Marian Pilgrimage to Spain and Lourdes 2026
Cost
Land and Group Air – $5495
Land Only – $4595
Solo Traveler – $1095, Additional Cost
Ext. to Paris – $1895
Ext. Solo Traveler – $495, Additional Cost
See brochure for information on solo pricing, tips, fees, and optional excursions and Poland extension. Final payment due TBD.
Dates
April 20-30, 2026
*Optional Paris Extension April 30 – May 3, 2026
This unique and exclusive pilgrimage from beginning to end takes place under Mary’s mantle. We begin, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the death of the saintly Catholic architect, Antoni Gaudi, at his monumental tribute to Mary, her Son and her spouse, the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in the intriguing seaside city of Barcelona. After we honor the Black Madonna of Montserrat and remember St. Ignatius of Loyola’s life-changing experience there, we proceed to the other major Marian sites of Spain that few Americans are ever privileged to experience: Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza and the mountaintop shrine to the Madonna so revered by St. Josemaría Escrivá – Torreciudad.
After a breath-taking drive through the Pyrenees mountains, we then arrive at Lourdes, where we will have two full days to experience the grotto, the Gothic rosary basilica, the miraculous spring, the baths, and the torchlight rosary procession. And before flying home, we will honor the final resting place of St. Thomas Aquinas in Toulouse. For those who choose to continue with us to Paris, we will conclude our pilgrimage under Mary’s mantle with a visit to the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral, the most famous and beautiful Marian Church of Europe.
Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio and his wife, Susan
Known on Catholic radio and TV as “Dr. Italy,” Dr. D’Ambrosio is a NY Times best-selling author and a renowned commentator on Catholic issues, appearing as a guest on national news and a variety of Catholic radio networks such as Relevant Radio, EWTN, and the Sirius Catholic channel. He’s hosted an EWTN series on the Early Church Fathers for nearly 20 years, and has partnered with Ascension Press on immensely popular book & video study series, including the Jesus: The Way the Truth and the Life study series. A doctoral student of the renowned Jesuit theologian Avery Cardinal Dulles, Marcellino is an expert on the history of the Church in Europe and has a special familiarity with the shrines we will be visiting on this unique pilgrimage. Dr. Italy will be our principal guide, providing expert commentary on the saints, sites, and shrines of our spiritual and cultural journey through Spain and France.
April 20, Monday, DAY 1: DEPART USA
Depart DFW or NYC on an overnight flight to Barcelona. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the plane. Quotes for add-on flights from different airports, as well as optional Premium Economy and Business Class upgrades, are available upon request and will be provided starting 120 days prior to departure. Group air restrictions (for ten passengers traveling together) do not permit specific seating requests on flights. We recommend purchasing your own airline tickets and land-only packages with us if seat confirmation is an important part of your trip. Should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact your trip Account Manager, who will be happy to assist you.
April 21, Tuesday, DAY 2: ARRIVAL IN BARCELONA
Welcome to Spain! Our English-speaking tour manager will meet the group at the airport and assist with boarding the bus. We transfer to the city center for a panoramic tour of Barcelona and free time for lunch. We then check into the hotel before departing for the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, made famous by the novel and the Netflix series “Cathedral by the Sea.” We visit the Basilica and celebrate Mass before returning to the hotel for a welcome drink and introduction to our group leaders and fellow pilgrims. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Barcelona. (D)
April 22, Wednesday, DAY 3: BARCELONA
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Antoni Gaudi. His nearly finished masterpiece, La Sagrada Famíliaí, the Basilica of the Holy Family, will be where we begin our day. After Mass and a guided tour of the Basilica, the afternoon and evening are at leisure to explore Barcelona and visit the hopping La Rambla area of the city with its La Boqueria Food Market. Here you can pick up tapas for lunch as locals do and walk off the calories with a stroll through Park Guell, famous for its iconic landmarks. Overnight in Barcelona. (B)
April 23, Thursday, DAY 4: BARCELONA – MONTSERRAT
We visit the Cathedral dedicated to the Holy Cross and St. Eulalia, the patron saint of Barcelona, as well as the nearby cloisters. We continue with a visit to the Abbey of Montserrat to see the Black Madonna before whom the newly converted Ignatius of Loyola laid down his sword and exchanged his finery for a pilgrim’s cloak. After a visit to the abbey museum, we celebrate Mass in the Basilica and then stop for tapas and a wine tasting before returning to Barcelona for dinner at the hotel and an overnight stay. (B.D)
April 24, Friday, DAY 5: MONASTERY OF POBLET – MONTBLANC – ZARAGOZA
Our first stop on our road trip from Barcelona to Zaragoza is the magnificent Monastery of Poblet, one of the largest monasteries in Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We celebrate Mass and explore the Monastery before driving to the nearby hilltop town of Montblanc. Nestled in the heart of Catalonia, this hidden gem boasts cobblestone streets, ancient stone walls, and a picturesque landscape that invite exploration. Following lunch and time to explore the city center, encircled by perfectly preserved medieval walls, we drive to Zaragoza for dinner and an overnight stay. (B.D)
April 25, Saturday, DAY 6: ZARAGOZA – OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR – CITY OF GOYA
Zaragoza, the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon, is another of the jewels of northern Spain, little-known to Americans. We begin our day with Mass and quiet prayer in the Basilica that enshrines the pillar on which tradition says the Virgin Mary appeared to St. James, son of Zebedee, during his apostolic mission in Spain, which led to the famous Camino of Santiago de Compostela. As a sign of fulfillment of our pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Pillar, we can kiss the venerable column (Pillar) where Our Lady once stood. After a walk through this charming town, resplendent with iconic buildings, and lunch on our own, we visit the Cathedral of El Salvador to see the incredible collection of Flemish Tapestries. We then have free time to explore the Old Quarter of Zaragoza on our own or visit the Goya Museum to see the artworks by the great Spanish master Francisco Goya, who was born in Zaragoza. Tonight, we enjoy a traditional dinner from this region, accompanied by local wines from the renowned Rioja wine region. Overnight in Zaragoza. (B.Special dinner)
April 26, Sunday, DAY 7: TORRECIUDAD – LOURDES
Following our checkout from the hotel, we drive through the majestic Pyrenees mountains to the magnificent mountaintop Hermitage of Our Lady of Torreciudad, considered the most beautiful Marian Shrine in Spain since the 11th century. We celebrate Mass at a place beloved by St. Jose Maria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, followed by Eucharistic Adoration. After our included lunch today, we continue driving through the breathtaking Pyrenees Mountain Range to Lourdes. Overnight in Lourdes. (B.L.D)
April 27 and April 28, Monday and Tuesday, DAY 8 and 9: TWO FULL DAYS IN LOURDES
We are blessed to have two full days of pilgrimage in the enchanting town of Lourdes, nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees. By day, we will have daily Mass, watch a video presentation about the story of Lourdes, drink water from the miraculous spring in the Grotto of Massabiele, explore the birthplace of St. Bernadette, and visit the places associated with her. At night, we have the opportunity to carry candles and sing Ave Maria in the Torchlight rosary procession that starts at the Grotto and ends at the esplanade of the Rosary Basilica. Overnight in Lourdes. (B.D)
April 29, Wednesday, DAY 10: LOURDES – TOULOUSE
We board our motorcoach and depart from Lourdes for Toulouse, where we visit the Church of the Jacobins, the burial site of St. Thomas Aquinas, where we venerate the saint’s relics and celebrate Mass. Our next stop is La Maison Seilhan, the house St. Dominic was given when he founded the Order of the Preachers. We have a festive farewell dinner with wine in a local restaurant tonight. Overnight in Toulouse. (B. Special dinner)
April 30, Thursday, DAY 11: RETURN TO USA
This morning, we depart for the airport and our flight home. (B)
April 30, Thursday, DAY 11: FLIGHT TO PARIS
We check out of our hotel early this morning and take a flight to Paris. The City of Lights opens before us on a panoramic tour, during which we see all the major sites and monuments, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum. We celebrate Mass, then visit the Notre Dame Cathedral on a guided tour before checking into our hotel. The rest of the day and evening is at leisure. We suggest a visit to Le Marché des Enfants Rouges (the Red Children Market), the oldest and most popular market in Paris, open till 7:30 PM, where there are many food stalls selling French and International food—truly a cultural experience. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Paris. (B)
May 1, Friday, DAY 12: PARIS
This morning, we drive to Montmartre to visit the Sacred Heart Basilica. (Sacre Coeur) Following Mass, we see the Church of Saint Sulpice. Return to our hotel to freshen up before our farewell dinner on a scenic Seine River Cruise. Overnight in Paris. (B and Special dinner)
May 2, Saturday, DAY 13: PARIS
We celebrate Mass at the Church of the Miraculous Medal and then visit the Church of St. Vincent de Paul, where we may venerate the Saint’s relics. We have the rest of the day at leisure to explore Paris on our own, perhaps visiting the Père Lachaise Cemetery or the Louvre Museum. An excellent small museum featuring Impressionist paintings, located in the Place de la Concorde and the Tuileries Gardens, or visit the Musée de l’Orangerie. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Paris. (B)
May 3, Sunday, DAY 14: RETURN TO USA
This morning, we depart for the airport and our flight home. (B)
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