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One of the remotest towns in Western Europe in the most westerly part of Spain,
Santiago has been a goal of pilgrimage for over a thousand years. All this time
people have travelled here by foot, by horse, by bicycle, and now by car and by
coach following the historic trail that was finally recognised in 1987 by the
council of Europe as its first European Cultural Route. The journey was long
and often arduous - but century after century pilgrims have kept coming on a
journey of discovery not only of this historic and beautiful region of Spain but
also of themselves, seeking to allow God a space in which, amidst the very
physical business of travelling, he may be able to reach out to us and we find
new glimpses of him.
“Whoever goes to Saint James and not to the Saviour, visits the servant and
misses the master”.
During our pilgrimage there will be daily acts of worship reflecting the different
Christian traditions from which Pilgrims come.
Day one – Monday 17th April 2017
Gatwick – Porto – Santiago de Compostela
Scheduled flight departing at 11:50am from Gatwick to Porto. On
arrival we transfer by private coach to our centrally-located hotel in
Santiago for a five-night stay. Dinner will be in the hotel each night.
Day two – Tuesday 18th April
Santiago de Compostela
Morning guided tour. Pilgrims' Mass at noon. It during this service that
the great censor, the Botafumeiro, is often used. It is swung by six men
until it practically touches the ceiling; an unforgettable sight! The rest
of the afternoon will be at leisure. We make our own way back to our
hotel.
Day three – Wednesday 19th April
Lugo and Monte del Gozo
We start the day with a visit to the fortified town of Lugo where St
Francis founded a monastery. We visit Lugo's remarkable cathedral. We
continue from Lugo along the pilgrimage route to Lavacolla. For those
who wish, there will be the opportunity to walk the last part of the
pilgrimage route into Santiago from Lavacolla, where according to the
Pilgrim’s Guide of Aimery Picaud, pilgrims would “take off their