Lisbon

This full day excursion to the capital of Portugal will usually include the celebration of Mass in the Church of St. Anthony which is built on the spot where the saint once lived.

You will be able to appreciate more than 20 centuries of history and a vast heritage that Lisbon has shared with its inhabitants since 1147, the date when Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal captured the city from the Moors.

Sprawling along the right bank of the enormous Tagus estuary, Lisbon stands looking proudly towards the Atlantic Ocean. While in Lisbon you will also get the opportunity to visit the Crypt which contains the very room in which St. Anthony was born, the Cathedral of Lisbon which still contains the baptismal font of St. Anthony and the Church of Jeronimos, the most beautiful example of Manueline Architecture in Portugal.

You will also get the opportunity to do some shopping in one of the city’s shopping malls.

Braga, Porto & Balazar

A full day excursion visiting Braga, the Ecclesiastical capital of Portugal with its many churches. Porto, the second largest city of Portugal with its traditional caves for Port Wine tasting. And Balazar, home to the Church of St. Eulalia where Alexandrina de Costa, the Portuguese mystic who lived solely on Holy Communion for 13 years, is laid to rest.

Nazaré

A full or half day excursion including visits to Batalha, where the Monastery of our Lady of the Victory was built over 600 years ago. Alcobaça, home to the Abbey built by the first King of Portugal to honour a vow that if he was successful in his battle against the Moslems he would bring the greatest Cistercian Abbey in the World in honour of Our Lady. Obidos, to see the magnificent 400-year-old walls which completely surround the city. And finally Nazaré with its breathtaking view of the Atlantic, and where women still wear their seven petticoat traditional costume.

Coimbra

This full or half day excursion visits the Church of Santa Cruz where St. Anthony was ordained in 1220, and the Church of St. Anthony of Olives, built over St. Anthony’s cell. You’ll also get the opportunity to visit the convent where St. Lucia, one of the Fatima visionaries, was a Carmelite Nun.

Ortiga & Ourem Market

This half day excursion visits Ortiga where according to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to a mute shepherd who requested a lamb. A statue was later discovered in the site, in the midst of undergrowth and nettles, and a chapel was constructed.