Marian Shrines of Spain, France & Portugal

This evening we depart Birmingham, via Atlanta, for our transatlantic flight to Barcelona. During the flight enjoy dinner, movies, and breakfast before our afternoon arrival in Spain.

Welcome to Barcelona! Upon our afternoon arrival we will continue through passport control and pick-up our  luggage. We then meet our tour escort and begin our pilgrimage with Mass in Barcelona before we check into our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona.

After breakfast we begin our day exploring Barcelona, a city over 2,000 years old. Our first visit includes the famous Sagrada Familia, the renowned, unfinished Basilica designed by Antoni Gaudi. During our morning visit we’ll celebrate Mass before we depart to see the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Mt. Tibidabo. We then enjoy a guided walking tour through the Gothic Quarter to visit the Cathedral, Las Ramblas with its colorful markets, and Plaza de Catalunya, Barcelona’s central square. Enjoy a stop for lunch along the way. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona.

This morning, we depart for Montserrat and visit the impressive Benedictine Monastery built on a rugged mountainside. We’ll celebrate Mass and visit the famous Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat. Since the 12th century, pilgrimage have visited the Black Madonna that was carved by St. Luke around 50 A.D. and brought to Spain. The statue was hidden from the Moors in a cave and rediscovered in 880 A.D. by shepherds who saw a bright light and heard heavenly music which led them to the cave and the statue. The small statue was so heavy that it could not be lifted, thus indicating that our Lady wanted her statue to stay on Montserrat. In the 11th century the Benedictine Monastery was built and the monks oversee the famous statue. After our visit we continue to Zaragoza with a stop along the way for lunch. In Zaragoza we’ll visit the beautiful Basilica of Our Lady of the Pilar built in the place where Our Lady appeared to St. James in 44 A.D. He saw Our Lady atop a pillar which was being carried by angels. This pillar is believed to be the same one venerated inside the Basilica. We continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Enjoy breakfast before we depart for Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pilar. We then travel to Lourdes and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Pyrenees mountains with a stop along the way for lunch. Once we arrive in Lourdes and check into our hotel, there is time to explore the town and participate in the Candlelight Procession. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes.

This morning, we begin our day with Mass at the famous Grotto where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. We then follow in

the footsteps of St. Bernadette with a tour of Boly Mill, where St. Bernadette was born, and the “Cachot,” an abandoned prison where

Bernadette’s family lived. Also visit the church and see the baptismal font where St. Bernadette was baptized. The afternoon is free to submerge yourself in the healing baths, drink from the miraculous spring, walk along the life-sized Stations of the Cross overlooking the Grotto, or spend quiet time in the Adoration Chapel. This evening there is the optional Blessed Sacrament Procession and Candlelight Procession. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes.

After breakfast, we have an early departure as we say au revoir to Lourdes and travel to Loyola, the birthplace of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits. We’ll visit the Basilica built in the 17th century dedicated to St. Ignatius. Celebrate Mass in Casa Santa, in the Chapel of Conversion, which is the room where St. Ignatius stayed after being wounded in battle and experienced his conversion. Free time for lunch before we continue to Cangas De Onis for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we drive to Covadonga and visit the Basilica of Santa Maria la Real and celebrate Mass. We then visit the Holy Cave of Our Lady of Covadonga. Tradition says that in 772 A.D. Our Lady helped the Christian Army defeat the Moors. During the battle, Pelayo and his men took refuge in the cave where there was a hidden statue of the Virgin Mary. After praying to the Virgin, the Moors were defeated. This afternoon we have free time for lunch and in Toro enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery. We continue to Salamanca for dinner and overnight.

This morning, visit the majestic city of Salamanca. We have a guided visit of the Old Quarter and Cathedral of Salamanca where we will celebrate Mass. We then travel to Fatima with a stop along the way for lunch. After we check into our hotel in Fatima, we can join the Candlelight Procession and pray the rosary. Dinner and overnight in Fatima.

After breakfast we’ll visit the Chapel of Apparitions, built in 1919 in Cova da Iria, which marks the exact location where Our Lady appeared to the three shepherd children in 1917. Visit the Basilica and the Fatima museum with the crown that contains the bullet from

St. John Paul II’s assignation attempt. We then visit the the hamlet of Aljustrel and the homes of the three shepherd children. We continue to Valinhos, the site where Our Lady appeared after the children’s return from prison. Then have the option to walk the beautiful Stations of the Cross and see the Chapel of Calvary overlooking Fatima. Celebrate Mass at the Chapel of Apparitions. Free time in the afternoon for lunch and your own personal devotions. This evening participate in the candlelight procession and pray the rosary. Dinner and overnight in Fatima.

We have an early departure from Fatima to the airport in Lisbon. As we say goodbye to our pilgrim family we will take home friendships, memories, and blessings that will last a lifetime.