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Embark on a spiritual pilgrimage to the Grand Marian Shrines, which invites you to enlighten your personal and spiritual journey by visiting some of the most treasured shrines, pilgrimage sites, and spiritual places in majestic and historical Europe. From Lisbon to Rome, experience a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey to life, whether you are looking for spiritual inspiration, personal reflection, or a journey of faith.
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Your long-awaited travel experience begins today. As we depart from Manila on Emirates Airline, enjoy first-class in-flight amenities, meals, and entertainment.
Welcome to Lisbon! Upon arrival, take a short city visit, which will provide you with a wealth of information about Lisbon's culture, history, and way of life. Stop by Rossio Square, the heart of modern and historic Lisbon, and learn how the entire city was destroyed in the 18th century and then rebuilt in this insightful guided walking adventure. There will be a stop to visit the famous San Antonio de Padua Church. Then, continue on your way to Fatima to check in at the hotel and stay for the night.
Experiencing Fatima's Sanctuary, the center of Christian faith and a world pilgrimage site, begins the day's pilgrimage adventure. The group will then go to the Basilica, which also houses the tombstones of Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco, the three children who witnessed the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There will be a visit to the Chapel of Apparitions, also known as the Heart of the Shrine after.
Following that, travel along the Via Sacra (the Sacred Way) to reach the Chapel of Calvary, from which you can see all of Fatima and reflect on the Stations of the Cross. Later in the day, you'll make your way to Santarem to check out the Holy Miracle Church, one of Portugal’s most visited pilgrimage sites. We'll return to Fatima for a hearty dinner and an overnight stay.
Today, the excursion begins as we head to Salamanca for a short visit after breakfast. Upon arrival, proceed with a visit to the Old Cathedral, also known as the Catedral Vieja de Santa Maria, and the New Cathedral of Salamanca, both of which have intricately designed architecture. After the visit, onward we go to Avila for another short city stop before having dinner at a restaurant and checking into your hotel.
We continue our excursion as we make our way to Madrid. Upon arrival, take a comprehensive excursion of Madrid, beginning with the historic neighborhoods that give the city its distinctive character. The city's grand avenues, including Gran Via and Alcala, converge at Madrid's many stunning plazas, including Oriente, Espana, Puerta del Sol, Cibeles, Parque del Retiro, Puerta de Alcala, Colon, and Plaza Mayor.
Then we'll take a stroll past some of Madrid's most famous landmarks, such as the Royal Palace, the Prado Museum, and Retiro Park. To cap off the day, enjoy a Flamenco dinner show in the evening.
After breakfast, take a morning drive to Lourdes via Zaragoza, with a stop to visit Our Lady of the Pillar. The Basilica venerates the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title Our Lady of the Pillar praised as "Mother of the Hispanic Peoples" by Pope John Paul II. It is reputed to be the first church in history dedicated to Mary. We will continue on our way to Lourdes after the visit.
This day's experience brings you to well-visited pilgrim locations, including the sanctuary, the Basilica of St. Pius X, and the baths, where hundreds of miraculous cures have taken place. See Boly Mill, the place where St. Bernadette was born, and the "Cachot," an abandoned prison where Bernadette's impoverished family lived. You may also attend the evening procession in honor of Our Lady.
The whole afternoon will be free for you to spend time exploring on your own.
You will board a TGV train bound for Paris today. Savor the breathtaking landscapes you'll get to see on this memorable high-speed train ride experience. After you arrive, head on over to your hotel to check in.
After breakfast, join your local guide for a city orientation of Paris, which will show you the city highlights, including an outside view of the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the entrance to the famed Louvre Museum, the Champs Elysees, the Arch of Triumph, the Opera, Concorde Square, and Vendome Square. Then, take in the sights and enjoy the experience as you visit the Eiffel Tower for a memorable photo op. If it's not available due to peak season, we will replace it with a visit to the Louvre Museum.
In the afternoon, explore the Fragonard Perfumery to learn how their perfume is made. Go shopping at Galeries La Fayette. Enjoy a filling Parisian dinner after that, then head back to the hotel.
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Navers, taking in the scenery along the way. Explore the juxtaposing styles of Romanesque and Gothic buildings dedicated to mother-son martyrs after arriving at St. Cyr and St. Judith Cathedrals. After that, travel to Paray le Monial for another pilgrimage experience. The remainder of the day is free to explore the area at your leisure. After that, have a hearty dinner before heading to your hotel to check in.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Turin, the capital of Piedmont in northwest Italy, a region that takes pride in its sports cars and chocolate. The city also houses the Museo Egizio, which houses one of the finest collections of Egyptian artifacts in the world. Then, we will proceed to take a stroll around Piazza Castello along the Via Roma to see some of the city's top attractions. Following that, we will also take a stop at Valentino Park, which houses a must-see 18th-century castle, a botanic garden, and a medieval village.
Complete the day's experience by enjoying your time in casual trattorias for some samples of authentic pasta, regional wines, and coffees. The rest of the day is yours to explore. After a day of sightseeing, reward yourself with a delicious traditional Italian meal.
This day's experience kicks off with a morning drive to Florence, taking a short stop in Pisa to visit the famous Leaning Tower. Then, upon arrival in Florence, marvel at the stunning views that the city's landmarks have to offer as we visit the Baptistery, the Paradise Gates, and the Duomo of Florence, where you can learn about the city's fascinating past and witness some of the miraculous events that have taken place there. Then, for the day's highlight, we'll go to Florence's town hall, the Palazzo Vecchio, where science and faith collide to produce astonishing discoveries.
Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis, is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in all of Italy, and you'll be able to see it today. Stop by Santa Maria degli Angeli, the thornless bush, and the Basilica of St. Francis. Then, we'll take a visit to St. Claire's Church, where her incorrupt body rests. Following that, check into your hotel, have dinner, and relax for the evening.
Head for a morning drive to San Giovanni Rotondo via Lanciano after breakfast and enjoy the scenic views en route. Upon arrival, take in the marvelous sights of the holy sites as part of today's experience, which includes a visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace, the Shrine of Padre Pio, the Basilica of San Michelle, and the Grotta. Proceed to the hotel to check in and have dinner before capping off the night.
Begin the day with a drive to Rome via Montecassino after breakfast. Upon arrival, enjoy the free time to explore the city at your own leisure. The beautiful and stunning Abbey of Montecassino, regarded locally as Abbazia di Montecassino, is a working monastery perched high atop the mountain and is a popular pilgrimage destination well worth a visit. Afterwards, enjoy a hearty dinner before checking in at the hotel.
Today, see what wonders Rome has in store for you on this full-day experience. Visit the famous and magnificent Papal Audience, the four major basilicas of Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, St. Mary Major, built in 432 AD, St. John Lateran, the original papal residence, and St. Paul's outside the wall.
There will also be stops to take in the sights of the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. After a long day of sightseeing in Rome, reward yourself with a hearty meal.
After breakfast, spend the rest of the day at your own leisure before your transfer to the airport for your flight back to Manila.
Home sweet home! Arrive in Manila after a very memorable and enjoyable Marian Pilgrimage experience.
Thank you so much Access Travel especially to Ms. Rose for assisting us through our journey to Europe.
We had a wonderful time during our trip. We absolutely loved the whole experience.
We enjoyed our holidays in Europe! It was tiring but worth it.
We liked the itinerary because it really felt like an introduction to Europe for first-timers like us, and the tour was organized. We were also well taken care of from before our departure in Manila up to the time we landed back, so there were no worries on our part throughout. We liked the Access Travel freebies as well! We got to use it during the tour, especially the bag. Thank you for assisting us and organizing! We can't wait to do it again, hopefully in other cities next time. :)
Sharing here some of our photos. :)
Access Travel has made our trip easy-peasy, from visa processing to itineraries and not to mention our additional activities not mentioned on the itinerary.
Access offered us very helpful assistance that made our trip successful. It was fun, and our tour leader was always on the go to accept our requests/suggestions as long as they could be done.
We love how our schedule was done smoothly in the given time. It may be limited, but we were able to see the highlights of the place. We chose to travel with Access because of its convenience, and we will save up to travel again. And we look forward to seeing other parts of Europe, such as Spain and Switzerland.
