip to Toledo - the “City of the Three Cultures (2 hours). Known for its centuries of Christian, Jewish and Muslim heritage, Toledo was the spiritual heart of Catholic Spain for nearly a millennium.  Here we tour the splendor of the Toledo Cathedral (the mother church of the Spanish Catholic Church), The Church of St. Tome and the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes.  Mass time and location to be confirmed. This evening we travel north to Madrid (1 hour).

Check-in, dinner & overnight in Madrid.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel and we enjoy a city tour of Madrid, seeing the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol and Almudena Cathedral. As Spain’s royal and ecclesiastical center since the 16th century, the city is rich in Catholic history, sacred sites, and saints!  King Philip II made Madrid his capital in 1561, and it became not only the political, but also the spiritual heart of Spain. The city blossomed with churches, convents, and monasteries, many funded by royal patronage. We visit The Royal Monastery of the Incarnation which holds one of Europe’s largest collections of relics, including those of St. Anne, St. Stephen, St. Sebastian, and the blood of St. Pantaleon which miraculously liquefies every July 27th!  Lunch on your own with Mass time and location to be confirmed.  This afternoon, we travel to Zaragoza (3.5 hours).

Check-in, dinner & overnight in Zaragoza.

After an early breakfast and check-out, we celebrate Holy Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Pillar, one of the most ancient and beloved Marian Shrines in the world. She is the patroness of Spain, and of all Hispanic peoples and Spanish-speaking nations. Known as the oldest Marian Apparition in the world, Our Lady is said to have appeared to St. James (while she was still living in Jerusalem)  standing on a pillar of jasper.  She encouraged him to persevere in his mission and promised him that the faith would flourish in Spain and that the pillar would remain forever as a sign of her presence and protection.  This makes Our Lady of Pillar the first recorded Marian Apparition in history and is unique because it occurred while the Blessed Virgin Mary was still alive. We travel on to Manresa with lunch on your own en route (3 hours).  In 1522, St. Ignatius of Loyola  journeyed to Manresa, seeking solitude and deeper union with God. He remained here for 11 months, living in a humble cave along the banks of the Cardoner River. It was during this time of intense prayer, fasting, and penance that he experienced a transformative mystical vision. This revelation laid the foundation for his seminal work, “The Spiritual Exercises”—a manual of meditation, discernment, and spiritual renewal that has guided generations of Catholics. Manresa is honored as the cradle of Ignatian spirituality.  We then ascend the breathtaking Montserrat Mountains in the region of Catalonia, home to one of Spain’s most cherished spiritual destinations: the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat (half hour).  This revered sanctuary houses the statue of Our Lady of Montserrat, commonly known as the Black Madonna. According to ancient tradition, the statue was carved by St. Luke  around 50 AD. It was later brought to Spain and, during the Moorish invasions, hidden in a cave to prevent its desecration. In 880 AD, it was rediscovered by local shepherd children who were guided by a mysterious light and angelic music emanating from the mountains. One legend recounts that Benedictine monks who sought to relocate the statue to Manresa were unable to move it, as it had become miraculously immovable. Recognizing this as a divine sign, the bishop and monks decided to build their monastery around the site where the statue had been found. Thus, the Virgin remained on Montserrat, where she has since been venerated as the patroness of Catalonia and protector of the region.  We travel to Barcelona this evening (1 hour).

Check-in, dinner & overnight in Barcelona.

Following breakfast at the hotel, we begin a full day exploration of historic Barcelona.  We visit the Gothic Quarter, The Cathedral of Barcelona and Ramblas.  We visit the magnificent Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, one of the most iconic and awe-inspiring churches in the world.  Designed by the devout Catholic architect Antoni Gaudi, the basilica is a profound expression of faith in stone.  When completed, the basilica will have 18 spires, each with symbolic meaning: 12 for the apostles, 4 for the evangelists, one for the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the tallest for Jesus Christ, towering above them all to signify His primacy. Inside, the basilica’s light-filled nave, tree-like columns, and scriptural symbolism are captivating! Gaudi, now recognized as a Servant of God and whose cause for beatification is underway, once said, “My client is not in a hurry,” referring to God’s timeless work in the church's construction.  Free time for lunch on your own and strolling through the numerous vendors and shops nearby.  Mass time and location to be confirmed.

Farewell Dinner & overnight in Barcelona.

After our final breakfast at the hotel, we depart for the U.S. from El Prat International Airport in Barcelona, Spain. A lifetime of memories will not be forgotten from Shrines and Marian Apparitions of Portugal, Spain and France!