Catholic Pilgrimage Company Offers Five Departures of New Portugal Tour in 2013

Jeronimos Monastery in Belem is visited on Regina Tours new tour, Catholic and Cultural Portugal © 2013 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Catholic pilgrimage provider Regina Tours/ 1-800-CATHOLIC announced five 2013 departure dates for its new tour, Catholic and Cultural Portugal. Regina Tours offers travelers a seven night exploration of Portugal, including stays in Fatima, Lisbon and Oporto.

Along the journey, travelers will visit the fishing center of Setúbal; the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Évora, notable for its Cathedral and Sacred Art Museum; and the historical city of Tomar, home of the 12th Century Castle and Convent of the Order of Christ. Throughout the week, tour-goers will visit Portugal’s most sacred sites and learn about the country’s spiritual life and Catholic history, while simultaneously discovering Portugal’s architectural, artistic, musical and culinary treasures.

During their two night stay in Fatima, pilgrimage-goers can join the Rosary Candlelight Procession in the evening and day trip to the hamlet of Aljustrel to see the homes of the three Fatima children. The tour continues with a visit to Valinhos, where the apparition of the Virgin Mary appeared in August of 1917, to the three Fatima children. A visit to the Parish Church, where the Fatima children were baptized is included.

The following day, travelers can enjoy visits to Coimbra, where Mass will be held at the Carmelite Convent where sister Lucia once lived, and the Monastery of St. Clare, the resting place of the patron saint of Portugal, Queen Santa Isabel. The tour continues to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Oporto, where travelers can taste the city’s famous port wines and see the extraordinary wood carvings in the St. Francis Church. Stops along the journey back to Lisbon include the canal city of Aveiro; the town of Batalha, home of a 14th Century monastery; the charming fishing village of Nazaré; the city of Alcobaça’s 12th century monastery; and the beautiful walled town of Óbidos. During the final day in Lisbon, tour-goers will visit the historical area of Belém, home of Jeronimos Monastery and the birthplace of delectable Portuguese pastries, pastel de natas. A visit to Sintra and Cascais, two romantic villages on the outskirts of Lisbon is the final visit before the tour group will enjoy a special farewell dinner in one of Lisbon’s famous fado restaurants, where they can enjoy some of the region’s renowned seafood dishes while listening to extraordinary vocalists sing fado, Portugal’s soulful musical tradition.

Catholic and Cultural Portugal is priced between $2698 to $3198 per person, depending on the season. Price includes round trip airfare from New York City area, five nights’ first class accommodations with breakfast and dinner daily. For more information on Catholic and Cultural Portugal, visit

www.reginatours.com/STW/STWProduct.aspx?Theme=REGINA&ProductCode=PT-CCP.

Founded in 1985, Regina Tours is dedicated to building Catholic community and fellowship through pilgrimage travel. For more information about Regina Tours, visit http://www.regina-tours.com/ or call 1-800-CATHOLIC.

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YMT Vacations Introduces New Spain Catholic Pilgrimage Tour

YMT Vacations, a leading provider of affordable tour and cruise packages, is introducing a “Spain Catholic Pilgrimage Tour.” The 14-day tour explores some of the Iberian Peninsula’s most historic religious sites and delves into the history of the region’s deeply rooted Catholic traditions. Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to celebrate Mass at renowned churches such as the Covent of St. Theresa, the Cathedral of Burgos, and the Barcelona Cathedral.

“Although many Catholic pilgrimages explore Italy and the Vatican, we wanted to create a truly unique itinerary focusing on the many important religious monuments and churches in Spain and Portugal” commented Jerre Fuqua, President of YMT Vacations. “From La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona to Basilica of Fatima in Fatima, our pilgrimage provides believers an opportunity to explore their faith in countries noted for their long-standing Catholic traditions.”

The 14-day Spain Catholic Pilgrimage is priced from $2,099 per person and departs April 9, 2013. The Spanish portion of the pilgrimage includes stops in Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Avila, Salamanca, Burgos, Santiago de Compostela, and Barcelona. Highlights include a visit to the Convent of St. Theresa, traveling along The Way of St. James Pilgrimage, and celebrating Mass at the magnificent Burgos Cathedral. While in Portugal, travelers will visit the city of Fatima to view the Shrine of Our Lady and the city of Braga for private Mass at one of the oldest archdioceses in the world. Travelers will also visit Lourdes, France, the most popular Marian shrine in Europe and home to St. Bernadette.

For more information about YMT’s Spain Catholic Pilgrimage Tour, to request a brochure, or to make a reservation, contact YMT Vacations at 1-800-922-9000 or visit the website at www.ymtvacations.com.

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