Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Your meals will be served on board.

Upon arrival, you will be met by your tour guide and driver and head to your hotel in the great city of Santiago de Compostela. You will have free time before dinner and overnight in Santiago de Compostela.

This morning, you will walk a few miles of El Camino. Immerse yourselves in the fragrant eucalyptus groves and experience the breathtaking scenery. Later this morning, attend the International Pilgrim Mass at the Cathedral of St. James. After Mass, there will be free time for lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the Cathedral of Santiago. This Cathedral is one of the finest architectural examples in Europe as it encompasses Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque styles. The Cathedral contains numerous valuable pieces of art. Upon entering the Cathedral, pilgrims traditionally hug the dazzling statue of St. James. You will then descend into the crypt where the Patron Saint of Pilgrims’ relics are kept. After that, you will enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city. Some stops on your tour include Obradoiro Square, Fonseca Palace, Gemirez Palace, Franco Street, and much more. Return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, depart for Covadonga and visit the Covadonga Sanctuary. This Shrine gained popularity following the Battle of Covadonga in 722 when the Moors tried to invade Spain. A statue of the Virgin Mary, secretly hidden in one of the caves, was believed to have faithfully supported the Christian victory. Covadonga is where the re-conquest began under King Pelayo, whose remains are buried in the cave alongside Our Lady of Covadonga. The Basilica and Cave are places of worship and Pilgrimage for the people of Asturias. The Basilica was built in the neo-Romanesque style, featuring two high towers that flank the main entrance. Inside, there are works of great value, such as a canvas by Madrazo. The statue of King Pelayo is located in the square adjacent to the Basilica. The statue of Our Lady of Covadonga, the tomb of King Pelayo, and the tomb of King Alfonso I are located in the Holy Cave, which is accessible via a large staircase. A spring flows out of the cave, and below this, there is a fountain with seven spouts. On the altar, a gold panel represents the Battle of Covadonga. Continue through the scenic countryside of Cantabria, Spain. Enjoy the lush green mountains before arriving at the hamlet of Garabandal. Check into your hotel for dinner and an overnight.

After breakfast, start your day visiting Garabandal. Little has changed in this rural town since June 18, 1961, when four children had an apparition of an Angel. The angel said he had been sent to prepare the children for a visit from the Blessed Virgin. From July 2, 1961, until November 13, 1965, the Blessed Virgin visited the children and spoke to them about future events. The children reported a promised future miracle at the grove of pine trees on a bluff overlooking the village of Garabandal. It will be on the feast day of a little-known martyr of the Eucharist and coincide with an event in the Church. In the afternoon, travel to Santo Toribio de Liebana Monastery. The Monastery was founded before the 6th Century. According to tradition, the Monastery venerates the largest piece of the Lignum Crucis discovered in Jerusalem by Saint Helena of Constantinople. It was brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by Saint Turibius of Astorga. The left arm of the True Cross is kept on a gilded silver reliquary. The Monastery was initially dedicated to St. Martin of Tours, but its name was changed in the 12th Century. On April 16, 1961, the Franciscan friars, custodians of the Holy Places, were entrusted with the safekeeping of the relic and with promoting devotion to the Holy Cross. Return to Garabandal for dinner and an overnight.

Following breakfast, transfer from Garabandal to Loyola to visit the birthplace of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuit Order. St. Ignatius dedicated himself to becoming a soldier of the Christian faith, and as a result of many tribulations, he wrote the ever-famous Spiritual Exercises. In Loyola, you will find the 17th-century Basilica dedicated to this remarkable Saint. The Basilica is part of a series of buildings that surround the “Holy House,” the birthplace of St. Ignatius. You will also have the opportunity to pray in the room where St. Ignatius began his conversion. After meditating on the life of the founder of the Jesuit Order, enjoy free time for lunch and board the bus for the next destination. We will continue to Lourdes with a spectacular view of the Pyrenees Mountains. Upon arrival in Lourdes, you will check in to your hotel and enjoy a splendid dinner, followed by a peaceful overnight stay.

During your time in Lourdes, you will pray and meditate at the site of Our Lady’s apparitions. Our Lady first appeared to Bernadette in 1858 and announced herself as “The Immaculate Conception” near the Grotto of Massabielle. During the first two apparitions, little Bernadette prayed the Rosary with Our Lady and left without exchanging words. During the following apparitions, Our Lady emphasized God’s love for us and the necessity of performing acts of penance for sinners. Attend Mass at the Grotto, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette. Watch a video presentation that explains the story of Lourdes. Wash your hands, wash your face, and drink the water of the miraculous spring. Finish with a short prayer: “Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St. Bernadette, pray for us. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Experience Christ’s unconditional love as you meditate upon the life-size Stations of the Cross that overlook the Grotto of Massabielle. In Lourdes, you will walk in and meditate upon the footsteps of St. Bernadette. Your group will have the opportunity to see Boly Mill, the birthplace of St. Bernadette, and the “Cachot,” an abandoned prison where Bernadette’s impoverished family lived. Following dinner, you can attend the candlelight procession and pray the Rosary before a restful overnight.

After breakfast, we will depart for Montserrat, home to the miraculous Black Madonna. We will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat, located on a rugged mountainside. According to Catholic tradition, St. Luke is said to have carved the statue of the Black Madonna around 50 A.D. and brought it to Spain. It was hidden from the Moors for a time and later rediscovered by shepherds. In 880 A.D., the shepherds and the Bishop of Manresa were drawn to a grotto by a bright light and heavenly music. Upon discovering the statue of the Black Madonna in the grotto, the Bishop of Manresa suggested that it be moved to Manresa. However, the statue was so heavy it could not be lifted. As a result, the Virgin remained in Montserrat and continued to be venerated there for centuries. As the years progressed, several chapels were built on the site, and in the eleventh century, the Abbot-Bishop Oliba founded a monastery on Montserrat next to one of these chapels. Dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast, we will travel to Manresa for a visit to the Sanctuary of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and the Holy Cave where St. Ignatius lived. Continue to Barcelona. Enjoy free time this afternoon before dinner and overnight.

This morning, your day will begin with breakfast and a sightseeing tour of Barcelona! Enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the Port of Barcelona, Montjuic, Plaza de España, and Plaza de Catalunya. The Port was created 2,000 years ago in the coastal area to protect and provide access for ships and goods. Currently, it is home to numerous walking regions, businesses, cultural and sporting events. Plaza de España is right outside the center of town and was formerly known for its old bull-fighting ring. Presently, the Plaza is renowned for containing the Museum of Catalan Art, situated on the side of Montjuic. Plaza de Catalunya is located in the heart of Barcelona and is famous for its fountains and statues. Your day of touring will continue with a guided walk through the Gothic Quarter, which contains remains from an ancient Roman village, including the Cathedral of Barcelona. We will continue to the Eixample quarter to visit Antoni Gaudi’s stunning, unfinished Roman Catholic Basilica, La Sagrada Familia. Afternoon at leisure. Enjoy a farewell dinner followed by an overnight stay.

Your last day in Spain will begin with breakfast at your hotel, followed by a transfer to Barcelona for your return flight(s) home. You will say “hasta luego” (see you later) to your new friends made on this journey.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.