Barcelona, Montserrat, Manresa, Zaragoza, Toledo, Madrid, Santiago de Compostela
About Santiago de Compostela: The History of El Camino, The Way of St. James or St. James' Way Often known by its Spanish name, el Camino de Santiago, is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where legend has it that the remains of the apostle, Saint James the Great, are buried.
The Way of St James has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times. It was considered one of three pilgrimages on which a plenary indulgence could be earned; the others are the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimageto Jerusalem. Legend holds that St. James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain where they were buried on the site of what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. There are some, however, who claim that the bodily remains at Santiago belong to Priscillian, the fourth-century Galician leader of an ascetic Christian sect, Priscillianism, who was one of the first Christian heretics to be executed.
YOUR TRIP INCLUDES: Round-trip air from New York to Spain (special Add-on Airfares from all US gateways) ALL AIRPORT TAXES & FUEL SURCHARGES! 7 nights accommodations in first class hotels as follows: (or similar)
~ 3 nights: Hotel Berna, Barcelona
~ 2 nights: Hotel Moratin, Madrid
~ 2 nights: Hotel Compostela, Santiago de Compostela Transfers as per itinerary Breakfast and Dinner daily Wine and mineral water with dinners Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach Assistance of a professional local Catholic guide(s) Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary Catholic Priest available for Spiritual Direction Mass daily & Spiritual activities Luggage handling (1 piece per person) Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents
Day 1 - Depart USA
Board your overnight transatlantic flights from your home town. Meals are served on board.
Day 2 - Arrive Barcelona
Upon arrival you will be greeted by our tour guide and driver. Transfer to our hotel where you will enjoy free time to rest and refresh before Mass. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona.
Day 3 - Barcelona
After breakfast we will enjoy a tour of Barcelona including: panoramic views of the Harbor area, Montjuic, Plaza de España, and Plaza de Catalunya. Afterwards, continue on a guided walk through the Gothic Quarter to visit the cathedral and to view Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, a beautiful, unfinished Roman Catholic basilica of impressive proportions. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the colorful markets of Las Ramblas. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona.
Day 4 - Excursion to Montserrat & Manresa
After breakfast we make our way to Montserrat, home to the dramatically set Benedictine monastery. On a rugged mountainside we will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat. Since the 12th-century, pilgrims have been drawn to the mountain to venerate the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna. According to Catholic tradition, the statue of the Black Virgin of Montserrat was carved by St. Luke around 50 AD and brought to Spain. It was later hidden from the Moors in a cave, where it was rediscovered by shepherds in 880 AD. They saw a bright light and heard heavenly music that eventually led them to the grotto and the statue. The Bishop of Manresa, present at the discovery, suggested that it be moved to Manresa, but the small statue was discovered to be so heavy it could not be lifted. Thus the Virgin had indicated her will to stay on Montserrat to be venerated there. In the 11th century, the abbot-bishop Oliba founded a monastery on the mountain of Montserrat next to one of the chapels, where the Benedictine Abbey is still preserved. Return to Barcelona for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 - Barcelona - Zaragoza - Madrid
After breakfast we will depart towards Zaragoza where we will visit the magnificent Basilica del Pilar, built in the place where our Lady appeared to Saint James. Tradition says that in the early day of the Church, Saint James The Greater was spreading the Gospel in Spain, but making very little progress. He was dejected and questioning his mission. About 44 AD, the Virgin Mary, who was still living in Jerusalem at the time, bi-located and appeared to him in a vision to boost his morale. In it, she was atop a column or pillar, which was being carried by angels. That pillar is believed to be the same one venerated inside the Basilica. We will also visit the Cathedral of Zaragoza and we will do a walking tour of the city. Later we will continue our journey to Madrid for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 - Madrid & Toledo
After breakfast we will enjoy a tour of Madrid including the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor. We then depart for Toledo which sits on a rocky mound isolated on three sides by a looping gorge of the Río Tajo. Every available inch of this outcrop has churches, synagogues, mosques and houses heaped upon one another in a haphazard spi-ral, which the cobbled lanes infiltrate as best they can. Toledo is known as the City of the Three Religions or Cultures because for many centuries the Christians, the Moors, and the Jews lived together in relative equality and peace. The city surrounded by walls hides great treasured: its awesome Cathedral, the church of Santo Tomé, the Tránsito Synagogue, Santa María La Blanca Synagogue, the superb church of San Juan de los Reyes, Puerta de Bisagras, Puerta del Cambrón, Puerta del Sol, etc. We return to Madrid for dinner and overnight.
Day 7 - Madrid - Santiago de Compostela
After breakfast depart towards city of Santiago de Compostela. Stop in Villafranca del Bierzo, where we will visit to the Collegiate Church of Santa María, the churches of Santiago and San Nicolas, as well as the Agua Street, full of palaces and emblazoned houses. Later we enter Galicia by Lugo, not far from Santiago. We will stop in O Ce-breiro, the first village in the region of Lugo along the Route, with an altitude of 1,300 meters. A group of "pallozas" can be seen and a beautiful Pre-Romanesque temple, from the 9-10 C, containing a Chalice, the Paten of "Santo Milagro" and a precious Romanesque carving of Santa Maria la Real. We continue on to Santiago de Com-postela for dinner and overnight.
Day 8 - Santiago de Compostela
After breakfast we set out to join the walking pilgrims at the Monte del Gozo from which the spires of the Cathedral are first visible. We will walk the last couple of miles of El Camino arriving at the Cathedral, the destination we have been yearning to reach. We will attend the International Pilgrim Mass at the Cathedral of St. James, one of the finest examples of architecture in all of Europe. Tradition invites us to perform some rites. The most important and meaningful one is the hug to the Saint, go under the main altar and visit the crypt where the relics of St. James are preserved. In the afternoon we will visit to the city of Santiago to see: Obradoiro Square, Fonseca Palace, Gelmirez Palace, Franco Street, etc. Dinner and overnight in Santiago de Compostela.
Day 9 - Santiago de Compostela - USA
After breakfast we depart for our return flights home to the USA.
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Travel Dates
Land Only (no airfare)
*Air & Land
# of Pilgrims
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