WAY OF ST. JAMES
Land only Double occupancy 2,295.00. Land only Single occupancy 2,695.00 June 04 to June 19 July 11 to July 26 HOW TO OBTAIN THE COMPOSTELA. By means of the Bula Regis Aeterna, Pope Alexander III in the XII Century conferred the Grace of the Jubilee, that is the remission of all sins. No matter how serious these are and even of those sins whose remission can only be conferred by the Pope himself. The Compostela is the name of the official certificate awarded by the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela to all the people who make the pilgrimage for religious reasons (whether or not it is a Jubilee Year). In order to receive this certificate and in addition to the above, it is necessary to travel on foot, bicycle or on horseback a part of the Pilgrim Road to Santiago and to demonstrate this on arrival (at least 100 kilometers on foot or horseback and 200 kilometers on bicycle). The demonstration of the distance traveled is made using the pilgrims Credential, which should be stamped or signed by the different parishes, hostels, refuges or the official representative of the towns along the Pilgrim Road. If this Credential is not obtained, it can be substituted with a written journal containing the signatures and stamps obtained at each and every stage. Our pilgrimage will covers the Cities of Madrid, Toledo, Burgos, Leon, Ponferrada, Sarria and Santiago de Compostela. Tours includes: full board, all breakfast, 4 pic nic, 12 lunches in the hotel/restaurant, 12 dinners in the hotels, farewell dinner in Santiago de Compostela, deluxe bus for all the tour, tour director English/Spanish speaking for all the tour, local guide in Leon, Lugo, Santiago and entrance fees to main monuments. ITINERARY DAY 01: MADRID. Meet and greet at the airport for transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon sightseeing tour of Madrid. Overnight in Madrid.DAY 02: MADRID. Breakfast at the hotel. Half day tour to Toledo to visit the cathedral, sinagogue. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Madrid.DAY 03: MADRID-BURGOS. Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer by bus to Burgos, in the afternoon sightseeing tour of the city, visit its cathedral, Convent of Las Huelgas Reales, Cartuja de Miraflores...Overnight in Burgos.DAY 04: BURGOS. Breakfast at the hotel. Today we’ll visit the Yuso and Santo Domingo de la Calzada monastery ..we’ll visit this winery region. Overnight in Burgos. DAY 05: BURGOS Breakfast at the hotel.Today we’ll visit the shrine of San Juan de Ortega. Afternoon at leisure. OvernightDAY 06: BURGOS-LEON. Breakfast at hotel. On our way we’ll stop to visit Fromista and Carrion de Los Condes. Overnight in Leon.DAY 07: LEON. Breakfast at hotel. Today we’ll visit the Natural Park of Somiedo. Overnight in Leon. DAY 08: LEON. Breakfast at hotel. Half day city tour to admire its cathedral, The hostal San Marcos by Gaudi. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Leon.DAY 09: LEON-PONFERRADA. Breakfast at hotel. On our way to Ponferrada we’ll visit Astorga with its cathedral and other buildings by Gaudi. Overnight in Ponferrada.DAY 10: PONFERRADA. Breakfast at hotel. In the morning we’ll visit Villafranca del Bierzo that belongs to the well known BIERZO region. Afternoon at leisure Overnight in Ponferrada.DAY 11: PONFERRADA-SARRIABreakfast at hotel. Depart to O’cebreiro well known for its thatched stone huts (pallozas). We’ll visit too in Samos its monastery and its library. Overnight in SarriaDAY 12: SARRIA-SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA. Breakfast at hotel. In Portomarin we’ll visit Santa Maria de las Nieves, San Nicolas...Overnight in Santiago.DAY 13: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA. Breakfast at hotel. In the morning city walk of the city, its cathedral, narrow streets.. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight in SantiagoDAY 14: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA. Breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure. Overnight in santiago.DAY 15: SANTIAGO-MADRID. Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport in Santiago and connections via Madrid. Santiago de Compostela This is Spain’s most famous pilgrimage center, and the cathedral is the town crowning glory. According to legend, the remains of the Apostle St. James were found in 813 on the site of the present cathedral by bishop of Iria Flavia, who was guided by a star. The name of Compostela is derived from Campus Stellae (Field of the star). Saint James was made patron saint of Spain and by the mid-1oth century masses of pilgrims were traveling from France and along the north of Spain, to visit his shrine. The route they took became known as the Camino de Santiago, and was the most popular pilgrim route, after Rome during the Middle Ages. The Cathedral, which stands in the Plaza del Obradoiro, dominates the whole town. It was built between 1060 and 1211, and is considered to be the one on the finest achievements of the Romanesque architecture. It is combined with a magnificent baroque facade from the 16th and 17th centuries. The richly carved decorations that adorn the west entrance are the work of the sculptor Fernando Casas y Novoa. A Statue of Saint James stands high on the front gable between two imposing towers. Within the west front entrance is the magnificent Portico de la Gloria, a masterpiece of 12th-century Romanesque work by Mateo. The interior is simple, the main focus being the Capital Mayor. Above the high altar is a silver shrine with a richly decorated statue of St. James, and below is the crypt, which contains the tombs of the Apostle and his two disciples, St. Theodore and St.Athanasius. Other notable features are the beautiful wrought-iron grilles, the large Plateresque cloister and the finely carved Puerta de las Platerias. The Museum and treasury contain some interesting religious items. When in the Cathedral, ask about the Botafumeiro. This is a giant incense-burner that is normally kept in the library and brought out on feast days and special occasions. It is hung from the transept dome and is swung from side to side, higher and higher, by eight priests with ropes. This ceremony goes back to the time when large number of unwashed pilgrims descended on the cathedral to worship at the shrine of St. James and some form of fumigation was necessary. On the cathedral square are the elegant Renaissance Hostal de los reyes Catolicos, now a Parador, but originally founded by Fernando and Isabella as a hostal for poor pilgrims; the handsome Bishop´s palace and the 18th-century Town Hall. Other places of interest in Santiago include the seminary of San Martín Pinaro, which features an elegant doorway and the twin-towered Convent de San Francisco. The 18th-century University is noted for its handsome classical facade. $ 500.00, *DEPOSITS OF THIS DEPARTURE ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
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