Madrid: The Cathedral

Arrival. Pick up at airport and transfer to hotel. If time allows, at some point during the day, visits to some of the city's museums and palaces. Overnight stay.

Toledo: El Alcazar

Breakfast. Early departure to head to Toledo, ancient capital of Spain, where vestiges of the many cultures that have found a home in this tiny, well-fortified city are well worth investigating. The most interesting, however, are the monuments left by the three monotheistic religions that have had an important presence in the city over the last millenium or so. Mosques, Synagogues, and a seeming infinity of churches are present, although all are dominated by one of the most majestic Gothic cathedrals of Europe. Still today, Toledo is the primatal capital of the Catholic Church in Spain. Return to Madrid and overnight stay.

Segovia: El Alcazar

Breakfast. We pass through the mountainous Guadarrama region to arrive at the city of Segovia. During the visit, we are sure to be impressed by the best-conserved aqueduct of the Imperial Roman Empire. In addition to this over 2000-year-old engineering marvel, we will visit the city´s ethereal cathedral, the last in the Spanish gothic style to be constructed. We will enter the famous Alcazar, which dominates the city, and was the inspiration for Walt Disney when he created his Cinderella castle. Outside the walls, we will visit a convent near the Vera Cruz church, constructed by the Templars, where the mortal remains of Saint John of the Cross are buried. A bit further on, another monastery is located near the cavern where the founder of the Dominican Order, Saint Domingo of Guzman, sought penitence. Return to Madrid and overnight stay.

Ávila: The Walls

Breakfast. In a little more than an hour, we will be in the birthplace of Saint Theresa (Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada). We will visit her place of birth, today a church, and the convent of the Encarnation, just outside the city walls, and the site, according to the Catholic Church, that has been the most times sanctified with the presence of Christ. We will also enter the uniquely beautiful cathedral, the first constructed in the gothic style in all of Spain. There will be free time to browse and eat within the walled city before continuing on to Salamanca, where we will stay overnight.

Salamanca: Panoramic of the city

Breakfast. The entire morning will be available to explore this city, a true marvel of renaissance art. The city glows in the golden color of the stone used in its innumerable monuments. The University is outstanding, and is among the three most ancient in Europe, having been founded in 1218, and proudly boasts of having had among its students and professors, such outstanding figures of the Spanish Golden Century as Brother Luis of Leon and Saint John of the Cross. In addition, it is one of the few European cities with two cathedrals, one ancient in the romanesque style, the other belonging to the late gothic school. After eating lunch, we will head for the city of Leon. Arrival and overnight stay.

León: The Cathedral

Breakfast. The city of Leon was founded under the name Legio VII as a Roman military outpost. Among its many treasures, three monuments are especially worthy of attention. The ostentatious gothic cathedral, aptly called the beautiful "leonina". Its stain-glass windows rival those of the Chartres cathedral of France. Close-by is the romanesque jewel, the Pantheon of Saint Isidoro, constructed in the eleventh century to house the mortal remains of this Saint, who died in the seventh century. The arrogant renaissance facade of the ancient convent of Saint Mark, which began as a pilgrim hospital under the auspices of the Catholic Kings, will be a last visit before leaving Castillian territory via the Gallician province of Lugo. Arrival at Santiago de Compostela. Overnight stay.

Santiago de
Compostela: The Cathedral

Breakfast. Like the ancient pilgrims, today we will dedicate the morning to walking the narrow streets of the city towards the cathedral. Once there, and after admiring the beauty of the sculptures and architecture, we will embrace the apostle Saint James (Santiago) and visit the crypt to pay tribute to his mortal remains. You will be free for the remainder of the day to visit the city, its museums, interesting churches and mingle with pilgrims who, following a tradition dating back a thousand years, have made their way to pay homage to Saint James, drawn by a common faith in the Catholic Church and the Christian Community. Overnight stay.

Braga: The Cathedral

Breakfast. Before entering Portuguese territory, we will pay a visit to Pontevedra. In this city, Sister Lucia lived in a modest convent after the appearance of the Virgin Mary to her and two of her sisters in Fatima. Here, also, the Virgin Mary appeared to her, not far from the Renaissance church of Saint Mary the Major. Shortly after crossing the Portuguese border, we will make a stop in Braga, the oldest see in that country. Outside the city, the sanctuary of Good Jesus of the Mount is to be found. The stairs of this formidable baroque temple provide an insuperable example of Christian statuary, depicting the Stations of the Cross and the theological virtues. Afterwards, we will continue on to the city of Coimbra. Arrival and overnight stay

Coimbra: Monastery of
the Holy Cross

Breakfast. We will visit the oldest Portuguese University, founded in 1290 by King Dionisio, husband of Saint Isabel. Among its building, the baroque library from the 18th century is outstanding. On the other side of the Mondego River, in the Saint Clare monastery, are found the remains of Saint Isabel. Sister Lucia still lives in this city in a modest religious enclosure not far from the historical city center. After eating, we will journey on to Fatima, further to the south and close to Lisbon, the Portuguese capital. Arrival and overnight stay.

Breakfast. Today we will visit all the places related to the three novices. Their houses in the village of Aljustrel, the parochial church of Fatima where they were baptized, and, of course, the chapel erected on the site of the Virgin Mary´s appearances to the novices. If our trip coincides with the period of the processions, we can experience, during the evening/night, the moving procession of the candles. The site seems to reactivate emotions and sensations, and it is not surprising that it one of the most visited Christian pilgrim destinations of the world. Overnight stay.

Santarem: The Walls

Breakfast. A few kilometers from Fatima, on the banks of the Tajo river is the small city of Santarem. In the church of Saint Esteban, know by all as the church of the miracles, is kept the bleeding host. More than eight hundred years have passed since the desecration of the Holy Form, and yet, fresh blood still flows from the side wound. Thousands pilgrimage to this humble church every year. In the early afternoon, we will arrive in Lisbon. Overnight stay.

Lisboa: Belem Tower
(UNESCO - world
heritage site)

 

Lisboa: Monument to
the 'Discoveries'

Lisbon. Breakfast. Today we will take a guided tour of the city. After a panoramic perspective of the city´s dynamic streets from an autobus, always with the majestic Tajo River as a backdrop, we will head to the Belem Tower. This small jewel of Portuguese art was the silent witness to the greatness of the Portugues Imperial Empire. In view, huge modern ships from all the continents ply the waters of the Tajo River, where in the 15th and 16th centuries, wooden vessels laden with riches converted Lisbon into the richest and most cosmopolitan city of Europe. In front of the Tower, the Church/Monastery of the Hieronymites provide a final resting place for Luis de Camoens and Vasco de Gama. Rest of the day free. Overnight stay.

 

Lisbon. Breakfast. Today we have the entire day free. You might want to wander about the narrow, lore-laden streets of the old city, and/or visit the fortress/cathedral. Not far from the latter is situated the birthplace of Saint Antony, where today a church honoring him is situated. As this is the last day, you might also want to go shopping in the city´s sophisticated shops and celebrated commercial centers, among the best in Europe. Overnight stay.

Breakfast. Transfer to airport and end of our services.

 

 

Lugo: The Walls

Breakfast. Today we head for the region of Asturias, but not before making a stop in Lugo. We will have free time to visit its impressive roman walls, unique for their impeccable conservation. The city´s cathedral houses the patron virgin of the city, the sculpture as beautiful as her name: The Virgin of the Big Eyes. After eating, we will continue our route towards Asturias, with arrival and dinner in Cangas de Onis, the first capital of the Iberian peninsula after the reconquest from the Arabs by the Christians. Overnight stay.

Covadonga: Sanctuary
Our Lady

Breakfast. Leaving behind this small village, birthplace of what is today Spain, we enter the Picos de Europa National Park. There, situated halfway up a mountain, we find the sanctuary Our Lady of the Covadonga. In a cavern close to the sanctuary, we will find the image of the Virgin Mary. At a spot close-by and protected by the Virgin Mary, the Christian troops opposed the Arabs. Providence favored the small, ill-equipped Christians in that battle of 722 and the victory gave inspiration and impetus to what came to be called the reconquest, although many centuries were to pass before Arabic rule was removed entirely from the peninsula. From this beautiful mountainous zone, we follow a lovely route along the cantabrian coast towards San Sebastian and the Basque Country. Arrival and overnight stay.

Sanctuary of Our
Lady of Lourdes

Breakfast. We will leave early for the city of Lourdes, crossing the Pyrenees into French territory. Since 1858, this city has been the inspiration and magnet for millions of pilgrims, attracted by religious fervor to the site where the Virgin Mary appeared to the young Bernadette Soubirous. It is a site which draws pilgrims not just from the Catholic faith, but pays tribute to the etymology of the term "catholic", coming from the latin "catholicus" and this from the greek, "katholikós", and meaning universal. After some free time in this spiritual city, we return to San Sebastian, where we will enjoy a visit to its famous maritime walkway, before returning to the hotel. Overnight stay.

Zaragoza: La Basilica
de Nuestra Señora
del Pilar

Breakfast. Today we have a rather long trip, so we will leave early from San Sebastian towards Zaragoza. We will have time to visit the city's basilica where almost two thousand years ago, and tradition says, at the request of the Virgin Mary, a temple was raised in her honor. This is the most ancient of all Virgin Mary sites in the world and where she came in mortal flesh to give support to the preaching of the apostle Saint James. After lunch, we will continue on to Barcelona. Arrival and overnight stay.

the Monserrat basilica

Breakfast. Today we will be visiting the Monserrat basilica, a short distance from the Catalan capital. The splendid natural setting of the basilica seems to give physical presence to the spiritual and brings confirmation of faith. Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Ignatius of Loyola were drawn here as have been, for over the last thousand years, pilgrims of all classes and conditions, but all brothers in spirit. Return to Barcelona. Free time to walk about the city´s lively, cosmopolitan streets. Overnight stay.

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport and end of our services.

 

 

Castle of Javier

Breakfast. Today we leave the Basque Country to enter the Navarro Region. We stop first in the Leire Monastery, one of the earliest examples of romanesque architecture in Spain and where the first kings of the Navarro Kingdom are buried. In addition, here, the Lord has provided the best and most beautiful lesson on eternity in the figure of Saint Virila, abbot of the monastery more than a thousand years ago. From there, we move on to the nearby Castle of Javier, where the patron saint of all missions, Saint Francis of Javier, was born in 1506. He was founder, along with Saint Igatius of Loyola, of the Jesuit Order and after years of travelling and preaching in the Orient, died at the threshold of China when he attempted to enter that country. We continue, with lunch on route, until Zaragoza. Arrival and overnight stay.

Madrid: The Cathedral

Breakfast. We will have time to visit the city's basilica where over two thousand years ago, and by direct wishes of the Virgin Mary, a temple was erected in her name. It is the most ancient site dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the world, and it is said that she was brought in mortal flesh to the site in order to give support to the apostle Saint James in his preaching. After eating, we will head towards Madrid, where there will likely be time for last minute shopping. Arrival and overnight stay.

Breakfast. Transfer to airport and end of our services.