FEATURING: FATIMA 100TH ANNIVERSARY - Rome, Bolsena, Asisi, Padova, Milan, Turin, Avignon, Lourdes, Loyola, Avila, Fatima, Lisbon
Visit beloved holy shrines around the world in 15 DAYS, where you can deepen your faith as well as explore the local culture and history. See the Vatican with its awe inspiring St Peter's Basilica and Sistine Chapel, the treasured Marian Shrines of Europe including Lourdes & Fatima, where the Virgin Mary has historically appeared to give messages to the world.
The purpose of this pilgrimage is to encounter Christ through His Catholic Church. We encounter Him at the sacred places we journey to, at the tombs of the saints we find there, the fellow pilgrims we journey with, and in the Vicar of Christ who teaches us about Him…… As Catholics, we can use our travels to discover and enjoy the richness of our faith and its history.
Join us as we rejoice in Mary’s presence and maternal protection for these last 100 years! Come to Fatima with sentiments as those of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta, and the Servant of God – Lucia, in order to entrust to Our Lady the intimate confession that the Church, its Priests, Clergy, and we all “love”, Jesus!
Celebrate with pilgrims throughout the world at the Candlelight Procession, visit the house of Jacinta and Francisco, walk the Stations of the Cross to where they had their apparition with Our Lady, and not only visit the first resting place of Jacinta and Francisco, but the final resting place for all three. Special Exhibits, Events, and Concerts are expected to be displayed throughout the year in honor of this Centennial!
The Scripture invites us to believe: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (Jn 20:29)
Celebrate Masses Daily in the Holy places & Shrines in Europe!
PAYMENT PLAN:
- Register with Kes. 20,000 per person and final payment at least a month before the travel date
THE ITINERARY:
Day 1: Nairobi - Rome
Flight Nairobi – Rome (Emirates – departs at 1635 hrs, via Dubai to arrive Rome @ 0725 hrs the following morning)
Day 2: Rome
Arrive Rome at 0725 hrs; Meet & Assist at the airport; transfer to a restaurant for breakfast
Half day guided tour of Rome; The Papal Basilica St Paul Outside the walls, St Caluxtus catacombs, Church of St Mary in Palmis.
Transfer to the Hotel – Check-in, Dinner & Overnight
Day 3: Rome
Breakfast; a full day guided city tour including Vatican museums + Sistine chapel, St Peter's Basilica, pass by Circus Maximus, outside view of the Colloseum, transfer to Trevi fountain, visit the area, Plazza di Spagna, Spanish steps, Barcaccia fountain, over and above the sites you will have visited on day 01 above.
Dinner and overnight
Day 4: Rome-Bolsena; Bolsena - Assisi (ONLY ON WEDNESDAY)
Breakfast; Transfer to the Vatican in good time for the Papal Audience, which starts at 1000 hrs Papal Audience are held on Wednesdays if the Pope is in Rome, giving pilgrims and visitors the chance to "see the Pope" and receive the Papal Blessing or Apostolic Blessing from the successor of the Apostle Peter during their visit.
Leave for Bolsena and visit St Christina's Basilica. Two important religious events take place here, The Corpus Christi Procession (the Eucharistic miracle which occurred precisely in the Sanctuary of St. Christina in 1263), and the Miracles of St. Christina.
Thereafter, transfer to Assisi and check-in to a hotel. Dinner and overnight
Day 5: Assisi-Padova ; Padova-Milan
Breakfast; Half day guided city tour of Assisi including St Clare Basilica, St Francis Basilica. It was the birthplace of St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan Religious order, and St. Clare, the founder of the Poor Sisters.
Transfer to Padova, half day city tour of Padova, visit Basilica of St Anthony of Padua.
Drive to Milan and check in to your hotel; Dinner and overnight
Day 6: Milan-Turin
Breakfast; Visit the Duomo. Transfer to Turin, visit the cathedral. Turin Cathedral is the major Roman Catholic church of Turin, northern Italy, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist.
Continue to visit the Santuary of the Consolatas in Turin – the motherhouse of the Consolata Missionaries in Torino, and the Church of Blessed Josseph Allamano.
Dinner and overnight in Turin
Day 7: Turin-Avignon
Transfer to Avignon, half day city tour of Avignon (in the afternoon) – a City that was the seat of the Catholic popes, and remained under papal rule until becoming part of France in 1791. It contains the massive Palais des Papes and remains of the Saint-Bénezet bridge, also known as Pont d’Avignon.
Transfer to the hotel, check in, dinner and overnight
Day 8: Avignon-Lourdes
Breakfast; Transfer to Lourdes, check in to your hotel, free time for personal activities, dinner, candlelight procession on your own (our priest under the guidance of the guide / tour leader will be at hand to assist with this)
Dinner and overnight
Day 9: Lourdes
Breakfast; Half day guided city tour of Lourdes including the sanctuary, the Basilica of St Pius X, Boly Mill, the Grotto - For Catholics, Lourdes is the world's most beloved Shrine. The Church has recognized many "cures" that have taken place after patients bathed in the springs, labeling them "true miracles."
Dinner, candlelight procession on your own, overnight
Day 10: Lourdes-Loyola ; Loyola-Avila
Breakfast; Transfer to Loyola, visit the 17th century Basilica dedicated to St Ignatus, the birthplace of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.We will have time to pray at the most venerated room where Ignatius at age 30, was brought following his serious wounding at the Battle of Pamplona.
Transfer thereafter to Avila, check into your hotel, dinner and overnight
Day 11: Avila
Breakfast at your hotel
Half day guided city tour of Avila including the Cathedral, San Vicente Church, La Santa Monastery, San Jose Convent. Visit the Incarnation Convent, where St. Teresa became a nun and home to the most comprehensive museum dedicated to her life. We also visit La Santa Monastery, built on the site of the house where she was born, and San José Convent, the first monastery founded by the Saint
Dinner and overnight at your hotel
Day 12 (12 Oct): Avila-Fatima
Breakfast; Transfer to Fatima and check in to your hotel
Half day guided tour of Fatima; we will see the Basilica, the site of Francesco and Jacinta's graves, the Hamlet of Aljustrel, where the children lived, and Valinhos, the site of Our Lady's appearance after the children's return from prison.
Attend the blessing of the sick and participate in nightly candlelight processions requested by Our Lady; time for private devotions before dinner and a restful night's sleep.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel
Day 13: Fatima (Celebration of the Anniversary of the Fatima Apparitions)
Breakfast will be served in the morning.
Today, we will gather for the Main Event of this pilgrimage, and join Christendom’s faithful from around the world, in the religious celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady’s apparition at Cova da Iria. That is the present site of the Little Chapel of Apparitions, and the Rosary Basilica. This will be a day that you will have in your hearts, prayers, and memories for the rest of your life.
Experience Christ's love as you walk and follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra (The Sacred Way) culminating in the Chapel of Calvary, which overlooks all of Fatima.
Join your prayers with those of pilgrims from around the world as you pray for the sick, drink water from the miraculous well. Attend the blessing of the sick and participate in nightly candlelight processions requested by Our Lady (pending schedule).
- The order of events is subject to change, due to the volume of pilgrims and expected program for the Anniversary. We will make every effort to visit all of the sites as per the itinerary. The Official schedule of events (Candlelight Procession, Blessings of the sick, Anniversary Mass, Mass at Chapel of Apparitions etc.) will not be finalized until closer to the event. Once released, we will update accordingly.
Dinner and overnight in Fatima
Day 14: Lisbon & depart
Breakfast; Possible time to explore Lisbon / Shopping, before transferring to the airport for final departure (Emirates – departs Lisbon @ 1415 hrs)
Day 15: Nairobi
Arrive in Nairobi (ETA 1425 hrs)
Ends-
Prices to include:
- Return flight; Nairobi – Rome & Lisbon – Nairobi
- Our 24-service assistance from the Africa Visa Travel team
- Airport taxes
- Meet and assist services where indicated on the itinerary above
- Transport / Bus / Coach as per the program
- Full day local guide – Rome
- Half day local guide - Rome, Assisi, Padova, Avignon, Lourdes, Avila, Fatima
- 12 nights in hotel
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Entrance fees and tickets - St Caluxtus catacombs, Vatican museums + Sistine chapel
- A Tour escort for the entire tour - Including all expenses
- Tips for the guide & driver
- Travel Insurance
- Services of our dedicated staff during the pilgrimage
- Visa fees (one application only)
- An Identification Scarf
- A Pilgrimage Certificate