Diocese of Geraldton Youth

26^th July to 9^th August 2023 (15 Days)

Perth – Spain – Portugal – France - Perth

Day-00 26^th Jul 2023 - Perth to Dubai (UAE) Emirates EK421 – Depart Perth at 22:20 Sunday Via Dubai & Arrive in Dubai at 05:20

Day 01 - 27^th Jul – Dubai to Madrid (Spain) Emirates EK141Arrive at 13:25 Meet & greet at Adolfo Suarez Barajas Airport by (Tour Manager) then head to the hotel to check in and lunch then relax, later for dinner and relax.

Day-02 – 28^th Jul – Madrid After breakfast drive to the Monastery and Site of the Escurial, built at the end of the 16th century on a plan in the form of a grill, the instrument of the martyrdom of St Lawrence, the Escurial Monastery stands in an exceptionally beautiful site in Castile. Its austere architecture, a break with previous styles, had a considerable influence on Spanish architecture for more than half a century. It was the retreat of a mystic king and became, in the last years of Philip II's reign, the centre of the greatest political power of the time. Then head to La Almudena, Madrid’s Cathedral is, of course, one of the most beautiful churches in the city. It is located right next to the Royal Palace and was built during the 19th and 20th centuries. Then proceed to the Royal Palace of Madrid, just adjacent to the Cathedral, The Royal Palace of Madrid (In Spanish: Palacio Real de Madrid) is the official residence of the Spanish royal family in the city of Madrid, although now used only for state ceremonies. The palace has 135,000 m² (1,450,000 sq ft) of floor space and contains 3,418 rooms. It is the largest royal palace in Europe. Then Proceed to Basilica De San Francisco El Grande, Also close to the Royal Palace, the Basilica de San Francisco el Grande is a beautiful church built in the neoclassic style during the 18th century. Its cupola is considered to have one of the biggest diameters of cupolas in Christian churches all over the world. Then Proceed to the hotel for Dinner and Relax.

Day-03 – 29^th Jul – Madrid – Avila – Salamanca (214 Kms) After breakfast, check out to proceed to Avila and visit the Church and birthplace of Saint Teresa of Jesus, then Drive to Salamanca and visit Salamanca Cathedral the New Cathedral, together with the Old Cathedral, one of the two cathedrals of Salamanca, Spain. It was constructed between the 16th and 18th centuries in two styles: late Gothic and Baroque. Then walk across Catedral Vieja de Santa Maria de la Sede de Salamanca (Old Cathedral), then drive through the Roman bridge of Salamanca, and finally visit Ieronimus Tower (Old Cathedral). Then Proceed to the hotel for Dinner and Relax.

Day-04 – 30^th Jul – Salamanca to Santiago de Compostela (431 Kms)

After breakfast, Checkout to proceed to Santiago de Compostela, then head to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. 500 Metres of Camino to the Cathedral and celebrate mass in the Cathedral. Free Evening and Then Proceed to hotel for Dinner and Relax.

Day-05 – 31^st Jul - Santiago de Compostela to Fatima (415 kms)

Upon arrival, Check-In in at the hotel and go ahead for lunch then visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima and celebrate mass in the grotto of the apparition. Then head to Mira de Aire Cave, the Moinhos Velhos Cave, is one of the most important cave systems known in the Portuguese Estremadura Limestone Massif, with about 9 km in extension. It is characterized by the existence of two fóssil paragenetic main conduits of about one decametre in diameter with dendritic tributaries, and a set of semi-active passages in a dendritic pattern at the north and angulate at the south. In the evening join the group for the candlelight procession reciting the holy rosary. Then Proceed to the hotel for Dinner and Relax.

Day-06 – 1^st Aug – Fatima to Lisbon (125 kms) After breakfast, Checkout to proceed to Lisbon, and then upon arrival check in at the Hotel and prepare for the start of World Youth Day after lunch head to the venue and registration. Morning free to explore then World Youth Day Mass and opening ceremonies in the Afternoon.

Day-07 – 2^nd Aug – Lisbon - WYD ­– Catechesis & WYD Events

Day-08 – 3^rd Aug – Lisbon - WYD – Catechesis in the morning and Papal arrival in the afternoon.

Day-09 – 4^th Aug – Lisbon - WYD – Catechesis in the morning and stations of the cross in the afternoon.

Day-10 – 5^th Aug – Lisbon - WYD – Departure for vigil site and evening Papal mass.

Day-11 – 6^th Aug – Lisbon - WYD, After the Closing mass and farewell ceremonies, then head to the hotel for checkout then to the airport to fly to Barcelona, later Check into the hotel and relax.

Day-12 – 7^th Aug – Barcelona to Lourdes (560 kms)

After breakfast, check out and proceed to La Sagrada Familia (Popularly known as the tallest church in the world) The Basílica Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, shortened as the Sagrada Família, is an unfinished church in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. Designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, his work on Sagrada Família is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cathedral of Barcelona, This Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, also known as Barcelona Cathedral, is the Gothic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The cathedral was constructed from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries, with the principal work done in the fourteenth century. Then Drive to Lourdes then check in to the Hotel for dinner and relax.

Day-13 – 8^th Aug – Lourdes to Paris (830 kms – Fast Train 4 hrs & 30 Mins)

After breakfast, checkout to proceed to Mass in the Grotto of apparition or Shrine and proceed Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary - the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica within the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France. Its main theme is a celebration and depiction of the Rosary. The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception - the Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, known widely as the "Upper Church", is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica within the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France. Constructed between 1862 and 1871 and consecrated in 1876, it was the second of the churches to be completed. The church was built on top of the rock above the Grotto and next to the Basilica of our Lady of the Rosary.  Designed by architect Hippolyte Durand, the Neo-Gothic church seems to emerge directly from the rock of Massabielle. The Basilica of St. Pius X, informally known as the Underground Basilica, is a large Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, located in the town of Lourdes, Sanctuaires Notre-Dame de Lourdes - The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is a Catholic Marian shrine and pilgrimage site dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes in the town of Lourdes, Hautes-Pyrénées, France. The sanctuary includes several religious buildings and monuments around the grotto of Massabielle, the place where the events of the Lourdes apparitions occurred in 1858. Massabielle Grotto - Limestone cave & apparition site. Casa natal de Bernardette / Moinho de Boly - Childhood house of a St Bernadette. Then head to lunch and proceed to Lourdes Railway Station to catch a train to Paris, upon arrival hop on to the coach to head to the Eiffel tower to catch a glimpse of this monument upon futuristic light displays and proceed to Hotel for the Night after dinner and then relax.                                                     

Day-14 – 9^th Aug – Paris - Dubai – Perth Charles De Gaulle International Airport Morning after a relaxed breakfast, check out and proceed to Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Several of its attributes set it apart from the earlier Romanesque style, particularly its pioneering use of the rib vault and flying buttress, its enormous and colourful rose windows and the naturalism and abundance of its sculptural decoration. Notre Dame also stands out for its musical components, notably its three pipe organs and its immense church bells. Construction of the cathedral began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and was largely completed by 1260, though it was modified frequently in the centuries that followed. In the 1790s, during the French Revolution, Notre-Dame suffered extensive desecration; much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed. In the 19th century, the coronation of Napoleon I and the funerals of many of the French Republic's presidents took place at the cathedral.  Then Drive through Arc de Triomphe, it is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Place de l'Étoile—the étoile or "star" of the juncture formed by its twelve radiating avenues. Then Eiffel during the day This monument is a wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Locally nicknamed "La dame de fer", it was constructed from 1887 to 1889 as the centrepiece of the 1889 World's Fair Then if time permits drive to The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris This Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre, commonly known as Sacré-Cœur Basilica and often simply Sacré-Cœur, is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica in Paris, France, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Then transfer to the Airport to board your flight to Dubai