Spain: In the Footsteps of Saint Ferdinand with Father Kyle Nesrsta
Twelve days through Castile and Andalusia, from Valladolid, Burgos and León to Toledo, Córdoba and Seville, where we pray at the tomb of St. Ferdinand III, with daily Mass.
Your chaplain
Fr. Kyle Nesrsta
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8
St. Ferdinand III united the crowns of Castile and León and was canonized in 1671. His incorrupt body rests in the Royal Chapel of Seville Cathedral, where we pray on October 17.
The Plaza de España · Seville
Spain, October 8 to 19, 2027
Twelve days, ten nights in Madrid, Valladolid, Burgos, León, Salamanca, Córdoba and Seville, with Oña, Zamora, Toledo and Carmona along the way, and Mass each day.
Begins and ends in Madrid
OvernightVisit
Nights: 3 Madrid, 1 Valladolid, 1 Burgos, 1 León, 1 Salamanca, 1 Córdoba, 2 Seville.
Departure from the USA
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart for our overnight flight to Madrid.
Arrival in Madrid
Upon arrival at Madrid Airport, our local tour escort will greet us and accompany us by motorcoach to our hotel. After check-in, we gather for a welcome dinner.
Madrid & Valladolid
After breakfast, we depart for Valladolid, the royal city of Castile where Saint Ferdinand III was proclaimed king in 1217. We explore the Plaza Mayor, among the first great arcaded plazas in Spain, and the historic center. We celebrate Mass before our first overnight in Castile.
Valladolid, Burgos & Oña
Following breakfast, we travel east to Burgos, a city central to Catholic Spain and to the reign of Saint Ferdinand III. We visit the Burgos Cathedral, begun in 1221, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and burial place of El Cid. We continue north to the Monastery of San Salvador de Oña, founded in 1011 and renowned for its Benedictine history and Marian devotion. We celebrate Mass before returning to Burgos.
Burgos & León
After breakfast, we travel west to León, capital of the medieval kingdom. Already King of Castile, Saint Ferdinand III inherited León in 1230, uniting the two kingdoms permanently. We visit the Basilica of San Isidoro, a foremost monument of Spanish Romanesque, home to the Royal Pantheon and the relics of Saint Isidore of Seville. We celebrate Mass before continuing to the León Cathedral, a French Gothic masterpiece renowned for its stained glass.
León, Zamora & Salamanca
This morning we depart for Zamora, set above the Duero River and home to one of the richest concentrations of Romanesque churches in Europe. We visit the Cathedral of El Salvador, whose scaled dome reflects Byzantine influences carried along the pilgrim roads. We celebrate Mass before continuing south to Salamanca for a walking tour of its golden sandstone center, taking in the Plaza Mayor, the historic University of Salamanca, and the twin cathedrals.
Salamanca & Madrid
Following breakfast, we depart for Madrid. Upon arrival we enjoy lunch before a tour of the capital, including the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena, consecrated by Saint John Paul II in 1993. We celebrate Mass here.
Madrid, Toledo & Córdoba
After breakfast, we travel to Toledo, the Primate See of Spain, set above the Tagus River. We visit the Toledo Cathedral, one of the great High Gothic cathedrals of Europe and seat of the Primate of Spain, and walk its historic center. We celebrate Mass before continuing south to Córdoba.
Córdoba, Carmona & Seville
We begin with Mass in Córdoba before visiting the Mosque-Cathedral, consecrated as a Catholic cathedral after the city’s reconquest under Saint Ferdinand III in 1236. We continue to Carmona to visit the Church of Santa María, built upon a former mosque. Arriving in Seville, we walk along the Guadalquivir River, central to the city’s capture by Saint Ferdinand in 1248.
Seville & Saint Ferdinand
This morning we visit the Seville Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, where we venerate the incorrupt body of Saint Ferdinand III in the Royal Chapel. Time is given for prayer at his tomb before we celebrate Mass. We then visit the Real Alcázar, a Moorish palace adapted by Christian kings and still in royal use, before walking through the Barrio de Santa Cruz.
Seville & Madrid
We celebrate Mass before departing Seville for Madrid by motorcoach, pausing for lunch along the way. Upon arrival we check in, with time at leisure as the schedule allows, before our farewell dinner.
Return Home
With hearts renewed by the grace of pilgrimage and the intercession of Saint Ferdinand III, we transfer to Madrid Airport for our return flight home.
What’s included
Everything below is covered by the package price.
Your hotels in Spain
Three-star hotels throughout: three nights in Madrid (on arrival, mid-tour and the last night), one each in Valladolid, Burgos, León, Salamanca and Córdoba, and two in Seville. Hotels are subject to final confirmation; if a hotel changes, it is replaced with one of the same standard.
“Each site was thought out about why and how to pray there.”
“This was the trip of a lifetime and excellent customer service.”
“If you want a pilgrimage that’s seamless, historical and actually fun, book these guys.”
Questions pilgrims ask
Short answers to what most people want to know before they put down a deposit.
It is a touring pilgrimage by motorcoach, with several long drives between cities. Expect about 2 to 3 miles of walking on a typical day, mostly on walking tours of old towns such as Salamanca, Toledo and Seville, with cobblestones, some stairs and the hills of Toledo. Days usually start with a wake-up call around 7am, departure by 9am and a return to the hotel between 5pm and 6pm.
You can have a room to yourself, with a single room supplement of $1,300, or share a room with two beds with another pilgrim. If you would like to share, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. If we cannot find a match by July 10, 2027, the single room supplement applies. Couples, families, friends and singles are all welcome, and plenty of pilgrims come on their own.
Lunches, donations at Masses, souvenirs and laundry. A typical lunch costs about $15 to $20. Tips for restaurant and hotel staff are included; for your tour manager, local guides and driver, the recommended amounts are in your final travel documents. Travel insurance if you choose it, and a 3% fee if you pay by card. Abroad, we recommend paying for most things by credit card, which is accepted almost everywhere and comes with protection that cash does not; bring a couple hundred U.S. dollars in cash for emergencies. When a card machine or ATM asks whether to pay in dollars or in the local currency (euros in Spain), choose the local currency; it is almost always cheaper.
Cancel in writing. Up to July 10, 2027 (90 days before departure), everything you have paid is returned except $200. After that date, the $450 deposit and any costs we cannot recover are kept. Travel insurance may cover a cancellation, depending on the reason.
Fr. Kyle Nesrsta leads the group as chaplain.
More answers in the FAQ below and in our Support Center, or call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
Price per person
Per person, including roundtrip group airfare from Austin (AUS). Flying from another city? We can arrange air from your airport; call or email us for a quote.
$200 per person is non-refundable.
Final payment is due 90 days before departure. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
Check
ACH bank transfer
Zelle
Cash, money order or cashier’s check
Protect your pilgrimage
Your pilgrimage is paid for long before you leave. After you reserve, your booking confirmation email has our Allianz Travel Insurance plans and a link to buy one directly. Classic is the plan we recommend for most pilgrims.
- Covers your trip cost. Classic reimburses 100% of the trip cost you insured if you cancel for a covered reason, and adds emergency medical care and baggage cover.
- Buy within 14 days of your first deposit to keep Cancel Anytime and pre-existing condition cover. The plans stay available until departure.
- Buy it from your confirmation email. Prefer to add it by phone? Call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
Frequently asked questions
This is an active program that covers a good amount of ground each day, with several long motorcoach days between cities. Expect a wake-up call around 7am, departure by 9am and a return to the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. You should be able to walk 2 to 3 miles a day at a moderate pace, with uneven surfaces, stairs, cobblestones and some slopes.
Expect cool to mild days in Castile, with chilly mornings in Burgos and León, and warmer, often sunny days in Córdoba and Seville. Bring layers, a light jacket and comfortable walking shoes.
Yes. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date, and passport cards are not accepted for international travel. US citizens do not currently need a visa for a short visit to Spain. The European Union is introducing ETIAS, an online travel authorization for visitors who do not need a visa; if it applies to our dates, we will tell you how to apply. We need your passport details at least 90 days before departure.
Rates are per person based on two pilgrims sharing a room. Shared rooms have one bed or two beds. If you are travelling alone we will try to match you with a roommate of the same gender; if we cannot, the single room supplement applies.
Yes. The land-only price is $3,899 per person. Send us your flight details once booked, so we can line your arrival up with the group’s in Madrid on October 9 and its departure from Madrid on October 19. Group air from other airports can be arranged; call or email us for a quote.
Final payment is due on July 10, 2027, 90 days before departure. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
We strongly encourage travel insurance for all of our pilgrims, and we partner with Allianz Travel Insurance to offer affordable coverage. Most of our pilgrims choose the Classic Plan. Insurance can be quoted and purchased after registration.
A pilgrimage is not a vacation or excursion but a unique spiritual journey that provides many opportunities to deepen your relationship with God and enrich your Catholic faith by bringing Scripture to life. Pilgrimages offer the opportunity to let Christ draw you near.
More questions are answered in our Support Center, covering booking, payments, travel insurance, passports and what to expect on pilgrimage.
Couples, families, friends, singles, all are welcome!
Some pilgrims come as a couple, some bring the whole family, some come with a friend from the parish, and plenty come on their own. Everyone is welcome.
Spain in the footsteps of St. Ferdinand
October 8 to 19, 2027, with Fr. Kyle Nesrsta. Reserve today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.
Questions? Call +1 (800) 653-0017 or email hello@canterburypilgrimages.com.
Secure your spot today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.