GRAN MARIAN SHRINES TOUR

DAY 1 MADRID

Transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 2 MADRID

Breakfast dinner and overnight at hotel. Morning guided city tour, we will visit panoramically some of its main avenues and monumental fountains (Cibeles, Neptuno), as well as the famous and busy “Plaza Mayor” (main square) and old town, visiting inside the Prado Museum, probably the best collection of classic painters of the world. Rest of day at leisure.

DAY 3 MADRID-ZAFAGOZA-LOURDES

Breakfast at hotel. ZARAGOZA Stop for guided visit , for walk in the Pilar Square, where the local citizens congregate for important events, and where there are the main monuments: Pilar Basilic, Seo, XVIth cent. Lonja (old market),… LOURDES Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 4 LOURDES

Breakfast, dinner and overnight at hotel. Day free for religious activities.

DAY 5 LOURDES-SAN SEBASTIAN-LOYOLA-BILBAO

Breakfast at hotel. SAN SEBASTIAN Thiscity is located in a privileged position, along a white sandy bay between two hills. The old townis situated near the picturesque harbor. (It is possible and we suggest a guided tour). LOYOLA (Azpeitia) The land birth of San Ignacio de Loyola the founder of the Jesuist religious order. Stop to visit the San Ignacio de Loyola Monastery. BILBAO Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 6 BILBAO-GARABANDAL

Breakfast at hotel. The old downtown is full of old character streets. The shape and ultra modern architecture of the Guggenheim modern art museum has become the symbol of the town. (It is possible and we suggest a guided tour) GARABANDAL Afternoon at leisure for religious activities where different apperance of the Virgin from 1961 recognized by the Pope Paul the VIth. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 7 GARABANDAL-COVADONGA-SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Breakfast at hotel. COVADONGA Stop to visit the Monastery basic in the history of Spain , due to considered the only point not conquered by Muslim armies in VIIIth century of the whole peninsule. From here the Christian kingdom started to ‘re-conquer’ the peninsule territory during 7 centuries! SANTIAGO de C. The city grew at the shadow of the cathedral, and the different bishops filled with churches in all art styles to compose a unique art ensemble declared ‘World Heritage Site’ by Unesco Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 8 SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Breakfast, dinner and overnight at hotel. Morning guided city tour, we will visit the extraordinary Cathedral, its museum and concluded with a panoramic tour. Rest of the day at leisure.

DAY 9 SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA-OPORTO-FATIMA

Breakfast at hotel. OPORTO Afternoon guided city tour. The Ribeira quarter, declared Human Patrimony, distinguished to him for its coloured and decorated facades and the labyrinte of streets, in which is opened the Infante Dom Henrique square, with two representations of the spirit of the city, the St. Francisco Church and Stock Exchange Palace. We do not can leave Oporto without visiting one of its wine cellars, located to the other side of the river, in Vila Nova de Gaia, from where we have an extraordinary view of the city, the Douro and its bridges. FATIMA Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 10 FATIMA

Breakfast, dinner and overnight at hotel. Day free for religious activities.

DAY 11 FATIMA-BATALHA-ALCOBAÇA-LISBON

Breakfast at hotel. BATALHA Magnificent XIVth century monastery ALCOBAÇA XIIIth century Abbey founded by the first king of Portugal LISBOA Afternoon guided city tour, we will visit its main avenues and squares, plenty of remains of when it was the capital of a huge empire all over the world (Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Goa-India-, Macao –China-, Timor, …). We will visit inside the Monastery Dos Jeronimos masterpiece of the Portuguese art, ‘Manuelino’, and the tower of Belem. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 12 LISBON-TOLEDO

Breakfast at hotel. TOLEDO (600 kms, 7 hours) It has been the capital of Spain and the royal residence in the XIII century. During this period, Muslim, Jews and Christians populations lived together peacefully turning it as a great cultural and monumental center. We will enjoy walking along its narrow streets where the history can be felt in the air. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 13 TOLEDO-MADRID

Breakfast at hotel. (if time available we would suggest a guided city tour) MADRID airport (Arrival in about 100 minutes).

* This itinerary could be easily transformed and leaving Lisbon or Barcelona, or arriving Madrid/leaving Lisbon…