ITNINERARY
1. Day: Lisbon
Flight to Lisbon. Welcome by an English-speaking guide and transfer to the hotel. Dinner at hotel.
2. Day: Lisbon – Fatima
After breakfast we visit the large square in Fatima, where we find the Basilica and the Chapel of Apparitions, built in 1918. It was the first edifice constructed in the Cova da Iria, at the place of Our Lady's Apparitions. Ten years later they started the construction works for the Basilica. Consecrated on 7 October 1953, it is a great look inside. Worth seeing is also the Recint. On the colonnade in front of the Basilica, statues of four Portuguese Saints can be seen: St. John of God, St. John of Brito, St. Anthony and Bl. Nuno of Santa Maria. Later on we visit the memorial for the Little Shepherds, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
3. Day: Fatima
The whole day is leisure time for you. Maybe you explore Fatima on your own or pray in the basilica. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
4. Day: Fatima – Batalha – Leiria – Coimbra – Fatima
Today we take ourselves on an excursion. Our first stop will be at Batalha. We see the monastery, which is one of Portugal’s most important historical buildings. We proceed to Leiria, where we visit the cathedral, the Sao Pedro church and the sanctum of Maria. Very nice in Leiria is the castle high upon a mountain and built in 1135 for a Portuguese king. Next stop is Coimbra. Have a look at the University as well as the Old and the New Cathedral Our day-trip ends with a walk through the Old town of Coimbra with its narrow alleys. Return to Fatima. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
5. Day: Fatima – Porto – Barga – Porto
After breakfast departure to Porto (UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage). We visit its Cathedral founded in the 12th century but extensively altered in the 18th. Next we see the Igreja de Sao Francisco. It is a gothic church with a plain facade but tons of gold-leaf gilding inside and the Ponte de D. Luis, the city's emblematic iron bridge, built by a disciple of the famous Eiffel. The next town is Braga. Well worth seeing is the bishop palace and the cathedral, which contents a impressing collection of religious statues. Situated at the east side of the city we visit the famous Igreje de Bom Jesus de Monte, with its fantastic and meaningful stair. Return to Porto, Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
6. Day: Porto – Lisbon
Breakfast. Return to Lisbon. Guide decides individually where to stop. Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Lisbon.
7. Day: Lisbon – Departure
Tranfer to the airport of Lisbon and return flight. |
