WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011

A Pilgrimage to
WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011 - MADRID, SPAIN
DESIGNED AND OPERATED BY CLUB EUROPA

13 Days including WYD 2011 + Lisbon, Fatima and Santiago de Compostela

This comprehensive itinerary, includes many of the major Catholic sites in Portugal and Spain as well as all World Youth Day Activities in Madrid.

The places you will see in Lisbon, Fatima, Santiago and Madrid will make this an unforgettable and enriching journey.

Highlights of Lisbon are the Cathedral of Lisbon called ‘Se’, the Tower of Belem, Black Horse Square, Jeronimo’s Monastery, the Orphanage and the Hospital, where Jacinta died, the Church of Santa Luzia, and the birthplace of St Anthony of Padua.

Our multi-lingual guides, will help you and your youth group experience the spiritual tradition and history of Western Europe and the Mediterranean.

Portugal and Spain ...

Day 1 - Aug 10 - Wednesday
The Cathedral in Lisbon Overnight transatlantic flight from the United States to Portugal.
(in flight meals)

Day 2 - Aug 11 - Thursday
Arrival / LISBON
Arrival at Lisbon Airport LIS.
Meet and greet by your multi-lingual CLUB EUROPA escort.
(Sufficient time will be allowed at the airport to exchange money)
Private deluxe motorcoach for transfer to the city.
In case of early arrival: a lunch snack (soft drink, croissant, sandwich) will be included.
Services of deluxe long distance coach commence with transfer to the city.
Sightseeing tour of Lisbon with local, licensed guide.
Dinner at hotel or local restaurant (included)

Overnight / LISBON

Day 3 - Aug 12 - Friday
LISBON > FATIMA
Drive from Lisbon to Fatima (total distance is 75 miles).
Brief stop at about half way, in SANTAREM, to see the Graca Church, holding the tomb of Pedro Cabral, the discoverer of Brazil.
Arrival at Fatima, one of the most important pilgrimage sites of the Catholic world.
Lunch is on own Afternoon sightseeing in Fatima with local guide.
Dinner at local restaurant is included.

Overnight / FATIMA

Day 4 - Aug 13 - Saturday
FATIMA > SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Early breakfast at hotel and early departure.
On the way to Santiago: brief stop in COIMBRA to see St Theresa’s convent, where Sister Lucy, one of the visionaries, used to live.
Free time for lunch (on own) en route.
Arrival at Santiago de Compostela is scheduled for early evening.
Dinner at local restaurant is included

Overnight / SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Day 5 - Aug 14 - Sunday
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Breakfast at hotel.
The day is dedicated to sightseeing, prayer and participation in Sunday Mass.
Walking tour through Santiago with local guide and other activities will be scheduled Around Sunday Mass.
Free time for lunch (on own).
Dinner at local restaurant is included.

Overnight / SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Day 6 - Aug 15 - Monday
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA > MADRID
Breakfast at hotel.
Early breakfast at hotel and early departure – it is a long, but stunningly beautiful journey!
Lunch en route is on own.
Arrival in Madrid is scheduled for early evening.
Dinner at local restaurant is included.

Overnight / MADRID

Days 7-13 - Aug 16-21- Tuesday - Sunday
WORLD YOUTH DAY SESSIONS AND FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES
Theme: "Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith" (cf Col 2:7).

These days are kept free for the actual WORLD YOUTH DAY activities, beginning with the registration and opening Mass on August 16th, ending with final Mass in the presence of the Holy Father on August 21st. Daily breakfast at your hotel is included.

Day 7 - Aug 16 - Tuesday
MADRID
Breakfast at hotel
REGISTRATION DAY for World Youth Day
Lunch is on own
Afternoon: Opening Mass of Welcome with Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, the Archbishop of Madrid.
Dinner is on own or comes with your WYD “package”

Overnight / MADRID

Day 8 - Aug 17 - Wednesday
MADRID
Breakfast at hotel
The day is dedicated to World Youth Day activities
Lunch is on own
Morning: Catechesis, WYD Activities
Evening: Festivities and Holy Mass
Dinner is on own or comes with your WYD “package”

Overnight / MADRID

Day 9 - Aug 18 - Thursday
MADRID
Breakfast at hotel
The day is dedicated to World Youth Day activities
Lunch is on own
Morning: Catechesis and Holy Mass
Afternoon: Welcoming Ceremony with the Holy Father
Dinner is on own or comes with your WYD “package”

Overnight / MADRID

Day 10 - Aug 19 - Friday
MADRID
Breakfast at hotel
The day is dedicated to World Youth Day activities
Lunch is on own
Morning: Catechesis and Holy Mass
Evening: Way of the Cross
Dinner is on own or comes with your WYD “package”

Overnight / MADRID

Day 11 - Aug 20 - Saturday
MADRID
Breakfast at hotel
The day is dedicated to World Youth Day activities
Lunch is on own
Pilgrimage Walk and Ovenight Vigil with the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI
Dinner is on own or comes with your WYD “package”

Overnight / MADRID

Day 12 - Aug 21 - Sunday
MADRID
Breakfast at hotel
The day is dedicated to World Youth Day activities
Lunch is on own
Morning: Concluding Mass with the Holy Father and Eucharist takes place in Madrid at "Cuatro Vientos."
Dinner is on own or comes with your WYD “package”

Overnight / MADRID

Day 13 - Aug 22 - Monday
RETURN TO THE U.S.
Breakfast at hotel (in case of early departure this may not be a ‘full’ breakfast).
Services of private motorcoach for transfer from hotel to Madrid Barajas Airport Club Europa escort for transfer and check-in.

Return flight to the United States (inflight meals)

Lisbon, Fatima, Santiago de Compostela and Madrid
Lisbon is a captivating place. It's one of Europe's smaller capitals and easy to navigate on foot. It's a city that dips and rises over seven hills with the dusty cobbled streets of Alfama resembling the set of a medieval blockbuster in dramatic contrast to Chiados upmarket cafés and boutiques.

This collision of the centuries is in evidence throughout the capital: Out of 17th-century buildings skip designer-clad youths; the fish market at Cais do Sodré resonates with traditional sights and smells; and a short walk from the 18th-century aqueduct sits the modernistic Amoreiras shopping center. Lisbon has an enviable roll call of sights within strolling distance of each other. Alternatively, hop on the funicular, tram, or metro.

Highlights of Lisbon are the Cathedral of Lisbon called ‘Se’, (founded in 1150 to commemorate the defeat of the Moors), the Tower of Belem, Black Horse Square, Jeronimo’s Monastery, the Orphanage and the Hospital, where Jacinta died, the Church of Santa Luzia, and the birthplace of St Anthony of Padua, (1195–1231), a Portuguese Franciscan preacher who opposed the relaxations introduced into the order.

Born in Lisbon the son of a nobleman, he became an Augustinian monk, but in 1220 joined the Franciscans. He died in Padua, Italy, and was canonized in 1232.

Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace of Madrid was built in the eighteenth century by order of Philip V, on an ancient fortress site, that had previously been a Muslim castle. Sachetti began the work in 1738, and it was completed in 1764. The base of the building is square with a large central courtyard. The Principe (Prince) Doorway, on the east side of the building, leads to the central courtyard. The Sabatini gardens as well as the Campo del Moro (Moor's Field) are two other notable attractions of the Palace, along with all of its façades.

There are conflicting views as to categorising it within a specific style, as some parts are more Baroque while others are Neoclassical - in essence depending on the architect. The most outstanding of the inside rooms are Alabarderos Hall, Columnas (Columns) Hall, Espejos (Mirrors) Hall and the King Charles III of Spain's Room. Several of these rooms house paintings by Velazquez, Goya, Rubens, El Greco and Caravaggio.

Almudena Cathedral
The site on which Almudena Cathedral now stands was originally occupied by Madrid's first mosque, then by a church dedicated to one of Madrid's patron saints, Santa María de la Almudena.

In 1868, Madrid received permission from the archbishop of Toledo to construct a new church dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena. Construction began in 1883 based on a Neo-Gothic design. The first part to be completed was the crypt, which today still retains the 16th-century image of Madrid's patroness the Virgen de la Almudena.

Construction on the cathedral progressed slowly and came to a complete halt during the civil war of the 1930s. The process was picked up again in 1944, when a new architect introduced a Neoclassical style that would match the Royal Palace next door. Almudena Cathedral was completed in 1993 and consecrated by Pope John Paul II that same year; a statue of the pope in front of the cathedral commemorates the occasion.

These historical areas stand as foundation stones of the faith and truth for youth and elder alike.

Young Christians from around the world will be welcomed to Madrid Spain, in August 2011 for the 21th World Youth Day. They will participate in various papal activities and gatherings carrying on the special tradition in celebration of universal faith and fellowship.

Club Europa invites you and your youth group to participate in this wonderful pilgrimage.