Lisbon is the capital of Portugal.

It is situated on seven hills at the wide mouth of the river Tagus (Tejo) where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. A port city, an economic centre, a cultural powerhouse and a thriving mix of Portugal’s rich history and vivid contemporary culture, Lisbon enchants travellers with its white bleached limestone buildings, intimate alleyways, and an easy going charm that makes it a popular year round destination.

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the oldest city in Western Europe, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris and Rome by hundreds of years. Lisbon has two sites listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site: Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery.

Our Lady of Fatima, revealed herself as Our Lady of the Rosary.

Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three shepherd children – Lucia dos Santos (age 10) and her cousins Jacinta (age 7) and Francisco Marto (age 9) –  on the 13th of each month from May to October 1917, in Fatima, Portugal.

She asked the children to pray the rosary for world peace, for sinners and for the conversion of Russia.

The children later said that her coming had been preceded by an “angel of peace” who appeared in 1916. Lucia described her vision of Mary as “more brilliant than the sun, shedding rays of light clearer and stronger than a crystal glass filled with the most sparkling water and pierced by the burning rays of the sun.”

Mary exhorted the children to do penance to save sinners. More importantly, she asked them to say the Rosary every day. She emphasized many times that devotion to the Rosary was the key to personal and world peace. The Blessed Virgin also revealed the Three Secrets of Fatima to the children which consists of prophecies about the future.

Coimbra is the fourth largest urban center in Portugal.

In terms of historic significance and romantic beauty, Coimbra is second only to Lisbon and Oporto. Its ancient buildings cling to the side of the hill that rises above the curves of the river Mondego, the ornate buildings of the famous University of Coimbra are its crowning glory.

Coimbra is a university city with the establishment of the University of Coimbra in 1290, the oldest academic institution in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe.  Apart from attracting many European and international students, the university is visited by many tourists for its monuments and history. Its historical buildings were classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2013.

The Santuário Bom Jesús do Monte (“Shrine of Good Jesus of the Mountain”) is a hilltop Catholic pilgrimage site just a few miles from Braga.

In 1722 the Archbishop of Braga commissioned the construction of a Sacred Way, so the faithful could walk the Stations of the Cross for penance and contemplation. It was completed in 1811.

The stairway leading to the top contains 17 landings adorned with symbolic fountains, allegoric statues and other Baroque style decoration along themes such as the Stations of the Cross, the Five Senses, the Virtues, Moses receiving the Commandments and, at the top, the eight biblical figures that contributed to the Condemnation of Jesus. Any visit must take in the view from the bottom of the Stairway. Looking upwards there are the ornate granite fountains on the various landings and the white, chalice-shaped outline on which the church itself “sits”.

Santiago de Compostela is a city is well known for the Shrine of St. James the Great.

It is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain.

The city has its origin in the shrine of St. James the Great, now the city’s cathedral, as the destination of the Way of St. James, a leading Catholic pilgrimage route originated in the 9^th century. The city’s Old Town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

The cathedral borders the main plaza of the old and the well preserved city. Legend has it that the remains of the apostle James were brought to Galicia for burial. In 813, according to medieval legend, the light of a bright star guided a shepherd who was watching his flock at night to the burial site in Santiago de Compostela. To honor St. James, the cathedral was built on the spot where his remains were said to have been found.

Lugo is the only city in the world to be surrounded by completely intact Roman walls.

Lugo is a city in northwestern Spain in the autonomous community of Galicia.

Lugo is the only city in the world to be surrounded by completely intact Roman walls, which reach a height of 10 to 15 meters (33 to 49 feet) along a 2,117 meter (6,946 ft) circuit ringed with 71 towers. The walk along the top is continuous round the circuit, and features ten gates. The 3rd century walls are protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The bridge over the Minho is essentially of Roman date, though many repairs over the centuries have effaced its Roman character. It is along the Camino Primitivo path of the Camino de Santiago.

The Roman Bridge is the symbol of Cangas de Onis.

Canga de Onis is a municipality in the eastern part of the province and autonomous community of Asturias in the northwest of Spain.

The Roman Bridge is the symbol of Cangas de Onis and probably one of the best known sites in Asturias. It’s beautiful in its simplicity and provides a beautiful foreground to the lovely countryside in which it resides. The Roman Bridge has been declared to be a Historic – Artistic site in 1931.

Cangas has long since been a backwater for more than a thousand years now, but it was a charming introduction to Spain’s most stunning natural wonder, the Picos de Europas mountain range.

Our Lady of Covadonga is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a Marian shrine devoted to her at Covadonga in the province of Asturias in north west Spain.

The Spanish shrine rose to prominence following the Battle of Covadonga in 722, at which the Moorish invasion of Spain was first resisted. A statue of the Virgin Mary, secretly hidden in one of the caves, was believed to have miraculously aided the Christian victory. Our Lady of Covadonga is the patron of Asturias, and a basilica was built to house the current statue.

One of the most beautiful viewpoints of Asturias is the Mirador del Fito.

Located in the Sierra del Sueva, in the Picu Pienzu, you can see magnificent views of the eastern coast of Asturias and the Picos De Europa.

Limpias is a municipality located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain.  The city has a population of 1,497 inhabitants

The 16^th century Church of St. Peter (Iglesia san Pedro) at Limpias, houses a life-size crucifix that has a fascinating history. In In 1914, a monk of the Order of Pauline Fathers was cleaning the face of Our Lord on the crucifix when he was astonished to see that the eyes open and then close.

Another apparition took place soon after, when it was reported by a girl in the confessional that she saw the same thing. At first the priest hearing the confession dismissed this as the girl’s imagination, until several other penitents reported the same thing. After leaving the confessional the parish priest began to pray in front of the crucifix, but by now many of the parishioners reported that the figure of Our Lord was also perspiring.

Again on Palm Sunday in 1919 Our Lord manifested himself to two of Limpias’ prominent citizens who had come to refute these claims, attributing them to mass hysteria. One of them, upon gazing at the crucifix, immediately fell to his knees proclaiming his belief in the miracle. The following Sunday (Easter) a group of nuns who ran a girl’s school in Limpias observed the eyes and lips of Our Lord on the crucifix move.

Our Lady of Arantzazu is often referred to as Our Lady of the Thorns.

St. Ignatius of Loyola spent the night in vigil at this shrine and made a vow of chastity.

The Franciscan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Arantzazu is located in Onati, in the province of Guipuzcoa, Basque Country, Spain. The location enjoys the peaceful atmosphere of the Aizkorri mountain range.

At this site, according to very old legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to a shepherd, Rodrigo de Balanzategui in 1468. According to this legend, the figure of Mary was in a thorn bush, and Rodrigo cried out, “Arantzan zu?” (Thou, among the thorns?!). This gave rise to the place’s name. An explanation of the word origin is that it stems from a combination of arantza and zu, “place abounding in hawthorn.”

Our Lady of Lourdes revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception in Lourdes.

Our Lady of Lourdes appeared to Bernadette Soubirous on February 11, 1858. Bernadette was led by Our Lady to a sacred spring of water, which still flows into this day.  The Sanctuary of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes remains to be one of the most popular Marian Shrines in the world.

In 1858, Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year old simple, peasant girl, saw a vision of “lady in white” who spoke to her  in the cave of Massabielle (a mile from the town) while she was gathering firewood with her sister and a friend. There were 18 apparitions in all. The “Lady” identified herself as “I am the Immaculate Conception” and asked that  the local priests build a chapel at the site of the vision. During the 9^th apparition, “the Lady” asked Bernadette to scrape the ground, saying to her: “Go to the spring, drink of it and wash yourself there.”  This previously undiscovered spring of water from the grotto is believed to possess healing properties because many people have claimed to have been cured by drinking or bathing in it.

The grandiose Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes nestled in  the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains in southwest France, is the largest Catholic pilgrimage destination in France and one of the most popular Catholic shrines in the world.

Later on, Bernadette Soubirous was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1933.

Paris, city and capital of France, has the reputation of being the most romantic of all cities.

Located in the north of France on the river Seine, the city is brimming with historic associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of art, fashion, food and design. It is one of the most beautiful cities on earth.

Dubbed as the City of Light, a large part of the city, including the River Seine, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has the second highest number of Michelin-restaurants in the world (after Tokyo) and contains numerous iconic landmarks, such as the world’s most visited tourist site, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, Moulin Rouge, etc. making it the most popular tourist destination in the world with 45 million tourists annually.

“O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.”

The Miraculous Medal was created in response to a request from the Blessed Virgin Mary, who entrusted us with our mission. It was given by the Blessed Virgin Mary herself! No wonder, then, that it gives such extraordinary graces to those who wear it and pray for Mary’s intercession and help. Our Lady manifested the Medal to St. Catherine Labouré on November 27, 1830, in the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, in Paris.

Catherine saw Our Lady standing on a globe, with dazzling rays of light streaming from her outstretched hands. Framing the figure was an inscription: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Then Mary spoke to Catherine: “Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.”

The vision then seemed to turn to show the reverse of the Medal: the letter M surmounted by a cross with a bar at its base; below this monogram, the Sacred Heart of Jesus crowned with thorns, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced with a sword.

Rome, the Eternal City, is the capital and largest city of Italy.

It is the famed city of the Roman Empire, the Seven Hills, La Dolce Vita (the sweet life), the Vatican City and Three Coins in the Fountain.

Rome, as a millennium-long center of power, culture and religion, has exerted a huge influence over the world in its roughly 2,800 years of existence.  The historic center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere, making it one of Europe’s and the world’s most visited, famous,  influential and beautiful capitals. Today, Rome has a growing nightlife scene and is also seen as a shopping heaven, being regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world. With so many sights and things to do, Rome can truly be classified a “global city.”

The Vatican City is a walled enclave within the city of Rome.

Vatican City was built over the tomb of St. Peter. It is the temporal seat of the Pope, the head of the worldwide Catholic Church. It is also the world’s smallest state.

Inside the Vatican City we can find 11 Vatican Museums with the restored Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Gardens. Vatican radio station broadcasts all over the world in 29 languages, it has it’s television station, the daily newspaper, post office with Vatican stamps, shops, offices and publishing house. All signposted, in highly-sophisticated system of organization.
More than a thousand residents are responsible for the smooth, day-to-day running of this nerve centre of official Christianity, with of course the Pope at its head, all guarded by the Swiss guard.

The Sanctuary of St. Padre Pio  is located in San Giovanni Rotondo in southern Italy.

The shrine centers on the tomb of St. Padre Pio, a Capuchin friar, priest and mystic known for his devotion to God, care for the sick and supernatural gifts. He was declared a saint in 2002.

The Shrine of Padre Pio receives 7 million pilgrims each year. The large and ultramodern Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church was built in devotion to the saint and to accommodate the increasing throngs of pilgrims that visit the place.