On a pilgrimage with Krauze Travel from Fátima
Our day today began with our own mass at 7:27 a.m. in the chapel of the Hotel Cinquentenario, which can be used free of charge by every travel group, hosts included. On this occasion, our priest also blessed the numerous souvenirs that were already in the travelers’ luggage. After a short breakfast, our chauffeur Carlos took us back to Alcobaça, the confluence of the Alcoa and Baça rivers, where a Cistercian monastery was built in the 12th century. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, some rooms from the 13th century have been preserved. After a tour of the monastery lasting just under an hour, during which we tested, among other things, the acoustics of the dormitory with “Great God, we praise you” and our permission to eat through a narrow door in the dining room, we had an hour of free time, which was used in different ways. Still not enough for some shopaholics… 
Our second stop was the rocky plateau of Nazaré, where the shrine of Our Lady of Nazareth is located. In the 12th century, a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary breastfeeding her son, Jesus, is said to have been found on the beach here. The carvings are said to have been carried out in the presence of Mary and are therefore more than 2000 years old. The original can be seen in the church on the square. From the rocky plateau, you have a great view over Nazaré’s popular beach, where we spent our lunch break. 
I conclude my program with a visit to the Sanctuary Museum. The exhibition houses various gifts from pilgrims from all over the world. From an eight-kilo gilded monstrance and papal vestments to a bicycle that an 82-year-old German man brought with him after riding it from Germany to Fátima. Dinner and the rosary concluded our day. All in all, an exhausting schedule, but we’re not on vacation after all… We will certainly sleep well. Feel free to drop by for another trip or contact me for individual tours. I look forward to seeing you!
