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

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

Lourdes in winter time

Caroline Trainor, who leads our team in Lourdes, shares what it is like to spend time in Lourdes in winter time: We are often asked what is Lourdes like in

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,

“Saint Francis Lives” 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” - Saint Francis of Assisi As part of our popular pilgrimages to Italy, pilgrims can visit

Christmas Opening Hours

Dear customers, please note our Christmas opening hours are the following: DECEMBER CLOSED: 24th, 25th, 26th OPEN: 23rd, 29th, 30th, 31st [Team will be available online and by phone] JANUARY

Camino guided tours from Ireland 2026

Will 2026 be your Camino year? Have you always wanted to walk the Camino but don’t want to do it alone? At JWT Travel and Joe Walsh Tours we have

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

5 Beautiful shrines of France

Let us take you on a virtual journey to the most beautiful shrines of France, a journey of spirituality visiting the country's most special sites of Catholic devotion. LISIEUX In

Life of St Teresa of Avila

St Teresa of Avila, also called Teresa de Jesus and named by birth Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada, was a Spanish writer and a nun, known for being a very

5 wonderful day trips from Lourdes

As well as being one of the world’s most important Marian shrines and pilgrimage destinations, Lourdes is also located in a region, the Pyrenees, of stunning natural beauty and culture.

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

What is the Camino pilgrim passport or Credencial?

Today we introduce you to one of the most important items you should have with you during your journey on the Camino de Santiago: the ‘Credencial’ or Camino Pilgrim Passport.

Fascinating Camino traditions, rituals and customs

Pilgrims from all corners of the world have travelled to Santiago de Compostela over hundreds of years. As a result, different Camino traditions, rituals and customs have emerged, some of

The meaning of the Camino Shell

Along with the yellow arrow, the Camino shell is an iconic symbol of the Camino de Santiago, the pilgrim trails to Santiago de Compostela. But why has the scallop shell

3 Easy Camino guided tours

If you always wanted to experience the Camino pilgrimage but felt the long walking days were somewhat daunting for you, at Joe Walsh Tours we have 3 easy Camino guided

What to see and do on the Lisbon Coast

If you are travelling on one of our Fatima and Lisbon Coast tours soon, here's a simple and useful guide to what you can see and do on the Lisbon

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