Every country will have its unique features admired by people all over the world and Europe is always part of that list. But Europe is not only home to majestic scenery, brilliant bodies of water ranging from where the eye can see to where it can’t, culture so rich tourists would die to live in, but also it houses brilliant places of worship where pilgrims can always find peace.
Madrid
Madrid is a rich place surrounded by vibrant people of a full spectrum you can only imagine upon getting there. But wherever you are in this city, you’re just meters away from a Catholic Church. Daily mass and a pilgrimage are hard to miss.
Besides Madrid’s churches, one of the highlights of the capital of Spain is its picturesque blue skies and mouth dropping city skyline. It can move you to appreciate the intrinsic architecture made by human hands and the natural beauty God has made for men.
Palacio de Cibeles
Palacio de Cibeles’ rooftop not only gives you a 360° view of the city of Madrid with signs posted containing the city’s landmarks. A good Instagram-worthy place to visit.
Prado Museum
Another must-see in Madrid is the Prado Museum. It’s the home of the original paintings of well-renowned artists like Raphael, Goya, Bosch and Weyden.
Free entrance: Sundays 5pm-7pm, Tuesday-Saturday 6pm-8pm
Other Tips
Should you plan a trip to Madrid, know that Madrid’s climate is best in Autumn (August-September) and Spring (April-May). Strolling around the capital should be easy like Sunday morning.
Next stop is a nearby city in from Madrid. A busy city, filled with architectural structures made by the famous Antoni Gaudi.
Barcelona
At the heart of the city, you’ll find the famous Sagrada Familia.
Designed by Antoni Gaudi, the façade of the church consists of all the mysteries of the rosary (Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious), its peak crowned with towers symbolizing the Twelve Apostles, the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ and its interiors are vibrant from the colors portrayed from the stained glass windows hit by the sunlight.
It’s a place pilgrims and tourists can be awed by its intricate designs.
Besides the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi has other architectural projects around the city. Some of which is a park named Parc Guell and a residential home, Casa Mila.
Parc Guell
Parc Guell is the artist’s masterpiece of a park that gives you a fantastic view of Barcelona and mosaic designs made by Gaudi himself.
Parc Guell tickets cost about €10 from 8:00am-8:30pm. Entrance is free after 8:30pm, however, tourists can not appreciate the view by that time.
Casa Mila
This is a residential home Gaudi designed which depicts a story as tourists move along the place with their audio guides.
The story line starts at the rooftop where it explains the 4 pillars of the house, which symbolizes the Earth, Wind, Fire and Air. Tourists descend to the lower levels where a museum portrays Gaudi’s craftsmanship inspired by nature and the Catholic Faith.
On the second level, one can see bedrooms, bathrooms, family rooms, a dining room and a kitchen, where the story segues to how a family lives during Gaudi’s time.
Casa Mila is open from 9:00am-8:30pm. Adult tickets cost €22 each.
The Basilica at Montserrat
Do not miss the chance to go to Montserrat from Barcelona. It’s almost a 1-2 hour train ride to the place where Our Lady is venerated by pilgrims.
It’s a monastery opened to the public located on top of a mountain. It has a tourist attraction on the side where people can ride a cable car to the mountain’s peak.
Here, tourists can attend daily mass at 11:00am, 12nn and 7:30pm and have lunch or dinner after. Besides the mass, people usually line up all the way to a stairwell which leads to the back of the altar to get a close glimpse of the Tabernacle.
If pilgrims would like to travel from Spain to France, they shouldn’t miss the chance to pass by Sanctuario De Torreciudad.
Sanctuario De Torreciudad
The pilgrimage site is located in the far outskirts of Huesca, Spain. Pilgrims can only get there by private car, van rental or riding a bus bound for the place.
It’s on top of a mountain surrounded by an enormous lake that gives of a relaxing atmosphere.
Sanctuario De Torreciudad is a shrine dedicated to Our Lady, out of devotion, by St. Josemaria Escriva, the patron saint of ordinary life.
A few meters away from the main church are the ruins of the original shrine dedicated to Our Lady where St. Josemaria Escriva was brought by his parents in thanksgiving for their answered prayers. Beside the ruins is a small shrine where pilgrims can pray privately to Our Lady of Torreciudad.
Pyrenees
After passing by Huesca, Spain, travelers can appreciate Europe’s rich scenery by taking the route passing through the Pyrenees to get to France.
It is a mouth dropping, breathtaking and extravagant showcase nature can give. Not a wink of sleep should be spared while on the road through the Pyrenees.
Lourdes, France
Lourdes has its own signature atmosphere. It’s different from the busy city streets of Madrid or Barcelona. The town has a cozy atmosphere which gives you a laid back feeling different from the busy cities in Spain. You’ll find that the little town in Lourdes is vibrant with their devotion to Our Lady and St. Bernadette.
Basilica Of Our Lady Of The Rosary
Upon arriving, what catches your eye is a castle-like Basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. Inside are golden mosaics surrounding a huge altar. The mosaics portray each of the mysteries of the rosary, with altars beneath them for priests to celebrate mass simultaneously.
One of the attractions is St. Bernadette’s house where artifacts are kept for display. It’s free of charge but it won’t hurt to donate a few Euros for its maintenance.
But the main attraction is, of course, the place where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette. The apparition site is located in front of the river where St. Bernadette is known to have crossed.
The grotto of Our Lady is located on the place where she was seen by St. Bernadette, now with an altar for daily mass beneath it.
Behind the altar, you’ll find water flowing from the rocks for so many years, no matter what the season. This water is believed to be miraculous.
Back then, people refused to believe that Our Lady has appeared to a simple, humble girl named Bernadette. It was winter time and people were asking for a sign that what Bernadette saw was true.
The story goes that Our Lady told St. Bernadette to dig through the rocks until fresh flowing water came out. From that time until present, this water has never stopped flowing and is proven to have cured many sicknesses throughout the years.
Devout pilgrims are encouraged to line up at a place beside the apparition site to get a chance to dip in this miraculous water.
Catholic pilgrims all over the world visit Lourdes out of devotion to Our Lady. And every night, without breaking its streak, whether it’d rain or shine, in hot or in cold weather, a rosary procession is done around the Basilica.
As disabled, sick and healthy devotees from all over the world, slowly walk around the area praying the rosary in candlelight, facilitated by an audio of the rosary, one would hear the unified response to the Hail Mary in 50 or more languages.
It gives a feeling that, no matter what race, country, age or nation one lives in, Catholics are of one heart, united by Our Lady.
After Lourdes, since one is in France already, don’t miss the chance to pass by the Fashion Capital of the World, Paris!
Paris
Paris is the place to be for artists, fashion gurus and lovers alike. What with its busy city streets filled with all types of anything-you-can-think-of-under-the-sun; brand new luxury cars and vintage cars, sidewalks and subways filled with young and old people with clothes put together in their own classy style and musicians from almost every corner playing songs of the old and current times.
But what can really sweep you of your feet is the Eiffel Tower.
Eiffel Tower
A historic landmark bellowing the city of Paris, this tower is as beautiful at night as it is in the day. It’s filled with locals and tourists whiling the time away, taking everything in of the intimidating, yet impressive view of the Eiffel.
If one is adventurous, he/she may want to look online for tickets that’ll take him/her up to the summit of the Eiffel or have dinner at the second landing of the landmark. And, if one is lucky, since this activity only happens for a limited time, a zipline activity is offered to tourists which starts from a landing in the Eiffel.
Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum is the largest art museum in the world. It is also one of the iconic landmarks of Paris and definitely a famous tourist spot. Once inside the museum, one can get the chance to view the famous Mona Lisa painting among others.
Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe
A few meters from Louvre Muesum is the famous Champs-Élysées, which means Elysian Fields in English, a paradise for dead heroes, in Greek Mythology. It’s an avenue which leads to the famous Arc de Triomphe, a monument built in honor those who’ve fought for France in the Napoleonic Wars.
Garden of Versailles and Versailles Palace
Another must-see tourist spot is the Garden of Versailles. This garden was in the making for 40 years or more and which was entrusted to Andre Le Notre by King Louis XIV.
It’s an Instagram-worthy place where gadgets can’t do justice to portray how beautiful it is.
Near the gardens is a former residential area of King Louis XIII and XIV. Currently, it’s a museum displaying the great figures and historic moments of France.
But Paris does not only contains historical landmarks, it also holds a place for pilgrims too.
Notre Dame de Paris
Norte Dame De Paris, means Our Lady of Paris. This is a Cathedral built in honor of Our Lady and one of the best masterpieces of French Gothic architecture.
Unfortunately, Notre Dame is currently closed due to the recent fire episode last April 2019. Although, tourists can still take photos from outside the barricade.
Sacré-Cœr Basilica
The Sacré-Cœr Basilica or the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, is a majestic church overlooking the City Of Lights. It is also the second most visited monument in the city.
It’s perched on top of a hill where pilgrims and tourists alike can appreciate the view and the house of God.
Truly, it is a mixture of God’s work and man’s masterpiece.
Whether a tourist or a pilgrim or both, truly the earth is full of splendid gifts made by God through the works of man. You’ll find God’s craftiness in the architectural designs of the likes of Gaudi, the artistic side of He who created the Pyrenees and the Garden of Versailles through Andre Le Notre and the inspiration implanted on the makers of great Basilicas like that of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lourdes.
Europe, then, is not only the home for historic landmarks and tourist spots but also a place where people can appreciate the Creator of all things who made them.
Thalia Travels 