Marian Shrines
She has been appearing for centuries. Come and see why.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar | Zaragosa, Spain
Marian Shrines Pilgrimage
Avila | Zaragoza | Lourdes | Montserrat | Barcelona
This 12-day pilgrimage journeys through the spiritual treasures of Spain and France, from the Carmelite heritage of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross to the miraculous healing waters of Lourdes. Venerate the site where Our Lady appeared to St. James while still living in Jerusalem, pray before the Black Madonna of Montserrat, and marvel at Gaudí’s soaring Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Walk with the great mystics and saints who shaped Catholic spirituality, and return home by a different way—transformed by these powerful encounters with Our Lady and the rich faith of the Iberian Peninsula.
A Truly Catholic Pilgrimage
departure date
May 3, 2027
Duration
12 Days
Departure City
Indianapolis
Activity Level
Level 3
Day 1 · May 3
Depart U.S.A.
Our pilgrimage begins today as we depart on our overnight flight to Madrid. Meals and drinks served aloft.
Day 2 · May 4
Arrive Madrid
Upon arrival in Madrid, we will be met by our pilgrimage manager who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. We will have an overview tour of the city on our way to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (D, Mass) Overnight Madrid
Day 3 · May 5
Madrid (day trip to Avila)
After breakfast we head to the walled city of Avila, the birthplace of St. Teresa. Then visit the Convent of St. Teresa which was built after her canonization over the house where she was born. Visit the Monastery of the Incarnation where St. Teresa spent many years of her life, then the Monastery of St. Joseph, her first foundation. Return to our hotel in Madrid for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Madrid
Day 4 · May 6
Madrid
Today we begin in the spiritual heart of Madrid. The Cathedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena was only completed and consecrated in 1993, though construction began in the late 1800s. Across the way is the Royal Palace of Madrid, the largest in Western Europe. The current palace was constructed in the 18th century but was built on top of the remains of a medieval fortress.
(B, D, Mass) Overnight Madrid
Day 5 · May 7
Madrid (day trip to Segovia)
This morning visit Segovia, where we will pay our respects to another great Carmelite, St. John of the Cross, who served as spiritual director to St. Teresa of Avila. Pray at his tomb in the Convent named after him, in which he had lived near the end of his life. We will discover the treasures of Segovia such as the great Gothic Cathedral, the Monastery of St. Joseph, the extraordinary Alcazar fortress, and the splendid Roman Aqueduct. Every corner of this old town sparkles with Romanesque churches and fine old houses. Return to our hotel in Madrid for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Madrid
Day 6 · May 8
Madrid / Zaragoza
Depart this morning for Zaragoza, where we visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. It was here the Blessed Mother appeared to St. James the Greater in 40 A.D. This is the only known instance of the Virgin Mary appearing to someone while she was still alive, bilocating from Jerusalem, to encourage St. James in his preaching of the Gospel in Spain. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Zaragoza
Day 7 · May 9
Zaragoza / Lourdes
We cross the border into France on our way to Lourdes, known for its healing waters after the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. It is also where the Blessed Mother announced she was the Immaculate Conception. Join hundreds of other pilgrims in the Blessed Sacrament Procession and Candlelight Procession that has endured since 1863. Lourdes will be our home for the next two nights. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Lourdes
Day 8 · May 10
Lourdes
Bask in the grace of Lourdes all day as we have Mass at the Grotto of Massabielle, where Our Lady first appeared to St. Bernadette and had her dig for the spring that is now known across the world for its many miracles of healing. We visit the Basilica of St. Pius X, a massive underground concrete church. We also visit the humble home where St. Bernadette lived during the apparitions. Tonight, we join the candlelight procession with thousands of other pilgrims in prayer and song. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Lourdes
Day 9 · May 11
Lourdes / Montserrat / Barcelona
This morning we will depart Lourdes for Montserrat where we will visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montserrat, the spiritual heart of Catalonia and home to a dramatically set Benedictine monastery. For 700 years this Marian shrine has attracted thousands of pilgrims from around the world. We will also visit the Black Madonna of Montserrat, one of Spain’s most fervent devotions to the Blessed Mother. Continue to Barcelona, our home for the next three nights. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Barcelona
Day 10 · May 12
Barcelona
We begin this morning at Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia: the magnificent basilica of impressive proportions – under construction for nearly 150 years. Due to be completed in late 2026, it is one of the largest and most extravagant churches in the world. Down by the coast we will have time for prayer at Santa Maria del Mar and the Barcelona Cathedral before exploring the colorful markets of Las Ramblas. The rest of the day will be for free time and dinner on our own. (B, Mass) Overnight Barcelona
Day 11 · May 13
Barcelona
We begin today going to Sacred Heart, a magnificent neo-Renaissance Church built on the outskirts of Barcelona on a hill. The site offers a beautiful overlook of the city. We will have time here for prayer and reflection before spending the afternoon on our own for exploration before we meet for our farewell dinner this evening. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Barcelona
Day 12 · May 14
Barcelona / U.S.A.
Today marks the end of a marvelous experience as we transfer to the airport for the return trip home, filled with memories and graces of this pilgrimage that will last a lifetime.
Day 1 · May 3
Depart U.S.A.
Our pilgrimage begins today as we depart on our overnight flight to Madrid. Meals and drinks served aloft.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Mass
Day 2 · May 4
Arrive Madrid
Upon arrival in Madrid, we will be met by our pilgrimage manager who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. We will have an overview tour of the city on our way to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (D, Mass) Overnight Madrid
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Mass
Day 3 · May 5
Madrid (day trip to Avila)
After breakfast we head to the walled city of Avila, the birthplace of St. Teresa. Then visit the Convent of St. Teresa which was built after her canonization over the house where she was born. Visit the Monastery of the Incarnation where St. Teresa spent many years of her life, then the Monastery of St. Joseph, her first foundation. Return to our hotel in Madrid for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Madrid
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Mass
Day 4 · May 6
Madrid
Today we begin in the spiritual heart of Madrid. The Cathedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena was only completed and consecrated in 1993, though construction began in the late 1800s. Across the way is the Royal Palace of Madrid, the largest in Western Europe. The current palace was constructed in the 18th century but was built on top of the remains of a medieval fortress.
(B, D, Mass) Overnight Madrid
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Mass
Day 5 · May 7
Madrid (day trip to Segovia)
This morning visit Segovia, where we will pay our respects to another great Carmelite, St. John of the Cross, who served as spiritual director to St. Teresa of Avila. Pray at his tomb in the Convent named after him, in which he had lived near the end of his life. We will discover the treasures of Segovia such as the great Gothic Cathedral, the Monastery of St. Joseph, the extraordinary Alcazar fortress, and the splendid Roman Aqueduct. Every corner of this old town sparkles with Romanesque churches and fine old houses. Return to our hotel in Madrid for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Madrid
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Mass
Day 6 · May 8
Madrid / Zaragoza
Depart this morning for Zaragoza, where we visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. It was here the Blessed Mother appeared to St. James the Greater in 40 A.D. This is the only known instance of the Virgin Mary appearing to someone while she was still alive, bilocating from Jerusalem, to encourage St. James in his preaching of the Gospel in Spain. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Zaragoza
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Mass
Day 7 · May 9
Zaragoza / Lourdes
We cross the border into France on our way to Lourdes, known for its healing waters after the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. It is also where the Blessed Mother announced she was the Immaculate Conception. Join hundreds of other pilgrims in the Blessed Sacrament Procession and Candlelight Procession that has endured since 1863. Lourdes will be our home for the next two nights. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Lourdes
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Mass
Day 8 · May 10
Lourdes
Bask in the grace of Lourdes all day as we have Mass at the Grotto of Massabielle, where Our Lady first appeared to St. Bernadette and had her dig for the spring that is now known across the world for its many miracles of healing. We visit the Basilica of St. Pius X, a massive underground concrete church. We also visit the humble home where St. Bernadette lived during the apparitions. Tonight, we join the candlelight procession with thousands of other pilgrims in prayer and song. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Lourdes
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Mass
Day 9 · May 11
Lourdes / Montserrat / Barcelona
This morning we will depart Lourdes for Montserrat where we will visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montserrat, the spiritual heart of Catalonia and home to a dramatically set Benedictine monastery. For 700 years this Marian shrine has attracted thousands of pilgrims from around the world. We will also visit the Black Madonna of Montserrat, one of Spain’s most fervent devotions to the Blessed Mother. Continue to Barcelona, our home for the next three nights. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Barcelona
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Mass
Day 10 · May 12
Barcelona
We begin this morning at Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia: the magnificent basilica of impressive proportions – under construction for nearly 150 years. Due to be completed in late 2026, it is one of the largest and most extravagant churches in the world. Down by the coast we will have time for prayer at Santa Maria del Mar and the Barcelona Cathedral before exploring the colorful markets of Las Ramblas. The rest of the day will be for free time and dinner on our own. (B, Mass) Overnight Barcelona
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Mass
Day 11 · May 13
Barcelona
We begin today going to Sacred Heart, a magnificent neo-Renaissance Church built on the outskirts of Barcelona on a hill. The site offers a beautiful overlook of the city. We will have time here for prayer and reflection before spending the afternoon on our own for exploration before we meet for our farewell dinner this evening. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Barcelona
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Mass
Day 12 · May 14
Barcelona / U.S.A.
Today marks the end of a marvelous experience as we transfer to the airport for the return trip home, filled with memories and graces of this pilgrimage that will last a lifetime.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Mass
Departure
May 3, 2027
From Indianapolis
Starting From
$5,500
per person
Pricing is estimated
Questions? Call Us
(317) 574-4191
"Our guide was phenomenal. He opened the door for a truly deeply spiritual pilgrimage -- and also was filled with the joy of the Lord!"
Very Rev. Timothy A.
Pilgrim from Lafayette, IN
Pilgrimage Route
Avila | Zaragoza | Lourdes | Montserrat | Barcelona
Ready to Walk These Sacred Sites?
Your place on this pilgrimage awaits.
What's Included
Daily Mass at holy sites
Roundtrip economy class airfare from Indianapolis
10 nights’ accommodation, including taxes and service charges
Porterage of one piece of luggage at airports and hotels
Knowledgeable, friendly, Catholic/Christian guides; whisper headsets; deluxe motor coach transportation to holy sites; all entrance fees listed on itinerary
Breakfast and dinner per itinerary (excluding drinks)
Anticipated Weather · May
Madrid / Ávila / Segovia / Zaragoza
62–78°F
Warm & Mostly Sunny · Early May
The Spanish meseta in early May is at its most hospitable — warm, clear days with long afternoon light over the golden walls of Ávila, the Gothic spires of Segovia, and the soaring Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza. The season suits a pilgrim's pace: unhurried, attentive, and open to what each place quietly offers.
Lourdes
52–65°F
Cool & Variable · May
Lourdes in May sits deep in the Pyrenean foothills — cool, atmospheric, and prone to the kind of shifting cloud and passing rain that has never once dimmed the candlelight procession. The Grotto of Massabielle in misty spring weather has a quality all its own, and the pilgrim who arrives prepared for it rather than despite it tends to receive the most.
Montserrat / Barcelona
62–74°F
Warm & Partly Sunny · Mid-May
The Mediterranean coast in mid-May is warm, bright, and beautifully alive — ideal for Barcelona's outdoor streets and markets, and for the dramatic ascent to Montserrat, where the serrated peaks and the Black Madonna have drawn pilgrims for seven centuries. The afternoon sea breeze keeps the city pleasant well into the evening.
This pilgrimage moves through three distinct climates — the Spanish interior is warm and dry, Lourdes is cool and variable, and Barcelona's Mediterranean coast is mild and pleasant. Pack a light waterproof jacket for Lourdes and layers for Ávila's cooler altitude. Comfortable walking shoes are essential throughout. Modest attire is required at all churches and sacred sites (shoulders and knees covered); a scarf or wrap kept in your bag ensures effortless entry.
Pricing Information
The total pricing is based on the following components:
Base price
$4,900
Air taxes & fuel surcharges
$600
Gratuities (added to final invoice)
$160
See brochure for information about single rooms and/or land-only pricing.
Please note: Pricing is estimated. Air taxes/fuel surcharges and gratuities are subject to change and will be updated on the final invoice. The final invoice will be emailed to you approximately 3 months prior to departure.
Please note: Pricing is estimated. Air taxes/fuel surcharges and gratuities are subject to change and will be updated on the final invoice. The final invoice will be emailed to you approximately 3 months prior to departure.
What Pilgrims Are Saying
The Marian focus structured our prayer, both personal and communal, and our reflection, giving room for Saint James and Saint Ignatius. The smaller group was ideal actually. By the second day we bonded and everyone knew everyone else's name.
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Fr. John R.
Pilgrim from Indianapolis, IN
Director of the tour was excellent. [Our tour manager] was compassionate, understanding, knowledgeable. She knew how much to talk and how much silence we needed to process what she was saying to us. She was attentive to the individuals within the group. Her labor to make the pilgrimage as smooth as possible was evident at all times.
Rev. John R.
Pilgrim from Indianapolis, IN
Knowing that Richard and the other staff were praying for us back here in the States gave me a sense of safety and comfort. Although I had not direct contact with the US staff after Richard saw us off at the airport, I still felt the care given.
Fr. John R.
Pilgrim from Indianapolis, IN