Experience Spain
Significant Feast Days
|
|
9- Day Pilgrimage
Day 1 Depart your city for Madrid
Day 2 Arrive in Madrid, check into accommodations, visit the Almudena Cathedral, Basilicas of St. Francisco el Grande and San Isidro, Plaza Mayor, and the Royal Palace of Madrid
Day 3 Make a day trip to Avila. Be awed by the Convento la Encarnacion, fortress-Cathedral, and Monasterio de Santo Tomas, pray before the relics of St. Teresa
Day 4 Make a day trip to Segovia. Celebrate Mass at the Carmelite Convent, visit the Cathedral, pray in front of the tomb of St. John of the Cross
Day 5 Make a day trip to Toledo, the ancient capital of Spain. Relax in the Plaza de Zocodover, and then explore the Iglesia de Santo Tome, the Catedral, and Sinagoga de Santa Maria la Blanca.
Day 6 Travel to Barcelona, marvel at the Cathedral de la Santa Creu, Chapel of Santa Agatha, Santa Maria del Pi, and experience the color of the city on Las Ramblas
Day 7 Visit the Gothic Quarters, Holy Family Church, and Santa Maria del Mar. The afternoon is free for independent exploration.
Day 8 Make a day trip to the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat, and then enjoy a free final evening in Barcelona.
Day 9 Depart Barcelona for home.
Mass will be celebrated daily within the itinerary.
Specific locations and events within the daily itinerary are subject to change depending on actual dates of travel.
Day 2 Arrive in Madrid, check into accommodations, visit the Almudena Cathedral, Basilicas of St. Francisco el Grande and San Isidro, Plaza Mayor, and the Royal Palace of Madrid
Day 3 Make a day trip to Avila. Be awed by the Convento la Encarnacion, fortress-Cathedral, and Monasterio de Santo Tomas, pray before the relics of St. Teresa
Day 4 Make a day trip to Segovia. Celebrate Mass at the Carmelite Convent, visit the Cathedral, pray in front of the tomb of St. John of the Cross
Day 5 Make a day trip to Toledo, the ancient capital of Spain. Relax in the Plaza de Zocodover, and then explore the Iglesia de Santo Tome, the Catedral, and Sinagoga de Santa Maria la Blanca.
Day 6 Travel to Barcelona, marvel at the Cathedral de la Santa Creu, Chapel of Santa Agatha, Santa Maria del Pi, and experience the color of the city on Las Ramblas
Day 7 Visit the Gothic Quarters, Holy Family Church, and Santa Maria del Mar. The afternoon is free for independent exploration.
Day 8 Make a day trip to the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat, and then enjoy a free final evening in Barcelona.
Day 9 Depart Barcelona for home.
Mass will be celebrated daily within the itinerary.
Specific locations and events within the daily itinerary are subject to change depending on actual dates of travel.
About Spain
St. Isidro Church was built in the mid 17th century in honor of Isidore the Laborer, patron Saint of Madrid. Isidore was a very poor, but devout, farmer who attended mass every morning. His fellow laborers complained about this, but when their master investigated, he found Isidore at prayer while an angel was doing the plowing for him. Another time, the master saw an angel on either side of Isidore helping him plow doing the work of three men. Many other miracles happened during and after his life, and he was canonized a saint in 1622, along with other well known saints including Teresa of Avila. This church houses the remains of St, Isidro, and it served as the cathedral of Madrid until the Cathedral of Almudena was complete in 1993.
The Royal Palace of Madrid was originally a 9th century fortress against the Moors. Philip II moved his royal court to Madrid in 1561, at which time the “old castle” was built on the location of the fortress. This burned down in the early 18th century and a new castle was built on the same site by King Philip V. Alfonso XIII, who died in 1931, was the last monarch to reside in the palace. The palace is the largest in Europe and has 3,418 rooms.
Convento de la Encarnacion, also known as the Convent of the Incarnation, was founded in 1515 by the Carmelite nuns. St. Teresa of Jesus (aka St. Teresa of Avila) entered the order and spent 29 years of her life here. A chapel was built over St. Teresa’s cell in 1630. Relics of St. John of the Cross are also housed here.
Segovia Cathedral was built between 1525-1577 and is dedicated to Our Lady. The original cathedral stood adjacent to the Alcazar, castle. The cloister and door that leads to it from the southern transept are older than the church, being moved from the original site near the Alcazar. It is considered the last gothic cathedral of Spain, and Europe’s last great gothic cathedral.
|
The Royal Basilica of San Francisco el Grande was built in the 18th century. Next to it is the Franciscan convent founded in the 13th century on the site of an old chapel.
The Almudena Cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena and consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1993, when it was finally completed. Although discussions and plans started in the 16th century, construction did not begin until 1879. The cathedral was built on the site of a medieval mosque that was destroyed in 1083 when Alfonso VI reconquered Madrid.
La Plaza Mayor is in the center of Madrid’s bustling city. It was originally called Plaza del Arrabal, but was remodeled a few times between 1560 and 1790. The plaza is rectangular in shape and is surrounded by stores and apartments. Throughout history, It has been used for markets, bullfights, soccer games, public executions, and more. A statue of King Philip III, the first King to order the remodeling of the plaza, stands at its center.
Monasterio de Santo Tomas was funded by the Catholic Royals, Ferdinand and Isabel, and constructed in 1482. Their only son, Don Juan, and Friar Tomas Torquemada, their confessor and advisor, are buried here.
The Monastery of the Discalced Carmelites, was built in the 13th century. St. John of the Cross is buried here in a chapel on the Gospel side. St. John entered the Carmelite Order in 1563 and was ordained a priest in 1567. Shortly after, he met a charismatic Carmelite nun named Teresa of Jesus. The two saints brought reform to the Carmelite Order and have both been named Doctors of the Church.
|
The Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat is a Benedictine Monastery and Church that dates back to the 11th century. It is home to the Statue of Our Lady of Montserrat, possibly Spain’s most fervent devotion to the Blessed Mother.
|
The Basilica of the Holy Family, or Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. It was designed by the famed architect Antoni Gaudí and has been in construction for over 140 years.
|