In 2015, the city of Ávila celebrates the birth of St Teresa of Jesus.
For the event, pilgrim routes have been created to guide us through the trail Teresa left in each of the Spanish towns and cities in which she founded a convent.
You’ll begin your journey in your hometown airport, in order to take your flight to Madrid Airport.
You will arrive in Madrid airport, where upon arrival you’ll meet our representative guide with whom you’ll be transferred in private bus to CITES/Avila. After a short drive of 130 km you’ll arrive for lunch at the Restaurant Los 4 Postes, beside the famous structure of the Four Posts, place where St. Teresa and her brother Rodrigo where found by their uncle while planning to travel to land of infidels. Once lunch is finished the bus will be taking you to the international center of Teresian studies (CITES), where the group will be staying as base for the next 7 nights. In the afternoon the group will be having spare time to rest after the long journey and later will be celebrating Holly mass.
After mass group will be having dinner and watching a short video about this spiritual Teresian center and overnight.
We’ll start the day in CITES, where our bus will be driving the group to the village of El Escorial, a distance of 80 km. Once the bus arrives, the group will be entering the Monastery of El Escorial where will have the opportunity to see the tombs of most of the Spanish kings as well as the rest of the royal premises. Once the visit is finished, the group will be having lunch in the close by restaurant “La Cueva”. After lunch the group will be having some free time to have a walk, rest or have a coffee. In the afternoon the group will be driven back to CITES (Avila), where will celebrate Holly mass, have dinner and overnight.
Groups first day in Avila, will begin visiting La Santa Convent as well as La Santa Church, which are built in the same place where St. Teresa was born. During this visit the group will be able to celebrate Holly mass, before continuing our tour towards “San José Convent” Museum and Church. After this visit, the group will return back to CITES for a short free time before having lunch in the restaurant “Los 4 Postes”. After lunch, the group will be visiting Convent of the Incarnation, following this visit the group will walk towards the Cathedral of Avila (optional) to celebrate Holly mass. Once mass is finished, there will be free time the rest of the evening, until later on where the group should return back to CITES for dinner and overnight.
Groups second day in Avila, will begin visiting Santo Tomás Monastery built under the order of the Catholic Kings treasurer, Hernan Núñez de Arnalte, it’s a XV century Gothic monastery and one of the most precious locations in Avila. After this visit the group will have lunch, before beginning the 95 km drive towards the village of Alba de Tormes, famous location in the history of La Santa it is here where she died. Once the group arrives, they will visit Discalced Carmelite Convent Museum one of the most important convents in the discalced Carmelite legacy, being alba the location of St. Teresa last days and nowadays place for two relics, her heart and her left arm. After having visited the convent, the group will have the opportunity to celebrate Holly mass by their own. Later in the afternoon the group will return to CITES (Avila) for dinner and overnight.
The day will begin departing to the city of Segovia distance of 68 km. Once the group arrives to the city, they will meet the tour guide who will begin with the Ancient Roman Aqueduct, most important landmark in the city and which is known for in the Spain. The guided tour will continue visiting The Cathedral, was built between 1525-1577 in a late Gothic style, outdated elsewhere in Europe. After the Cathedral, the group will have lunch in the famous restaurant “Candido” before visiting the discalced Carmelite Convent and celebrating Eucharist in the same place as St. John´ of the cross Sepulcher. Later in the afternoon, the group will return to CITES (Avila) for dinner and overnight.
The day will begin departing to the city of Toledo a distance of 133 km. Upon arrival, the group will meet with the local guide who will explain Greco House-Museum, Synagogue Del Tránsito among other places. After the tour, the group will be visiting the Carmelite Convent and celebrating the Eucharist before having lunch. In the afternoon, the group will visit the Toledo Cathedral and have some free time before returning to CITES (Avila) for dinner and overnight.
The day will start departing from CITES (Avila) towards the city of Salamanca, well known for having the oldest university in Spain and the third in Europe. Upon arrival, the group will meet with the local guide who will explain the New and Old Salamanca Cathedrals, Walk by the University of Salamanca, House of Shells among other important city locations. After the tour, the group will have lunch at the restaurant “El Patio Chico” before continuing the tour to the main square and the Carmelite convent which is one of Saint Therese first foundations and where the group will have the opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist, before returning to CITES (Avila) for dinner and overnight.
The day will begin early departing from CITES (Avila) towards the city of Úbeda, important city to the discalced Carmelites (men) for been where St. John of the cross was buried. Along the route we’ll stop for lunch, before arriving to the hotel in Úbeda. In the afternoon the group will be visiting the Carmelite Frs. Convent and its museum of relics and many other significant objects to the Carmelite order. As the visit has finished, the group will have the opportunity to celebrate Eucharist at St. John´s Tomb, before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
The day will start departing from Úbeda in direction to Granada distance of 150 km, where the group will visit the discalced Carmelite Convent as well as celebrating Eucharist. After the Eucharist, the group will be meeting the tour guide, who will explain: the Royal Chapel, Tomb of Catholic Kings and the Historic Downtown of Granada, before having lunch. In the afternoon, the group will depart towards the Alhambra, where the local guide will explain the history of La Alhambra, Generalife, and Palaces of the Mártires Nazaries, before departing to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
The day will begin departing from Granada towards Cordoba a distance of 202 km, where the group will meet with the local guide who will explain the most important landmarks of this ancient city, such as: La Judería (Calle de las Flores), Cathedral-Mosque and Blessed Sacrament Chapel among others. After the visit, the group will have the opportunity to participate in a public mass inside the Cathedral-Mosque, before having lunch at restaurant. In the afternoon, the group will have free time to visit the town or to rest before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
The day will begin departing from the Cordoba in direction to Seville a distance of 140 km, where the group will meet with the local guide in order to visit Los Reales Alcáceres, Gardens of Murillo and Barrio Santa Cruz, before having lunch at a restaurant. In the afternoon, the group will have free time to walk and visit the city freely, before returning back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
This second day in Seville, the group will begin visiting the Cathedral and the Giralda tower with a height of 94 m, before returning to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, the group will visit the sisters Discalced Carmelite Convent, where you can see the original manuscript of “Las Moradas” as well as a unique portrait of the saint among other relics. After the visit to the convent, the group will have the opportunity to celebrate a private Eucharist inside the convents church accompanied by the sisters. Once the Eucharist has finished the group will have free time before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
The day will start check-in out from the hotel in Seville, and departing in the bus towards the sanctuary of Fatima in Portugal at a distance of 446 km. During this journey the group will stop for lunch on their way as well as other stops if needed.
In the early afternoon the bus will be arriving at Fatima where the group will check-in the hotel. At the time agreed the group will walk towards the Little Chapel (Capelinha) and the surroundings of the Basilica, before entering the Basilica for public mass or private mass at the Hotel. After the mass the group will have the opportunity to have dinner in the Carmelite Convent, just before finishing the evening gathering with all the other pilgrims in Fatima for the International Rosary, in Little Chapel followed by a candlelight procession. After the procession group will return to the hotel for the overnight.
The day will start walking to the Sanctuary where the group will join other pilgrims for the Eucharist at the Basilica. After the mass is finished, the group will walk towards the Most Holy Trinity Church, “Galilee of Apostles Peter and Paul, Complex of Most Holy Trinity Church (Perpetual Adoration Chapel)” where the group will have the opportunity to visit the main floor and explained the purpose and the significance of this modern construction. Day will continue, having lunch at a restaurant of choice by the group. In the afternoon the group will be driven towards the old town of Fatima to visit the house of Lucía, Jacinta and Francisco. Once the visit has finished the bus will drive back to the hotel where the group will have free time before dinner at the Carmelite Convent. Later in the evening, the group will gather for the International Rosary, in Little Chapel followed by a candlelight procession.
The day will start very early at 3:00 am departing to Lisbon, airport in order to take the flight from Lisbon via Madrid to Lourdes airport. Once the group has arrived to Lourdes, a private bus will transfer the group to the hotel, where they will have lunch and free time to rest before visiting St. Bernadette’s house, and Lourdes Basilica. After visiting the Basilica, the group will return to the hotel for dinner before gathering the public Eucharistic procession and blessing of the sick.
This second day in Lourdes will begin with the way of the cross and celebration of Eucharist. After the Eucharist the group will visit the Sanctuary and the Underground Basilica of St. Pius X, Plaza de Our Lady Crowned, Basilica of Conception (upper section), Crypt, Basilica del Rosario (lower) and the Church of St. Bernadette. Having finished visiting the Sanctuary the group will return to the hotel for lunch before being transfer to the caves of Bétharram and his Church. Later in the evening the bus will return to Lourdes, for dinner and overnight.
The day will start early departing from our hotel in Lourdes towards the city of Nevers a distance of 700 km, town of art and history standing on the banks of the river Loire, the old ducal town of Nevers is dominated by its Gothic cathedral. Throughout this journey there will be some stop for services on the way and one for lunch and free time to rest, before continuing on our way to the city of Nevers.
Around late afternoon, the bus will be arriving to Nevers and checking in the hotel where the group will have dinner and overnight.
The day will begin visiting Espace Bernadette Soubirous Nevers, where The body of St. Bernadette is exposed for pilgrims to visit and pray. After the visit, the group will depart from Nevers towards the city and capital of the country, Paris a distance of 270 km. Throughout this drive, the group will have stop for services if needed as well as a stop for lunch, before arriving and checking in the hotel in Paris. After checking in, the group will meet their local guide and begin visiting: Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris, Basilique du Sacré Cœur de Montmartre. Once the visits are finished, the group will return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
The day will begin checking out from the hotel in Paris and traveling by bus towards the city of Lisieux a distance of 204 km. Once the group has arrived and checked in the hotel, they will visit the Basilica of St Therese. After the visit, the group will be having lunch with some missionary sisters of Saint Therese. In the afternoon the group will be visiting The Carmel of Lisieux and Les Buaissonnets home of St. Therese and family. Once the visit is finished, the group will return to the hotel for diner and overnight.
The day will begin departing from Lisieux city back to Paris, where the group will be joined by a local guide who will explain throughout the city tour, the most prominent places like the Eiffel Tower, Arch of Triumph, The Bastille among others. After the city tour, the group will have the opportunity to celebrate Holly mass in the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, before having lunch and been transferred to Paris airport CDG and the groups return flight to their hometown.
Knowing the convents founded by Santa Teresa gives meaning to the cloistered life and a vision of the Global church where our faith is maintained.
Knowing the joy of life with nothing and without craving anything material strengthens us in our faith and revives the conviction that God is the one who gives true happiness.
Santa Teresa innovative, brave and risky, takes us back to another era where this renewal began. Spain land of great saints and missionaries who call us to renew our faith and commitment to the gospel.
Dare to live it, is a unique experience not to be repeated
This is not a close package. If you want any modification about destinations, duration, hotel standard, departure date and preferred group size just contact us and we will help you by creating a personalised trip.
Contact us to discuss your group pilgrimage requirements.