Created: 08.03.2016

DAY 1 - DEPART - We depart our home airport for our overnight flight with dinner arriving the next day. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft. DAY 2 - PARIS/LISBON/FATIMA - We arrive in Paris and transfer to our flight to Lisbon Airport, where we are met and given a short orientation tour of Lisbon before the drive to Fatima. If possible, we celebrate Mass at the Church of the famous Eucharistic Miracle at Santerem. Balance of the day at leisure.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel. In the evening, we join the International Rosary Procession.   DAY 3 - FATIMA - This full day is devoted to visiting the Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima and the birthplaces of Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia to whom the Virgin appeared for the first time on May 13th, 1917.  In the evening, we once again join the International Rosary Procession.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel. DAY 4 - FATIMA/SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA - Today we depart Fatima, passing by the ancient capital and university city of Coimbra, where Lucia, the last Fatima visionary lived as a cloistered nun.  We continue northwards into Spain and on to Santiago de Compostela, one of the most famous shrines in the western world. This is the site of the ancient pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. James.  Tradition holds that the Apostle James was cast ashore here preaching for seven years and being responsible for the conversion of Spain before returning to the Holy Land. The Cathedral of 11th to 13th century with its splendor, and the portico are masterworks of Romanesque art.  On arrival this afternoon, we enjoy a visit to the Cathedral and the Old City here. While dinner is included at our hotel, the adventurous might consider enjoying the varied delights of the Galatian restaurants in the nearby Old City. DAY 5 - SANTANDER ??? Following our walk to Mass at the Cathedral of Santiago we return to our hotel for breakfast and then head east to Santander along one of the many ???Routes of St. James.???  While this is our longest coach day, the wonderful scenery of mountains and sea awe us as our roads hug the northern Spanish seacoast. Lunch on our own is taken along our route. Dinner and overnight in Santander.  DAY 6 - LOURDES - This morning following Mass in a local parish church, we continue eastward along the Basque coast via San Sebastian and cross the border into France.  In late afternoon, we arrive in Lourdes for dinner and overnight at our hotel. In the evening, we join the Torchlight Marian Procession.   DAY 7 - LOURDES ??? This day is spent in devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. We celebrate Mass at the Grotto with a morning orientation visit to the Shrine and a walking tour of Lourdes, visiting Boly Mill, where St. Bernadette was born, the Cachot, formerly used as a jail, where she lived during the apparitions, and the parish church.  This afternoon is free for private devotions, Eucharistic Procession, the Blessing of the Sick or the legendary, healing waters of the miraculous Lourdes spring.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.  In the evening, we join the Rosary and candlelight procession.   DAY 8 - LOURDES/MONTSERRAT -This morning we depart Lourdes and traverse the Pyrenees southward entering northern Spain. We drive to Montserrat on the outskirts of Barcelona and celebrate Mass at the Monastery housing the famed Madonna Black. If possible we enjoy the mid day music of the famous boys choir here.  Dinner and overnight at our Monastery hotel here. Day 9 ??? BARCELONA - This morning we celebrate Mass here in Montserrat and then drive to Barcelona.  Here we through the Gothic quarter bisected by the famous Ramblas and see the important new developments at the pleasure port where many of the Olympic events were held in 1992. We enjoy a spectacular view from the top of the Montjuic hill, pass by the Exchange and visit the Church of the Holy Family or Sagrada Familia, the still uncompleted masterpiece of Antoni Gaudi. Afterwards we visit the Unesco World Heritage "Park Guell" one of Gaudi's Masterpieces of "landscape architecture.???   We continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight. DAY 10 ??? BARCELONA/ZARAGOZA??? This morning we depart Barcelona towards Zaragoza, capital of Aragon.  On arrival, we visit the city which was founded by the Romans.  Its luxuriant vegetation, with its many cascades and grottos make it a miniature Switzerland in the middle of arid upper Aragon.  This city was also the birthplace of Goya, whose works grace many of the sites we visit.  The number one Marian shrine of Spain, the Pillar Basilica commemorates apparitions of Our Lady of the Pillar to St. James in 40 AD, and if possible we celebrate Mass. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. DAY 11 - ZARAGOZA/MADRID - This morning leaving the city and traveling south we reach Madrid.  This afternoon we visit highlights of Madrid, capital of Spain, including the Gran Via Plaza de España, the Viaduct, Plaza Major, passing by the Bull Ring, Independence and Cibeles Squares, the University, and the Paseo de la Castellana. Later we make our way to our hotel for dinner and overnight  Day 12 ??? AVILA - This morning, we make our way to the charming village of Avila, the birthplace of St. Teresa of Jesus, (1515-1582), one of the Church's greatest and most influential mystics.  Here we will visit the Cathedral and celebrate Mass at the Convent of the Incarnation, where St. Teresa lived for three decades and St. John of the Cross, her spiritual director and confessor lived for the last two years of her life.  After some free time, we return to Madrid for dinner and overnight. Day 13 ??? TORREMOLINOS ??? This morning, we depart Madrid  and drive south to the Costa del Sol along the Mediterranean.  The Costa Del Sol is protected by a chain of mountains from the northern winds, is the most popular tourist area in Spain.  Here we will spend three lovely nights on the seaside. After check in to our hotel, we will be free at this Mediterranean resort. We will be free to enjoy the culinary delights of Torremolinos tonight as dinner is on our own.  5 ??? 5.5 HOURS DRIVE Day 14 - SEVILLE -Seville is best known, perhaps, as the setting for some of the world's most famous operatic heroes and heroines: Carmen, Figaro and Don Giovanni. During your stay here, you'll have all the props winding alleys, secluded patios, and fountain-filled plazas. We will explore this lovely city on a half-day sightseeing tour that takes us to the cathedral, the world's largest Gothic building, as well as the magnificent Moorish palace known as the Alcazar.  This afternoon is free to explore the city.  Dinner and overnight at hotel in Torremolinos OR GIBRALTER ??? The Rock of Gibraltar is a fabulous chunk of limestone rearing up over the city and overrun by Barbary macaques. Legend says that if these monkeys leave the rock, so will the British leave Gibraltar. The area was turned over to the British in 8th C.  The ancients thought it to be one of the Pillars of Hercules, with the other standing across the sea in Morocco. If climbing the rock looks to you like a modern-day Labor of Hercules, fear not: there's a cable car that will take you the 425 meters (1,396 feet) to the top.   Return to Torremolinos for dinner and overnight. DAY 15 ???RETURN - We transfer to the airport in Malaga for our connecting flight home where we arrive later today with unforgettable memories to cherish always.

Creating Maps was never easier
Create and download your Maps within minutes