MYSTICAL SHRINES OF SPAIN PILGRIMAGE - 206 Tours

D AY- BY- D AY I T I N E R A R YDay 1: June 14, Fri, Departure from OrlandoDepart Orlando for our overnight international flight to Madrid, Spain. Meals in-flight. (D)© 2012 Google © 2012 Tele AtlasDay 2: June 15, Sat, Arrive MadridBreakfast will be served in-flight. Upon arrival in Madrid, we will meet ourTour Escort and motor coach driver for a tour of Madrid including the RoyalPalace and Plaza Mayor before transferring to our hotel. Tonight we will enjoya Welcome Dinner with wine included before retiring for the evening.Overnight in Madrid. (B/D)Day 3: June 16, Sun, Madrid - Toledo - MadridWe’ll depart for Toledo which sits on a rocky mound isolated on three sides bya looping gorge of the Río Tajo. Every available inch of this outcrop haschurches, synagogues, mosques and houses heaped upon one another in ahaphazard spiral, with narrow cobbled lanes navigating between interestingarchitecture. Toledo is known as the City of the Three Religions or Culturesbecause for many centuries the Christians, the Moors, and the Jews livedtogether in relative equality and peace. The city surrounded by walls hidesgreat treasures: it’s awesome Cathedral, the church of Santo Tomé, theTránsito Synagogue, Santa María La Blanca Synagogue, the superb church ofSan Juan de los Reyes, Puerta de Bisagras, and Puerta del Cambrón, Puertadel Sol. We return to Madrid for free time and dinner on your own. OvernightMadrid (B).Day 4: June 17, Mon, Madrid - Segovia - Avila - SalamancaWe’ll depart Madrid in the morning and travel to Segovia, a medieval walledcity bordered by twin rivers and miles of shaded walks including pedestrianstreets. Here we will visit the St. John of the Cross Shrine and Reliquary in theConvent of Carmelite Friars. Our next stop will be Ávila, a perfectly-preserved11th Century wall surrounds the city where mystic writer Santa Teresa wasborn and whose shrines are a must-see for all Catholic pilgrims! The citydedicated to Santa Teresa has changed very little since the days of the firstwoman to be named a Doctor of the Church. Our visit includes La SantaMonastery, built on the site of the house where she was born and San JoséConvent, the first monastery founded by the Saint along with the Cathedral,San Vicente church, the Incarnation Convent - where St. Teresa became a nunand home to the most comprehensive museum dedicated to her life. Afterwalking in the footsteps of St. Teresa, we will continue to Salamanca fordinner and overnight. (B/D)Day 5: June 18, Tue, Salamanca - Alba de Tormes - SalamancaWe’ll visit the city of Salamanca this morning, one of the most graceful citiesin Spain. For four centuries it was the seat of one of the most prestigiousuniversities in the world. We will have a chance to see many of the city'ssights including the grand Plaza Mayor, the hub of Salmantine life; the vastBaroque church of La Clerecía; the Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells),named after the rows of carved scallop shells symbolic of the pilgrimage toSantiago which decorate its façade and many of the buildings of theUniversity; cathedrals; Roman Bridge; San Marcos and San Martin churches.Afterward, we will depart to the quaint village of Alba de Tormes. Here we willvisit the Carmelite Monastery, where Saint Teresa died in 1582 A.D. and isburied. In the Monastery museum we will view the incorrupt heart and left armof St. Teresa. We will return to Salamanca for dinner on your own andovernight. (B)Day 6: June 19, Wed, Salamanca - Santiago de CompostelaWe’ll depart Salamanca after breakfast for the scenic drive to Santiago deCompostela. Enroute we will visit a monastery for Mass and enjoy a lunch stopalong the beautiful drive. Arrive in Santiago de Compostela, home of St. Jamesfor dinner and overnight. (B/D)Day 7: June 20, Thu, Santiago de CompostelaVisit Cathedral of St. James, one of the finest examples of architecture in all ofEurope. As pilgrims, we have the opportunity to climb the stairs behind thehigh altar to visit the crypt where the relics of St. James are preserved, touchthe central pillar (Portico de La Gloria), view the 'botafumeiro' and admire thewealth of medieval art inside the Cathedral, before visiting the cloistermuseum. Enjoy a stroll on own though the beautiful streets of Santiago deCompostela, the city of the apostle, full of historical buildings and otherattractions. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Santiago de Compostela. (B)Day 8: June 21, Fri, Santiago de Compostela - Leon - BurgosAfter breakfast we will depart the city of St. James and drive to Burgos.During our travels today, we will stop in León for lunch and some free time.This graceful, historic city was once capital of a kingdom, a bastion of Christianresistance to the Moorish conquest of Spain and Portugal – now aforward-looking city which has avoided the ravages of modern development.Unmistakable Spanish with a different feel to anywhere else in the country,making for a rewarding visit. We will continue to Burgos for dinner andovernight. (B/D)Day 9: June 22, Sat, Burgos - Santo Domingo de Silos visit - BurgosToday we will explore the amazing sites of Burgos including the magnificentlimestone Cathedral, the Carthusian Monastery – an amazing example ofBaroque architecture with its Doric arches, ornate sculptures and carvings.Construction began in 1516 and continued for the next three hundred yearsand never completed! The land was confiscated from the monks in 1836 andthe cloister was destroyed in 1842. The monastery community of monks andlaymen lived under a vow of silence, they would spend their days praying,meditating, studying, working, and doing crafts (the rosary beads that theyused to make from rose petals can be purchased in the shop next door). We’llsee Santo Domingo de Silos thought to be a universal Romanesque gem,which has become a center of spiritual and artistic pilgrimage. The monastery,of gothic origin, was razed to the ground by the Arabs, and rebuilt by SantoDomingo, whose remains lie in a sarcophagus that was carved in the rock. Itssensational Romanesque cloister, dates from the 11th and 12th centuries, andhas beautiful capitals with sculptures depicting a variety of themes, resting ondouble columns. We will see eight remarkable depictions from the life of JesusChrist. The monastery managed by Benedictine monks who celebrateGregorian Masses, has a rich library and an 18th-century pharmacy, whichholds a collection of Talavera jars & a lab full of antique instruments. We willreturn to Burgos for you to enjoy dinner on your own. Overnight Burgos. (B)Day 10: June 23, Sun, Burgos - Zaragoza - BarcelonaAfter breakfast we will depart towards Zaragoza where we will visit themagnificent Basilica del Pilar, built in the place where our Lady appeared toSaint James. Tradition says that in the early day of the Church, Saint JamesThe Greater was spreading the Gospel in Spain, but making very littleprogress. He was dejected and questioning his mission. About 44 AD, theVirgin Mary, who was still living in Jerusalem at the time, bi-located andappeared to him in a vision to boost his morale. In it, she was atop a columnor pillar, which was being carried by angels. That pillar is believed to be thesame one venerated inside the Basilica. We will also visit the Cathedral ofZaragoza and we will do a walking tour of the city. Later we will continue ourjourney to Barcelona for dinner and overnight. (B/D)Day 11: June 24, Mon, Barcelona - Montserrat - BarcelonaAfter breakfast we will enjoy a tour of Barcelona including: panoramic views ofthe Harbor area, Montjuic, Plaza de España, and Plaza de Catalunya.Afterwards, continue on a guided walk through the Gothic Quarter to visit thecathedral and view Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, a beautiful, unfinished RomanCatholic basilica of impressive proportions. Later, we’ll travel to Montserrat,home to the dramatically set Benedictine monastery. On a ruggedmountainside we will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat. Since the 12th-century, pilgrims have been drawn to the mountain to venerate themiraculous statue of the Black Madonna. According to Catholic tradition, thestatue of the Black Virgin of Montserrat was carved by St. Luke around 50 ADand brought to Spain. It was later hidden from the Moors in a cave, where itwas rediscovered by shepherds in 880 AD. They saw a bright light and heardheavenly music that eventually led them to the grotto and the statue. TheBishop of Manresa was present at the discovery and suggested that it bemoved to Manresa, but the small statue was discovered to be so heavy it couldnot be lifted. Thus the Virgin had indicated her will to stay on Montserrat to bevenerated there. In the 11th century, the abbot-bishop Oliba founded amonastery on the mountain of Montserrat next to one of the chapels wherethe Benedictine Abbey is still preserved. Return to Barcelona for dinner onyour own. Overnight Barcelona. (B)Day 12: June 25, Tue, Barcelona - Day at LeisureA day on your own in this beautiful city for independent activities, shopping, oroptional tours. Farewell dinner this evening. Overnight Barcelona (B/D)Day 13: June 26, Wed, Barcelona - OrlandoDeparture to the airport and your return flights home.