Pilgrims depart from the USA to Barcelona, arriving the next morning.

After settling in at the hotel, followed by a light lunch and orientation, our first sojourn will be to stretch our legs and open our eyes as we embark to the 14th century Spanish Gothic Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia for Mass, followed by a walk through the historic La Rambla, where pilgrims can engage in a ‘tapas walk’ and sample the various fares of neighborhood eateries. Later in the evening all are invited at the hotel for dessert and a nightcap.

If there is any single person who transformed a city and gifted the Church with a stunning vision of the place of architecture to inspire and evangelize, it is Antonio Gaudi and his Sagrada Familia. Today we will experience his stunning masterpiece of stone and symbol, glass and grandeur, mystery and marvel, as we attend the international Mass and tour the basilica. Afterwards, we will fix our gaze on a different scale at the soaring Tibidabo Shrine, dedicated to the Sacred Heart, who opens wide Christ’s arms of love in an expansive and embracing view of the city. Our main meal of the day will be a multi-course fare at a restaurant overlooking the wide expanse, like a landscape painting revealing endless beauty. In the evening we will gather for some ‘sip and share,’ where we can enjoy each other’s stories about their encounters with beauty, culture, and tradition.

Spain has and continues to be a fertile land not just for its food and wine, but also for the saints who have illuminated the life of the Church. Today we follow one such giant, Ignatius of Loyola, as we visit sacred sites key to his story. From soldier to mystic to founder of the Society of Jesus, the fortress-like monastery of Montserrat, where Ignatius gave up his sword after an all-night vigil, to a hidden cave at Manresa, where Ignatius had mystical visions, offer the pilgrim an insight how to God works with us, from our sins and egos to our talents and desires. Following Mass at Montserrat, pilgrims are invited to picnic or eat in one of the cafes located at the monastery. In the evening we will gather for a festive dinner in one of the many vibrant neighborhoods of Barcelona.

This morning we leave the bounty, bustle and beauty of Barcelona and head south along the picturesque Mediterranean coast. Our first stop will be the ancient wine region of Utiel-Requena. Dating some 2700 years, we will tour a local winery and savor a multi-course lunch with wine pairings. Next we head to the historical and cultural gem of Valencia. Known as the birthplace of paella, the city features a rich and varied blending of religious and cultural traditions that put their stamp on cuisine, architecture and self-understanding. After checking in, pilgrims are invited to visit many of the churches sprinkled throughout the central area, and later to gather at the hotel for some sip and share.

This day is devoted to an immersion into the religious and cultural history of Valencia. Our focus will be two particular sacred sites: the Cathedral, home of the ‘Holy Grail’ relic, and next door, the baroque Basilica of Our Lady of the Forsaken. After our visits and Mass, we will explore the charming La Sue neighborhood, the oldest in the city and center of its social, religious, political, and military life. A special treat of paella and wine pairings will follow. Pilgrims then have the rest of the day to further encounter this beautiful and historic city. One option is to visit the futuristic City of Art and Sciences. In the evening we will gather at the hotel for conversation and sangria.

Today pilgrims have an opportunity to create special memories through a free day encountering the region through a special outing, such as taking a paella cooking course, exploring the coast by motor bike, golfing at a nearby resort, or deep sea fishing. More information about the various offerings will be made available prior to the trip. We will close our time in Valencia with a multi-course dinner at a local restaurant.

As we grow in appreciation for and understanding of the transforming power of beauty through encounters with sacred art and architecture, music and museums, culinary delights and fruits of the earth, and the stories and sites that touch our hearts, this morning we transition to the final part of our pilgrimage. As we transition from the coast to the interior highlands, our first stop is the cultural, historical and architectural showcase of Toledo, where we will gaze upon the high gothic grandeur of the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, followed by a tour, tasting and multi-course lunch at a nearby vineyard featuring the regional speciality Garnacha Tinta. Later in the afternoon the capital city of Madrid welcomes pilgrims to glimpse, sample and savor some of the best that the Church and culture offers. As with previous days, all are invited to gather at the hotel in the evening for some sip and sharing.

In Madrid, Saturday mornings are often associated with El Rastro, a bustling flea market, and the Unpacking Antiques Fair, offering a mix of vintage and antique items in Plaza del General Vara del Rey. Saturday afternoons might find people enjoying aperitivos (pre-lunch snacks) and later indulging in Madrid’s vibrant night life. Our Saturday will be simpler and more focused. It begins with a walking tour of some great churches of central Madrid: Los Jeronimos, St. Anthony, and Ermite de San Antonio de Florida.’ Each in its own way speaks to the prominent place of the Church in the ethos of Spain and its continuing impact in the daily lives of its people. Afterwards, we will indulge in a special lunch in the central area.

On this special Sunday we continue our exploration of a Church woven into the fabric of a people: in architecture, art, music, food, and everyday life. Our encounter with splendor, magnificence and history begins at the Prado Museum, featuring some of the greatest treasures of sacred art. Pilgrims will then be free to explore the Paseo del Prado, known for its concentration of world-class museums and home to Retiro Park, the Botanical Garden, and various historical landmarks. In the evening we will gather for Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Mary the Royal of the Almudena. Formally consecrated in 1993, it may lack the grandeur of a gothic Cathedral or ‘wow’ of a Sagrada Familia, yet it is a fitting icon for our reflection on beauty and culture. Representing a harmonious blend of neoclassical style, contemporary art and simple finishes, the edifice offers a window into the heritage of faith that dates to the 2nd century, while its setting adjacent to the Royal Palace testifies to the complex role of the Church in forming a national identity from kings to commoners.’ Dinner follows, where we will savor a multi-course fare of regional cuisine and be invited to share our experiences of the ‘Wine and the Divine’

Today we say goodbye to 10 glorious days of our encounter with beauty as we return to our homes. What will we take back? Pictures and souvenirs, or snapshots and reflections of the master mason inspiring and guiding the skilled hands and creative genius of the artisans who have given us cathedrals and masterpieces, rioja and garnacha, Salchichón and tapas, rococo and reredos. We sat in the stalls of medieval monks, stood among the spiritual treasures of the Prado, and prayed in the newest and most celebrated Basilica and a 21st century icon of beauty and magnificence. We gazed in awe at gothic masterpieces, and savored heavenly foods and wines. We walked among the saints, traversed a land of vines and shrines, explored cities steeped in history and overflowing with grandeur, and we pondered how God gave us all this. We encountered a world bursting with beauty, and we asked what it means to live with gratitude? We depart gladdened, overflowing with appreciation and commitment to see with new lenses, act with greater purpose, and seek ways to bring beauty and goodness into our worlds.