World Youth Day 2011 Tour Packages:

Program Extensions:
World Heritage Cities

DAY 1
DEPARTURE FROM CANADA
		We will enjoy full meal service on our wide-bodied flight to Madrid.

DAY 2
ARRIVAL IN MADRID – EL ESCORIAL –SEGOVIA (1 NIGHT)
		Welcome to Spain! We will meet our Escort at the airport for transfer by private coach to Segovia. En route, we will enjoy a tour of El Escorial, the massive monastery-palace commissioned by Philip II, and an impressive monument to 16th century Spain. We will visit the Royal Apartments, many decorated with fine tapestries, and the austere rooms that once belonged to Philip II. The king, a devout Catholic, had his quarters designed so that he could see the high altar from his bed. In the Basilica, we will view the spectacular altar that inspired Philip. We will see the Pantheon of the Kings, which contains the mortal remains of all the Spanish monarchs from the time of the emperor Charles V, and the Pantheon of the Infants, where royal children were buried. We continue with a journey to Segovia, a city of delicate spires and graceful towers. Our Walking Tour will take us through Spanish history as we view the 2000 year old Roman Aqueduct, made with no mortar and still functioning today, and then continue through the winding streets of medieval Segovia to view the Cathedral, the last Gothic building constructed in Spain and resplendent with pinnacles and flying buttresses. We will then visit the Convento de Carmelitas Descalzes, to see the tomb of St. John of the Cross. This remarkable Carmelite reformer and doctor of the Church is perhaps best known for his masterpiece, “The Dark Night of the Soul”. We will check into our hotel.

DAY 3
SEGOVIA – AVILA – SALAMANCA (1 NIGHT)
		Today we follow in the footsteps of Spain’s most influential saint, St. Teresa of Avila. This extraordinary reformer of the Carmelite order is one of only three female doctors of the Church. We will begin with a visit to the convent that is built on the site of St. Teresa’s childhood home, Convento de Santa Teresa. We will then visit the Monasterio de la Encarnation, where she began her life as a religious. There we will see the original grill through which St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross would often converse. We will view the staircase on which St. Teresa had her famous vision of the Christ child. In the convent museum we will see many precious items that Teresa used in her lifetime, including the famous drawing of Crucifixion given to her by St. John of the Cross as a gift. We will then continue on to the first house founded by St. Teresa, the Monasterio de San Jose. There will be ample time through out the day for personal prayer and meditation. In the afternoon we will visit Salamanca, Spain’s primary University City. We begin our tour in the Plaza Mayor, one of Spain’s largest and grandest squares, before walking past the Iglesia de San Martin and La Casa de las Conchas to the Universidad, founded in 1218 by Alfonso IX. We will enter the Patio de Escuelas to admire the Plateresque architectural style of the buildings, before entering the Escuelas Menores Building to view the huge zodiac fresco, The Salamanca Sky. We continue with a visit to the adjoining Cathedral Vieja and Cathedral Nueva. We will check into our hotel and prepare for dinner. The evening is at your leisure.

DAY 4
SALAMANCA AREA – TOLEDO (1 NIGHT)
		This morning we travel to historic Toledo, picturesquely situated on a hill above the River Tagus. Our day commences with a Walking Tour to explore central Toledo, with streets barely wide enough for a man and his donkey. During our walk, we will have the opportunity to visit spectacular shops that produce and sell Damascene gold jewelry, as well as medieval swords. Our day continues with a brief visit to the Iglesia de Santo Tome, where we will view El Greco’s masterpiece, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz. We conclude our afternoon with a visit to the Toledo Cathedral, the spiritual heart of the Spanish church, and the seat of the Primate of all Spain. We will check into our hotel with time before dinner. The evening is free for rest and reflection.

DAY 5
TOLEDO AREA – CUENCA – MADRID (8 NIGHTS)
		We depart after breakfast for the medieval town of Cuenca. Upon arrival we will visit the Gothic Cathedral followed by a visit to one of the hanging houses commonly associated with the town. We will then continue our travels to the Capital City of Madrid. Beginning of World Youth Day 2011