Welcome to our Pilgrimages travel blog where you will find all our latest articles about our wonderful destinations, travel tips and inspiration.

Special Places: Lourdes Old Presbytery

Caroline, who leads our team in Lourdes, shares the interesting story of Bernadette and her first visit to what is known today as Lourdes Old Presbytery. On the 2nd March

Special Places: Bartres Lourdes

The small village of Bartres is situated in the countryside about 5kms from the town of Lourdes. When St Bernadette was about 10 months old her mother Louise Soubirous was

Wonderful things to see in Padua

Home to the world’s first botanical gardens, a centre of learning as well as destination for devout pilgrims for centuries and a medieval city-state, the art city of Padua is

10 glorious cathedrals on the Camino de Santiago

Today we introduce you to the history and beauty of 10 glorious cathedrals on the Camino de Santiago trails. Pilgrims from across the globe have made their way to the

Feast of the Epiphany traditions

The Feast of the Epiphany, 6th January, is the day we commemorate and remember the visit of the Three Wise Men or Three Kings to worship baby Jesus. The Three

Historic pilgrimages to uplift the soul

For centuries, people of different faiths, cultures and religious beliefs have traveled near, far and across the world in search of meaningful and spiritually rewarding journeys. The custom of pilgrimage

Life in Lourdes: Caroline Trainor

The Joe Walsh Tours pilgrimage team in Lourdes has been expertly led by Caroline Trainor and Fionnuala Brua, who have been welcoming pilgrims for many years. We catch up with

8 Beautiful shrines of Italy

Home of saints, Popes and historic shrines, a pilgrimage to Italy is always a joyful and spiritually enriching experience. Today we introduce you to some of the most special and

Saint Nicholas, the original Father Christmas

6th December is the Feast Day of Saint Nicholas, also known as Nicholas of Bari and the saint who inspired the figure of Father Christmas or Santa Claus. Patron saint

Our hotels in Fatima

The Joe Walsh Tours team works with some of the best hotels in Fatima: HOTEL CINQUENTENARIO 4-star Hotel Cinquentenário is a modern and well-equipped hotel, located only a 4-minute walk from the

Xacobeo Holy Year on the Camino de Santiago

A Xacobeo Holy Year, also known as Ano Xacobeo or Jacobean Year, is a very special event for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. It takes place when 25th July, the

Essential travel tips for your trip to the Holy Land

In order to help you prepare for this once in a lifetime holiday, the Joe Walsh Tours travel experts have prepared these essential and simple travel tips for your trip

8 Things to do and see in Fatima, Portugal

The small town of Fatima in Portugal has been an important place of Catholic pilgrimage since Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children in 1917. Its Sanctuary is visited by

11 interesting facts about Lourdes

The town of Lourdes in France is known the world over as a pilgrimage destination, today we introduce you to 11 interesting facts about Lourdes you might not know about

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What does it mean to go on a pilgrimage?

A pilgrimage is generally considered a journey undertaken to a sacred or holy place, as pilgrims embark on this special journey for spiritual reasons. While the exact origins of pilgrimage

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