Depart the USA

Upon arrival in Madrid, you will meet your tour escort and transfer to your hotel. Tonight, you can walk through the Plaza Mayor. Dinner and your overnight stay are in Madrid.

Burgos, the historic capital of Old Castile and the hometown of Juan Alfonso de Polanco, who was the order’s secretary and St. Ignatius’s collaborator in writing the Constitutions. Celebrate Mass at Santa Maria Cathedral. Many Spanish Kings are buried here, and El Cid is Spain’s hero. The Cathedral of Burgos is the third largest church in Spain and is striking for its beautiful Spanish Gothic style. Enjoy time on your own in the medieval city. Continue to Loyola, where in 1491, St. Ignatius Loyola was born in the Castle of Loyola. Dinner and your overnight stay are in Loyola.

Begin the day at St. Ignatius’s childhood home. Celebrate Mass in Loyola Castle and then visit the room where St. Ignatius experienced his spiritual conversion. The readings include some of the very texts that Ignatius read leading up to his conversion and accounts of how Ignatius assisted others with their spiritual conversation. Visit the basilica adjacent to the castle— together forming much of the Sanctuary of Loyola—as well as the Loyola family archives. In the afternoon, you venture into the town of Azpeitia to visit the church in which Ignatius was baptized as well as the church outside of which he preached. See the hospital where he lived and worked after his studies in Paris. Travel to the Hermitage of Olatz and to Aranzazu, a popular shrine to Our Lady at the time of St. Ignatius, where we know Ignatius prayed for strength to overcome his former temptations. Dinner and your overnight stay are in Loyola.

Enjoy time today to spend on your own. Breakfast and dinner are included at your hotel today. Your overnight stay is in Loyola.

This morning, you will travel to Pamplona, the birthplace and childhood home of St. Francis Xavier, a great Evangelist of the 16th century. After the battle of Pamplona, young St. Francis Xavier was sent to the University of Paris, where he would meet his roommate, St. Ignatius. Together, they would co-found the Order of the Society of Jesus. See where Ignatius was wounded defending the city against the French in 1521, visit Xavier (Navarre), where you will tour the castle in which Francis Xavier was born, and see a sculptured Crucifix, The Smiling Christ. Continue to Zaragoza for dinner and your overnight stay.

Begin the day with Mass and a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar, built to commemorate the place where the Virgin Mary, standing atop a pillar carried by Angels, appeared to St. James. The basilica’s small, wooden statue of Our Lady of Pilar has been a regular stopping point for pilgrims now and during Ignatius’s life. Continue to Montserrat. Upon arrival in Montserrat, you will settle into your hotel for dinner and your overnight stay.

Travel to Manresa, a place of profound conversion for Ignatius. Visit the Cave of Saint Ignatius, where the saint retired to meditate and write his spiritual exercises. Celebrate Mass here. You will see the Chapel where St. Ignatius remained motionless in ecstasy for eight days and visit the Basilica of la Seu, the large Gothic Church that has come to symbolize Manresa. You will enjoy a presentation and wander through the museum at Manresa. St. Ignatius remained in Manresa for about 18 months before continuing his journey to Barcelona. In the afternoon, you will make your way back to Montserrat. You will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat. Since the 12th century, pilgrims have traveled to venerate the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna. According to Catholic tradition, the Black Virgin of Montserrat statue was carved by St. Luke around 50 AD and brought to Spain. It is believed that the founding of the Society of Jesus by St. Ignatius of Loyola was inspired by the Black Madonna’s apparition to St. Ignatius during his pilgrimage to the Shrine of Montserrat. Your overnight stay is in Montserrat.

This morning, you will enjoy free time exploring the grounds of the monastery or taking the funicular to the top of the mountain. Then, descend the mountain and journey into Barcelona. This afternoon, you will visit the Barri Gotic (gothic quarter) in the center of the city. Many of the buildings here are listed as World Heritage sites, including the Sagrada Familia Church, which has been under continuous construction since 1882. Designed by renowned architect Gaudi, it is now slated for completion in 2026! Visit the inside and outside of Sagrada Familia Church. While strolling La Rambla, see the font de Canaletes. Check into your hotel overnight.

Return to the USA