Wednesday, January 10, Day 1:
DEPART FROM USA
Depart on an overnight flight to Barcelona. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the plane. Add-on flights will be available from most major airports upon request. You may also purchase the land-only option and meet the group at the hotel in Barcelona.
Thursday, January 11, Day 2:
ARRIVAL – BARCELONA
Welcome to Spain! Your English-speaking tour manager will meet the group at the airport and assist with the bus boarding. We stop for Mass and to see the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, made famous by the novel and the Netflix series Cathedral by the Sea. Nearby is the Picasso Museum, which you may visit during your time at leisure in Barcelona.
We check into our hotel. Tonight at 6 PM, we meet in the hotel lobby for a welcome drink and introduction to the group leaders and our fellow pilgrims. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Barcelona.
Friday, January 12, Day 3:
BARCELONA
The day starts with morning Mass and a visit to the almost-finished masterpiece by Antonio Gaudi, La Sagrada Familia, the Basilica of the Holy Family. The afternoon and dinner are at leisure to explore Barcelona, visit the hopping La Rambla area of the city with its La Boqueria Food Market, where you can pick up lunch as locals do and choose to ride a local taxi or walk off the calories with a stroll through Park Guell, famous for its iconic landmarks by Gaudi. Overnight in Barcelona.
Saturday, January 13, Day 4:
BARCELONA – MONTSERRAT
We visit the Cathedral dedicated to the Holy Cross and to St. Eulalia, the patron saint of Barcelona and the cloisters nearby. We may even be fortunate to see the Sardana, a Catalan dance performed in the square on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Our day continues with a visit to the Abbey of Montserrat to celebrate Mass, see the Throne of Our Lady, and the Museum. Return to Barcelona for dinner at the hotel and overnight.
Sunday, January 14, Day 5:
MONASTERY OF POBLET – MONTBLANC – ZARAGOZA
Our first stop on our road trip from Barcelona to Zaragoza is the Monastery of Poblet, one of the largest Monasteries in Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We celebrate Mass and explore the Monastery before driving to the nearby hilltop town of Montblanc. Following lunch and time to explore the city center encircled by ancient walls, we drive to Zaragoza for dinner and overnight. (B.D.)
Monday, January 15, Day 6:
ZARAGOZA- OUR LADY OF PILLAR- CITY OF GOYA
We visit Our Lady of Pillar this morning to celebrate Mass and have time for prayer and reflection.The Basilica enshrines the pillar on which the Virgin Mary appeared to St. James during his apostolic mission in Spain, also known as the Camino de Santiago. As a sign of fulfillment of your pilgrimage to Our Lady of Pillar, we have the opportunity to kiss the venerable column (Pillar) where Our Lady once stood. We walk through the town, resplendent with iconic buildings. We see Goya’s cenotaph and the Archbishop’s Palace. At the Cathedral of El Salvador, built in the local Mudejar architecture style, we have a chance to see the incredible collection of Flemish Tapestries (museum entrance included). In the afternoon, explore the Old Quarter of Zaragoza on your own or visit the Goya Museum to see the artworks by the great Spanish master Francisco Goya who was born in Zaragoza. Tonight enjoy a typical dinner from this region accompanied by local wines from the world-famous Rioja wine region. Overnight in Zaragoza. (B. Special dinner.)
Tuesday, January 16, Day 7:
TORRECIUDAD – LOURDES
Following our check out from the hotel, we drive to the magnificent Hermitage of Our Lady of Torreciudad, a place of pilgrimage since the 11th century, considered the most beautiful Marian Shrine in Spain. We celebrate Mass and pray the Rosary, followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Following lunch, we drive through the Pyrenees Mountain Range to Lourdes. Overnight Lourdes. (B.L.D.)
Wednesday and Thursday, January 17 and 18, DAY 8 and 9:
TWO FULL DAYS
We are blessed to have two full days of pilgrimage in Lourdes, including daily Mass at the Grotto, watching the video presentation about the story of Lourdes, exploring the birthplace of St. Bernadette, and seeing the places she visited. We have time to pray at the Stations of the Cross and drink the water from the miraculous spring. Overnight in Lourdes. (B.D.)
Friday, January 19, Day 10:
LOURDES – NOTRE DAME DE PROUILLE – TOULOUSE
We depart Lourdes driving to visit the Monastery of Notre Dame de Prouille, where St. Dominic founded the Order of the Preachers, which became the Dominican Order, and where Our Lady appeared to him to give him the prayer of the Rosary. Our busy day ends with Mass in Toulouse, at the Church of the Jacobins, the burial site of St. Thomas of Aquinas. Tonight we have a festive farewell dinner with wine in a local restaurant. Overnight Toulouse. (B.L. Special dinner)
Saturday, January 20, Day 11:
RETURN TO USA
This morning we depart for the airport and our flight home. (B)
Saturday, January 20, Day 11:
LTGV TRAIN TO PARIS
We check out of our hotel early this morning to take the TGV Bullet Train to Paris. Our luggage will be on the train with us. The City of Lights opens in front of us on a panoramic tour during which we see all the major sites and monuments, including the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum. We celebrate Mass and check into our hotel. You may want to visit Le Marché des Enfants Rouges (the Red Children Market), the oldest and most popular market in Paris, open till 7:30PM where you’ll find food stalls selling French and International food. Truly a cultural experience. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Paris. (B)
Restaurant recommendations:- Be sure to reserve space well in advance:
Sunday, January 21, Day 12:
PARIS
We celebrate Mass at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal and walk to the nearby Church of St. Vincent de Paul, where we may venerate the Saint’s relics. Our visit continues to the Church of Saint Sulpice in the Latin Quarter and St. Chapelle to see the famous stained glass windows. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Paris. (B)
Monday, January 22, Day 13:
PARIS
This morning we drive to Montmartre for a visit to the Sacred Heart Basilica. Following Mass, we have time at leisure to explore Paris on our own, perhaps visit the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery or the Louvre Museum. An excellent small museum with Impressionist paintings located in the Place de la Concorde and Tuileries Gardens, visit Musée de l’Orangerie. We gather at our hotel tonight before our farewell dinner on the Seine River Cruise. Overnight in Paris. (B.Special dinner)
Tuesday, January 23, Day 14:
RETURN TO USA
This morning we depart for the airport and our flight home. (B)
BAGGAGE CHARGES NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP COST:
TIPPING:
For More Information Contact: Select International Tours
at 800-842-4842 | jane@select-intl.com | www.selectinternationaltours.com
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