Join us for a Pilgrimage during the Jubilee Year that takes place only once every 25 years! We will travel to Barcelona, Lourdes and Rome and many places in between! Our trip includes walking through the Jubilee Doors and a Papal Audience with the Pope!

PILGRIMAGE: SPAIN – LOURDES - ITALY

OCTOBER 16-30, 2025

Day 1 – Thursday, October 16: Barcelona 

Arrival in Barcelona and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Barcelona

Day 2 - Friday - October 17: Barcelona
After breakfast we go on a guided tour of Barcelona.
The visit will start in the city centre: Plaça Catalunya, and then continue along the famous Rambla (it is curious to
think that it was once the bed of a river), known for the multitude of tourists we will meet there. On the right we will
admire the colourful Boqueria market, while on the left we will find the Barrio Gothica: the old medieval quarter, where
we will be able to admire the cathedral (Sagrada Familia), the peculiarities of the ancient palaces and the Plaza del Rey. We will then
continue to the adjacent Ribeira neighbourhood, where you will find the historic church so dear to the people of
Barcelona: Santa Maria del Mar, whose construction is recounted in a well-known recent novel, the Calle de
Montcada and the Santa Catarina market. After this first glimpse of the city, in the afternoon we will visit the Picasso
Museum in the Barrio Gothica (availability to be checked upon confirmation), which houses works from the famous
Spanish artist's youth, including Science and Charity. From his mature period, we will also see the Meninas series,
the entire cycle of which the artist kept here. In the afternoon we will head to the Port Vell, the city's 'Old Port', a
beautiful landscape, and, if there is still time, to the Port Olympic, the port built in 1991 to host the sailing competitions
planned for the 25th Olympics. Today, in addition to being a sports port, it has become an important tourist and
leisure centre in the city, especially at sunset. Overnight in Barcelona.

Day 3 - Saturday - October 18: Barcelona – Montserrat - Andorra
After breakfast - Departure to Montserrat, visit of the Monastery and have a guided tour.
Montserrat is a spectacularly beautiful Benedictine mountain hermitage located about an hour from Barcelona. Not
only is the Montserrat Monastery of great religious importance, but the natural beauty surrounding the monastery.
Afternoon, transfer to Andorra . Overnight in Andorra.

Day 4 - Sunday - October 19: Andorra - Lourdes
After breakfast - Departure to Lourdes. Upon arrival check-into hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in
Lourdes.

Day 5 - Monday -- October 20: Lourdes
After breakfast – Go on a half-day guided sightseeing tour of Lourdes. We will visit the Sanctuary Basilicas and in the footsteps of Saint Bernadette:- Basilica of the Immaculate Conception or Upper Basilica the first built on the rock of the apparitions; The Crypt built above the grotto and below the Upper
Basilica,- Basilica of the Rosary built later to cope with the ever-increasing numbers of pilgrims, on whose façade
mosaics depicting biblical events stand out; - St Pius X Basilica, a colossal work of high technological value, it is all
underground so as not to create a strong environmental impact with such a large construction;- St Bernadette's
Church, a modern building with a capacity of 5,000 people, consecrated in 1988. The museum, dedicated to St
Bernadette and the history of the apparitions; the Boly Mill the house where she was born, and the Cachot the house
where she lived during the apparitions. Overnight in Lourdes.

Day 6 - Tuesday - October 21: Lourdes - Montpellier
After breakfast, depart for Montpellier and upon arrival check into hotel and in the afternoon go on a half day
sightseeing tour of Montpellier. Montpellier is an important stage of the Way of St. James and is also the city that saw the birth of San Rocco, whose feast is celebrated here on August 16th. To see:The Fabre Museum Montpellier Agglomeration-The Historic center, the medieval streets and mansions-The Place de la Comédie-The Faculty of Medicine, the oldest in the Western
world, and the botanical garden-I Private palaces in the heart of the city and the "follies", the villas of eighteenth-
century countryside, near-The Mikvé, Jewish ritual bath of the thirteenth century-L'Arco De Triomphe-The Cathedral
of Saint-Pierre-The Antigone district, designed by architect Ricardo Bofill, and the banks of the Lez-The Zoological
Park and the new Amazonian greenhouse-L'Odysseum, The entertainment area of Montpellier, with the Planetarium
named after Galileo, the Aquarium Mare Nostrum and the new commercial area. Overnight in Montpellier.

Day 7 - Wednesday - October 22: Montpellier- Aix en Provence - Nice
After breakfast leave for Aix en Provence. Upon arrival we will go on a half-day sightseeing tour of Aix en Provence
and visit The historical capital of Provence, a university town, a city of art with an extremely rich architectural heritage,
Aix-en-Provence was the first Roman settlement in Gaul and the birthplace of the famous painter Paul Cézanne. The
visit begins at Cours Mirabeau, a shady avenue dotted with cafés, fountains and historic buildings, and the Fontaine
de la Rotonde located right in the heart of the city, and continues slowly into the Quartier Mazarin where the 'Fountain
of the Four Delphins' is located. After the tour We will then proceed to Nice and upon arrival and check in the rest of
the day is at leisure. Overnight in Nice.

Day 8 - Thursday - October 23: Nice
After breakfast, we embark on a Half-Day Guided tour of Nice with an English Speaking Guide. Upon completion the
rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Nice
The tour starts with a panoramic bus tour: the port with elegant Italian baroque buildings and the birthplace of
Giuseppe Garibaldi. The PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS, a 7 kilometre long walk that ends with the Airport and the
famous Phoenix Garden with botanical rarities from all over the world (weather permitting you can visit). Among the
Art Nouveau buildings along the promenade, stands out the Negresco, famous luxury hotel AVENUE JEAN
MEDECIN, main artery of the city with shops and department stores. PLACE GARIBALDI, elegant square with a
monument dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi. PLACE MASSENA, heart of the city with large green spaces and
majestic fountains The group can continue on their own guided tour with walk in the old Nice with the narrow alleys
and high buildings in Italian style with pastel colored facades and in the famous market fruit and vegetable
(extraordinarily tidy), and in that of the wonderful flowers (used for the Battle of the Flowers during the famous
Carnival). (entries excluded during the visit)

Day 9 - Friday - October 24: Nice – Parma
After breakfast we proceed to Parma and upon arrival and check in, we then go on a 2 hour Guided tour of Parma
with an English-Speaking Guide. Overnight in Parma.
Famous for its cuisine, Parma is much more than Parmigiano Reggiano or Prosciutto di Parma. Want to explore its
top tourist attractions? At the time indicated, we'll meet at the Parma Tourist Office and start a guided tour around
Emilia Romagna's city. Awarded the title of the Italian Capital of Culture in 2020, Parma is full of magnificent
monuments that you'll fall in love with. Leaving from Piazza Garibaldi, we'll walk to the famous Piazza del Duomo,
where we'll find iconic buildings such as the Cathedral and the Episcopal in Parma. In addition, we'll pass by San
Giovanni Evangelista Monastery and San Paolo Monastery. Without a doubt, Parma's palaces are well worth seeing,
especially the Palazzo Della Pillota and the Palazzo del Giardino. However, a guided tour of Parma wouldn't be
complete without talking about Giuseppe Verdi, the prodigal son of the region. We'll also reveal the secrets of
traditional local cuisine.

Day 10 - Saturday - October 25: Parma – Bologna – Florence
After breakfast we proceed to Florence via Bologna, where we will go on a half-day Guided Tour of Bologna. After the
tour we continue to Florence. After check into the hotel the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Florence
The visit starts from Piazza Malpighi, where passengers can hop on and hop off on busses. Heading to Piazza
Maggiore, once witness of very significant events, we will visit Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo d’Accursio, which,
even after being generously restored, still preserve a medieval charming. From Saint Petronius Basilica, the most 
important Church in Bologna, and its uncompleted façade, it is possible to admire “Virgin and child” made by Jacopo
Della Quercia. The Basilica contains at the inside several artworks belonging to Giovanni da Modena, Lorenzo Costa,
Francesco Francia, Parmigianino etc. and a 17th-century meridian. After this, we will proceed to the Neptune’s
fountain, a work of Giambologna and Tommaso Laureti, dominating Piazza Nettuno (Neptune Square), which was
erected during the papacy of Pius IV and represents the symbol of the papal power of Bologna. Towards the ancient
streets adjacent the square, we will reach Palazzo della Mercanzia, which hosted the Court of the Merchants, seat of
the Chamber of Commerce and of the excise duty, and Piazza di Porta Ravegnana (Square of the Gate of Ravenna)
in which the two towers, that of the Asinelli, and that of Garisenda, stand out. Walking through Strada Maggiore you
will reach the Benedictine Complex of Saint Stephen, known as “the Bolognese Jerusalem”, a place of great virtue
and devotion. The tour ends with the visit of the Archiginnasio, the former prestigious seat of the University, in which
the suggestive Anatomical Theatre, where lessons about the dissection of corpses were once held, is well-worth
visiting.

Day 11 - Sunday - October 26: Florence
After breakfast we go on a half- day guided tour of Florence. After tour the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in
Florence
The tour starts at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, visit the Piazza del Duomo and its surroundings. The Piazza
del Duomo forms with the Piazza di San Giovanni the centre of the city. Here stand the most important religious
monuments in Florence, linked by the lively polychrome of the typical covering of white, green and pink marble in
geometric patterns: the Baptistery (exterior), with its typical octagonal shape, in which the three bronze doors that
open into it are of considerable importance; the Duomo, in Florentine Gothic style with Brunelleschi's famous ribbed
dome; the Campanile di Giotto (exterior), one of the most beautiful bell towers of Gothic architecture, begun by Giotto
in 1334 and finished by Pisano and Talenti; the Duomo di Firenze (interior) with its famous Dome, the work of Filippo
Brunelleschi, symbol of Florence's wealth and cultural hegemony. We visit Piazza Signoria with Palazzo Vecchio
(exterior) and all the original statues in the square including Bellini's Perseus. Straw market with the famous lucky
boar.

Day 12 - Monday - October 27: Florence – Assisi – Rome
After breakfast and check out we will be on our way to Rome via Assisi. Upon arrival in Assisi there will be a 2- hour
guided tour after which we will proceed to Rome. Upon arrival we will check into the hotel and after that the rest of the
day is at leisure. Overnight in Rome
ASSISI - GUIDED TOUR -The tour begins with the visit of Basilica of Santa Chiara, then we will continue with the two
points of interest par excellence of the city: the Upper Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi and the Lower Basilica of
San Francesco. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000, this religious complex was built in honor of the
founder of the Franciscan order and is a must-see for all those who decide to visit Umbria. For about an hour and a
half, we will have the opportunity to discover the different chapels that make up the sanctuary and the crypt where the
sarcophagus with the mortal remains of San Francesco is kept. We will then continue towards the Temple of Minerva,
located in Piazza del Comune. Did you know that, although today it serves as a church, the origins of the temple date
back to the Roman Empire? After visiting the temple, we will enter the Chiesa Nuova, an important place of worship
built on the site of the house of Saint Francis of Assisi. We will conclude the guided tour of Assisi by delving into
some interesting aspects of the history of the city and the life of Saint Francis.

Day 13 - Tuesday – October 28: Rome
After breakfast we go on a half -day Guided Tour of Rome. Upon completion the rest of the day is at leisure.
The tour starts at the Trevi Fountain, made famous by several films such as Fellini's ‘La dolce vita’, begun in 1732 by
Nicola Salvi and inaugurated in 1762. We continue our walk through the historical centre passing by Piazza Colonna,
named after the Column of Marcus Aurelius, Montecitorio, seat of the Chamber of Deputies, the Pantheon, erected by
Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century A.D. and housing the largest dome in the world. We continue with Palazzo
Madama, seat of the Senate of the Italian Republic, to Piazza Navona (stop), built on the ancient Stadium of
Domitian, with the famous Fountain of the 4 Rivers, Bernini's masterpiece.Afternoon at leisure: Overnight in Rome.

Day 14 - Wednesday - October 29: Rome
After breakfast we go to the Papal Audience. After that we go on a 2- hour guided tour including visiting the Vatican
Museums/Sistine Chapel. The rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Rome

Day 15 - Thursday – October 30 – Rome - Departure
After Breakfast and check out we transfer to airport for the departure flight home.

Package includes:
- Roundtrip airfare from Toronto
- 4 star accommodation
- Fully escorted tour throughout the tour
- Transportation in air-conditioned motorcoach
- Guided tours with local guide: Barcelona, Montserrat, Lourdes, Montpellier. Aix en Provence, Nice, Parma, Bologna, Florence, Assisi, Rome
- Entrance fees to sites visited
- Private airport transfers
- Breakfast daily

Package does not include: Gratuities, Insurance, Meals not on itinerary, Drinks with meals, Personal expenses