A 13-Day Marian Shrines Pilgrimage

Including Lisbon, Fatima, Santiago de Compostela, Leon, Burgos, Santo Domingo de Silos, Madrid, El Escorial, Zaragoza, Lourdes, Andorra, Manresa, Montserrat & Barcelona.

Day 1 - Monday
USA / LISBON
We gather for our departing flight to Lisbon.  Meals are served on board our overnight flight.

Day 2 - Tuesday
LISBON / FATIMA
We arrive in Lisbon, Portugal and are met by our Pilgrimage Tours™ tour director who will remain with us until the end of our tour.  We transfer to the city of Lisbon, where we will have Mass at the birthplace of St. Anthony of Padua, followed by a panoramic tour of the city.  Next we arrive in Fatima for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 - Wednesday
FATIMA
This morning we embark on a sightseeing tour of Fatima with our local guide where on May 13, 1917 Mary appeared to local children and the “miracle of the sun” occurred.  We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady and visit the House of Lucia and House of Francisco and Jacinta.  In the afternoon, we have free time to pray, reflect and relax.  Following dinner we participate in the Candlelight Procession.  Overnight in Fatima.

Day 4 - Thursday
FATIMA / SANTIAGO de COMPOSTELA
This morning we depart Fatima for the home of St. James, Santiago de Compostela.  We visit the Cathedral of St. James the Apostle, housing the remains of the Saint.  The Cathedral’s facades display examples of both Romanesque and Baroque architecture.  We celebrate Mass in the Cathedral of St. James.  Dinner and overnight in Santiago.

Day 5 - Friday
SANTIAGO de COMPOSTELA / LEON / BURGOS
This morning we enjoy a walking tour of the town, highlighting its rich heritage as a center of pilgrimage.  Next we depart for Burgos.  En route we make an afternoon stop in Leon and explore its Gothic masterpiece, the Cathedral.  We arrive in Burgos and visit the immense Cathedral of Burgos, an amazing masterpiece of French Gothic architecture that dominates the town center.  Here we celebrate Mass.  Inside we tour chapels, cloister and admire its impressive doors and architecture.  Around town we will see remains of fortifications and ramparts, the Plaza Mayor and the towers of the Arco de Santa Maria.  Dinner and overnight in Burgos.

Day 6 - Saturday
BURGOS / SANTO DOMINGO de SILOS / MADRID
This morning we depart Burgos for Madrid, Spain’s capital.  En route, we will visit the Benedictine Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos in time to have afternoon Vespers and Divine Office with the world-famous Monks singing Gregorian Chant.  While there, we will also tour the monastic cloister and celebrate Mass.  Next we arrive in Madrid and enjoy a city tour to include visits to the Royal Palace and the Cathedral.  We also see the Plaza Mayor, the main square in Madrid.  The remainder of our day is free.  Dinner and overnight in Madrid.

Day 7 - Sunday
MADRID / EL ESCORIAL
This morning we depart Madrid for a half-day excursion to nearby El Escorial.  We visit the El Escorial monastery and its art exhibit and tour its basilica.  After our tour of the basilica we gather together to celebrate Mass.  Next we see the nearby Valley of the Fallen monument dedicated to the millions of people who died during the Spanish Civil War.  Here we will experience beautiful scenery and see its vast basilica built into the side of a mountain and topped by a huge granite Holy Cross.  The Cross is about 500 feet tall in and of itself, as it stands 500 feet above the esplanade in front of the basilica’s main entrance.  We return to Madrid for some free time for shopping prior to returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 8 - Monday
MADRID / ZARAGOZA
This morning we depart Madrid for Zaragoza.  Upon our arrival in Zaragoza we visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, the place where Mary appeared to the Apostle James before her Assumption into heaven.  We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar.  Dinner and overnight in Zaragoza. 

Day 9 - Tuesday
ZARAGOZA / LOURDES
This morning we depart Zaragoza for Lourdes.  We arrive in Lourdes, where, in 1858, Mary appeared to a young Bernadette Soubirous.  Upon our arrival in Lourdes, we will celebrate Mass at the Rosary basilica.  Following dinner, we join the Candlelight Procession.  Overnight in Lourdes. 

Day 10 - Wednesday
LOURDES
Today we will explore the sites where Mary appeared to Bernadette.  We visit the Grotto, the Spring and the healing Baths, as well as the Basilica of St. Pius X, the Rosary Basilica and Bernadette’s home.  Again we celebrate Mass at the basilica.  The rest of our day is free for prayer, relaxation or shopping before dinner.  Following dinner, we join the Candlelight Procession.  Overnight in Lourdes.

Day 11 - Thursday
LOURDES / ANDORRA / BARCELONA
This morning we depart Lourdes for Barcelona.  En route we make a stop in the principality of Andorra and its shopping district where we spend a couple of hours shopping in order to take advantage of its “duty-free” goods.  We continue on to Barcelona where we visit the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia.  Here we will tour the basilica as well as celebrate Mass.  We continue to the Gothic Quarter and visit the ‘Spanish Village’ with reproductions of the most typical buildings in Spain.  Next we arrive at our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 12 - Friday
BARCELONA / MANRESA / MONTSERRAT
We begin our day with a trip to the spectacular mountain sanctuary, Our Lady of Montserrat.  En route we make a stop in the town of Manresa along the River Cardoner.  It is here that St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, or Society of Jesus, spent some 10 months in prayer and meditation and where St. Ignatius saw a vision and went on to write the “Spiritual Exercises”.  Next we arrive in Montserrat and join in celebration of Mass and the "Liturgy of the Hours" at the Monastery with the monks of Montserrat.  We continue on to a wonderful tour of the Monastery and grounds where we see the Statute of Our Lady of Montserrat or Black Madonna, probably Spain’s most fervent devotion to the Blessed Mother.  We also observe the Way of the Cross and enjoy some of the most incredible scenery in Spain.  We return to Barcelona and visit the famous Ramblas Boulevard.  Las Ramblas Boulevard is one of the most upbeat, striking boulevards in all of Europe, with many cafes and shops. Here we will have plenty of time for shopping and to explore this cosmopolitan city.  Dinner and overnight in Barcelona.

Day 13 - Saturday
BARCELONA / USA
This morning we depart Barcelona for our return flight home.  Though our pilgrimage has come to an end, its blessings will last a lifetime and its graces are certain to draw us closer each day to the Lord.
 

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