Itinerary
Day 1 – US Departure
Arrive at the airport to board your overnight flight to Barcelona. (Breakfast)
Barcelona, Spain
Day 2 – Arrive in Barcelona, Spain
Welcome to Spain! A group transfer is provided to the hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure to relax or begin exploring.
Town of Verdu, Spain
Day 3 – Day trip to Verdu!
First we head to VERDU, the birthplace of St. Peter Claver. Attend Mass at THE CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA and on your tour of the village, visit the famed VERDU CASTLE to participate in FEAST DAY celebrations for the storied Saint. Continue on to the ROYAL ABBEY OF SANTA MARIA DE POBLET for a guided tour. The monastery is famous as the final resting place for many of the kings and queens of the Crown of Aragon. Return to Barcelona this evening where a welcome dinner is planned tonight at a local restaurant. (Breakfast, Dinner)
The Black Madonna at Montserrat
Day 4 – Excursion to Montserrat
Drive through picturesque villages to 4,320-foot MONTSERRAT with its impressive Benedictine monastery perched halfway up the mountain. Visit the ROYAL BASILICA, one of Spain’s most important pilgrimage sites for hundreds of years due to its famous 12th-century Romanesque carving of the Virgin Morenita (Black Virgin). Also see the impressive MUSEUM located inside and participate in a LIQUOR TASTING that includes handmade liquors made by the monks of the monastery.
Return to Barcelona where guided sightseeing includes a drive around Montjuïc to see the Olympic Stadium and a great panoramic view of the port and city. Continue to the city center’s Plaza Catalunya and Paseo de Gracia to admire Gaudi’s eccentric Houses Batlló and Milà, as well as his SAGRADA FAMILIA, an unfinished architectural masterpiece that is still a consecrated expression of the Catholic faith. (Breakfast)
St. Peter's Square
Day 5 – Off to Rome
A group transfer is provided to the airport for your early flight to Rome. Begin your discovery in Vatican City with a guided visit of the VATICAN MUSEUMS, a unique collection of religious and secular art that spans for centuries, with some of the finest examples of Renaissance paintings, including the SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment, as well as for being the place where the conclave takes place for the election of the new popes.
Continue the visit with monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE, where the Pope prays the Angelus every Sunday in front of thousands of believers; and the BASILICA, not only an incredibly rich architectural and decorative wonder, but also the place where all Catholic popes are buried. Cross the Tiber River and dip into ancient Roman history. See the COLOSSEUM, the largest amphitheater ever built, and the Roman Forum, site of military processions, elections, trials, and the overall center of Roman public life for centuries. (Breakfast)
St. Paul Outsite the Wall
Day 6 – The Sights of Rome
This morning, attend the PAPAL AUDIENCE for the chance to see the Pope and receive the Papal Blessing. On our guided tour, visit ST. PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS, one of Rome’s four major Papal basilicas built by Constantine on the grave of St. Paul, beheaded by Nero around 65-67 AD, and explore the mysterious ancient CATACOMBS that run under the city. During the persecutions, the catacombs were used as places of refuge for the celebration of the Eucharist.
Next, visit ST. JOHN LATERAN BASILICA and the HOLY STAIRS, brought from Jerusalem to Rome around 326 AD by St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. Officially, pilgrims may only ascend these 28 white marble steps on their knees.
Then, visit the hallowed halls of ST. MARY MAJOR BASILICA, its beautiful treasures are of inestimable value, and represent the Church’s role as the cradle of Christian artistic civilization in Rome. For nearly sixteen centuries, St. Mary Major has held its position as a Marian shrine par excellence and has been a magnet for pilgrims from all over the world who have come to the Eternal City to experience the beauty, grandeur, and holiness of the basilica. This evening, gather with your travelling companions for dinner at a local restaurant. (Breakfast, Dinner)
*Papal audience is subject to the Popes availability*
The Colosseum
Day 7 – Thursday – Rome
Attend MASS this morning, your final day in Rome is at leisure to relax or continue to explore. (Breakfast)
Day 8 – Depart from Rome
Attend MASS this morning, your final day in Rome is at leisure to relax or continue to explore. (Breakfast)