0405UA7 - Spain & Portugal Pilgrimage 10 days from Jacksonville

Today, we depart the Jacksonville International Airport for our overnight flight to Madrid. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner, and breakfast while aloft.

We arrive in the capital city of Madrid, where we are met by our Unitours Tour Manager as we board our coach bus for an orientation tour of Madrid. Depending on our arrive time, we break for lunch on our own along our route before we transfer to our hotel for our “welcome” dinner and overnight in Madrid. We will enjoy Mass at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid at some point after arrival.

Today after breakfast, we depart for the medieval city of Avila. We enjoy the Spanish countryside as we journey back in time to this medieval walled city. Our first stop is the Convent of St. Joseph. This monastery, which St. Teresa founded for her Carmelite sisters, is an incredibly special pilgrimage spot to even those who are not avid followers of St. Teresa. We enjoy a tour of the museum dedicated to her as well. Following a break for lunch on our own, we visit the Cathedral of the Savior, more commonly referred to as the Avila Cathedral. It was constructed in the 12th century and remodeled over the following six centuries, it is an imposing work of architecture and beauty. We celebrate Mass while there. We return to Madrid for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning after breakfast, we travel to Salamanca, a true marvel of renaissance art. The city glows in the golden color of the stone used in its innumerable monuments. The University is outstanding and is among the three most ancient in Europe. Founded in 1218AD, it proudly boasts of having had among its students and professors, such outstanding figures of the Spanish Golden Century as Brother Luis of Leon and Saint John of the Cross. After a break for lunch on our own, we visit its two cathedrals, one ancient in the Romanesque style, the other belonging to the late Gothic school. St. Theresa of Avila died in a village called Alba de Tormes near here. Her body is in a reliquary in the main altar of the Carmelite Convent Church there. Following Mass there, we return to Madrid for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we travel north to the town of Segovia and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and of St. Fructus, locally known simply as Segovia Cathedral. The original Cathedral was built in the early 14th century but was destroyed during the siege of Alcazar, which was adjacent to the Cathedral. It was rededicated after its completion in 1768, after the final stage of construction was finished. It was dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption and Segovia’s patron saint, St. Fructus, a Castilian hermit who had miracles attributed to him and who’s relics are now located in the Cathedral. We celebrate Mass while there and, following a break for lunch on our own, we visit the famous Aqueduct of Segovia. One of the best examples of Roman architectural savvy, the aqueduct was constructed in the first century during the rule of Domitian and despite extraordinarily little mortar being used between the carved stones, it has stood the test of time and remarkably still transported water, well into the nineteenth century! Our next stop is the Church of Vera Cruz, which was built in 1208 along the Crusade route to the Holy Land by the Order of the Holy Sepulcher. Modeled after the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, it features a 12-sided interior, one wall for each of the Apostles. We conclude our day in Segovia and return to Madrid in time for dinner and overnight.

Today after breakfast, we conclude our final day in Madrid with a visit to some of the highlights of Madrid, including the Gran Via Plaza de España, the Viaduct, the Bull Ring, Independence and Cibeles Squares, the University, and the Paseo de la Castellana. We partake in Mass at the Basilica of San Franciso el Grand at some point today. We break for lunch on our own and enjoy the remainder of the day with free time for leisure or last-minute sightseeing. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning after breakfast, we travel west through the Spanish countryside to Fatima, we stop for lunch on our own along our route and arrive in the afternoon. Following some time for leisure, we celebrate Mass before dinner at our hotel in Fatima and at dusk, join the International Rosary Procession.

After breakfast, this full day is devoted to visiting the Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. We proceed to the hamlets of Aljustrel & Valinhos and visit the birthplaces of Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia, to whom the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared six times, from May 13 to October 13, 1917. We join the English language concelebrated Mass at the Chapel of Apparitions. After a break for lunch on our own, we visit the Loca de Anjo and the Holy Way. We visit the Sanctuary on our own, the tombs of Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Fatima. In the evening, we join the International Rosary Procession. Mass TBD.

Today after breakfast, we depart Fatima and head south toward Lisbon. We stop along our route at St. Stephen, the Church of the famous Eucharistic Miracle in Santarem, for a visit and Mass. We continue to Lisbon and break for lunch on our own before enjoying an orientation tour of Lisbon on the way to our hotel, where we celebrate our “farewell” dinner. Overnight at our hotel in Lisbon.

This morning, we transfer to the airport for our flight home with spirit filled memories that will be with us for a lifetime!