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Spain Pilgrimage Tour
12 days / 11 nights
Barcelona - Montserrat - Lourdes - San Sebastian - Covadonga - Oviedo - La Coruña

Day 1 Barcelona
Arrival at Barcelona Airport, transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 Barcelona
A panoramic tour of Barcelona, the capital of Catalunya ( Catalonia ), exploring and enjoying the board avenues of this beautiful city and admiring its splendid building contrasts dating back nearly 2000 years. Visit of the Gothic Quarter that includes its Gothic Saint Eulalia Cathedral and its IV Century Roman Wall. Driving by the Columbus Statue and on the famous Ramblas Blvd. to Catalunya Square to the “Enxample”, admiring the architectural styles of Catalan’s most renowned architects- Bastilló, Milà and Gaudí. Proceeding towards the Holy Family Church, Gaudí’s masterpiece. Continuing on to the Tibidabo Hill. A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with his extended arms overlooking Barcelona below reminds the one of Rio de Janeiro.

Day 3 Barcelona - Montserrat (70km/1h) - Lourdes ( 370km/5h)
Travelling to Montserrat, home of the Benedictine monastery dramatically set in the Montserrat mountain range. Pilgrims from around the world flock to this monastery to view its magnificent architecture. This shrine has attracted pilgrims for over 700 years, much as it did Ignatus in March of 1522. Visiting the Black Madonna of Montserrat, probably Spain’s most fervent devotion to the Blessed Mother. Continuing to Lourdes.

Day 4 Lourdes
Visiting a morning Mass. Enjoying a walking tour “In the Footsteps of Bernadette”. Visiting the Cachot ( former jail cell that once served as the Soubirous family’s home ); the parish church; Fr. Peyramale’s Presbitery; the Hospice and the Boly Mill. At 4:30 PM in the afternoon, taking part in the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed of the Sick.

Day 5 Lourdes - San Sebastian (200km/2h)- Covadonga (320km/4h)
Journey to the beautiful seaside city of San Sebastian on the Gulf of Vizcaya. Continuing to Covadonga, paying a visit to Our Lady of Covadonga and overnight.

Day 6 Covadonga
Covadonga combines the history of the Spanish Christians first victory over the Moors with the beauty of one of Spain’s most dramatic National Parks. It is the scene of the Spanish Christian army’s first victory against the Moors. A battle here about 718 A.D. pitted a ragged band of Christian Visigoths against a small band of Muslims. The resulting victory established the first niche of Christian Europe in an Iberia controlled by the Moors. One of the town’s most important monuments is La Santa Cueva, a cave shrine containing the sarcophagus of Pelayo, king of the Visigothic Christians, and an enormous Neo- Romanesque basilica commemorating the Christianization of Spain. In the country, there are more than 15 Virgenes de la Cueva. One of the most famous ones is Nuestra Se?ora de Covadonga also included in the visit.

Day 7 Covadonga - Oviedo (120km/1,30h) - La Coruna (300km/3,30h) - Santiago de Compostela (75km/1h)
Visiting the Mass, then departure for Santiago and enjoying a scenic ride through the region of Galicia. Stopping at the University town of Oviedo and the coastal town of La Coruna. Continuing to Santiago.

Day 8 Santiago de Compostela
A full day of sightseeing in the city of Spain’s patron Saint. The name “Compostela”, from the Latin “field of the star”, was named after the tradition of St. James ( Santiago ), the Patron Saint of Spain. This city has been the third major site visited by Christian pilgrims and visitors ( after Jerusalem and Rome ) and is the present capital of Galicia. A walking tour of this medieval city on labyrinthine cobbled streets. Santiago remains virtually intact, since no man or natural upheavals have produced any damage to the city. It’s a true national monument with its buildings built with practically indestructible granite stone. Visiting the Plaza del Obradoiro and the great Cathedral that dominates the town. Its main entrance is two stories above the plaza. The statue of St. James smiles benignly down upon the faithful, the towers soar into the sky. The Portico de la Gloria, designed by Maestro Mateo and completed in 1188, is the finest example of a Romanesque sculpture. Celebrating the Mass. Inside the Cathedral there are more pieces of priceless architecture, statues and religious treasures. Behind the silver and gold main altar are the sarcophagi of St. James and two of his disciples. A statue of St. James towers above and is surrounded by an elaborate display of drapery and sculpture. Free time to browse through the quaint narrow streets and plazas, admiring such buildings as the Neoclassical Rajoy Palace, now the city hall, the Romanesque Colegio de San Jeronimo, and the stunning Parador de Los Reyes Católicos- all buildings which surround the other three sides of this magnificent plaza.

Day 9 Santiago de Compostela - Coimbra (340km/4h)- Fatima ( 90km/1h)
Visiting the morning Mass, boarding on a motor coach for a scenic drive to the University Town of Coimbra. Visiting the monastery where Sr. Lucy still lives, the sole surviving visionary. Continuing to Fatima.

Day 10 Fatima
The day begins with a Mass, than a visit of the Tombs of Francisco and Jacinto; the Aljustrel where the children lived; and Valinhos, where Our Lady appeared after the children’s return from prison. An option of praying the Stations of the Cross, time for devotions.

Day 11 Fatima - Lisbon (130km/1,30h)
Travelling to Lisbon, enjoying a panoramic city tour, including the Cathedral with the baptismal font of St. Anthony. Leisure time.

Day 12 Lisbon
Transfer to the Lisbon Airport, departure.