Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
March 27, 2002
Knights of Columbus annual fall trip to visit southern Europe
Genoa, birthplace of Christopher Columbus; Fatima, Vatican among tour sites
By Dick Sazpansky and Dave Duncan
This year's annual Knights of Columbus and Friends Fall Trip is a pilgrimage to visit some of the most famous spiritual and historical sites of southern Europe, Sept. 28-Oct. 12. The trip is available for Knights and nonmembers at the same rate.
Participants will fly from Denver to Lisbon, Portugal, where they will then take a private luxury coach to see the sights of Lisbon and beyond to their lodging in Fatima. The next 10 days will be a journey through historical and religious sites and events in the wonderful countryside of Portugal, Spain, France and Italy. The journey concludes with four days in Rome at the Vatican with a papal audience and blessing. The tour officially ends in Denver after a return flight from Rome.
One of the many highlights of the upcoming tour customized especially for this group is a visit to Genoa, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, the first true Knight of Columbus. The tour includes extended stays in Madrid, Lourdes and Rome, allowing some free time to explore. In France participants will visit the famous French Riviera, which offers panoramic views and elegant boulevards. The tour includes over 20 meals.
The pilgrimage portion of the tour begins in Portugal at Satarem to visit the relic of the bleeding host. The trip continues to Fatima for more sites and a candlelight procession. The tour leaves Portugal for Spain to visit the walled city of Salamanca and includes stops at Alba De Tormes and a visit to the body of St. Theresa. Avila is the last stop before an extended stay in Madrid. En route to France the tour visits Zaragoza and the beautiful mountain scenery of the Pyrenees before arriving in Lourdes. After traveling through the French Riviera and Monaco, the tour skirts the Italian Riviera past Genoa and the famous tower of Pisa and the wine country of Assisi. In Assisi pilgrims view the Porziuncola, the thornless rosebush. The countryside ends at the hilltop town of Umbria before entering Rome, the "eternal city."
Rome and the Vatican are the final destination. The undisputed climax of this tour starts with Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, before pilgrims attend a papal audience. The rest of the day includes a visit to basilicas and a special dinner with wine at a Roman trattoria. The evening finishes with a drive by the famous illuminated fountains and piazzas and ends at St. Peter's Square. Other sites in Rome include the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, the catacombs of San Sebastian, the Roman forum and the coliseum. There will be time to explore more of Rome on one's own or with optional day tours. A chaplain and multilingual guides will escort the tour. Daily Mass is available.
The Knights have once again partnered with group specialist Dave Duncan of Walkabout Adventure Travel to offer the European pilgrimage tour. Cost: $2,449 per person. Space on the tour is limited. For information and reservations contact Dick Sazpansky at 303-794-5459 or Dave Duncan at 303-980-8998. A full presentation of the tour is available at www.bywalkabout.com.
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