Travel Itinerary – list details from travel solutions

11 Aug – Orientation in Barcelona

12 Aug – Montserrat National Park

The monastery of Montserrat is no specific architectural landmark, however excited the backdrop in which the ruins are build. Many of the tourists travel alone because of the statue of the Black Madonna, patron saint of Catalonia. The figure of the 12th century throne on the high altar in the basilica of the monastery. Her to honor Gregorian chants will be sang daily by about 50 choir boys.

The mountain Montserrat has been of religious significance since pre-Christian time. Before Christ a temple to worship Venus was built by the Romans. In the first written mention of 888 was reported the adoption of the construction by the first monastery of 880 AD. There were hermit monks, the various hermitages the Montserrat had built. The monastery was founded then by expanding of the hermitage of Santa Maria 1025.

Then in the 12th Century Black Madonna, still the target of pilgrimages, things were attributed to miracles. These miracles owed the monastery a strong growth period.
Numerous famous personalities’ pilgrimage to Montserrat: Pope Benedict XIII., Columbus, Cervantes, von Humboldt, King Fernando and Isabella, Carlos I, Felipe II. and Louis XIV..
Columbus named on his second trip 1493 an Antilles island to Montserrat.
In 1811, the monastery was largely destroyed by Napoleonic troops. The Benedictine monastery was rebuilt.

13 Aug – Retreat to Sant Cugat / Meeting Spanish Young People

The monastery’s origin date back to the 9th century, when it was decided to unite the church (existing from the 5th century) housing the remains of St. Cucuphas (Catalan: Sant Cugat) to an annexed fortification. The monastery started to the expand its possessions from the 10th century onwards. In 985 it was damaged by an attack of Muslim troops led by al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir.

In the late 11th century, count Ramon Berenguer II of Barcelona decreed that the monastery would be subject to St Ponce de Tomieres, in Provence, creating turmoil amongst the monks of Sant Cugat. The abbot of St. Ponce moved to the Catalan monastery and the monks who disagreed with his administration were expelled. However, the bishop of Barcelona claimed his rights over the monastery, which was returned to the diocese of Barcelona. At the time Sant Cugat was controlling the monasteries of Santa Cecília de Montserrat, Sant Llorenç del Munt, Sant Pau del Camp, Sant Pere de Clará and Sant Salvador de Breda.

In the mid-12th century the construction of a new monastery was begun. It was finished in 1337. In 1350 the fortification works started. In this period, however, the monastery started to decline. The nomination of the abbot, previously belonging to the monks, was switched to the diocese. During the War of Spanish Succession, it was occupied by troops of Archduke Charles, causing damage to the structure. Restoration works were lated completed in 1789.

14 Aug –Retreat / Group skills in Barcelona Park and sight seeing of Barcelona

15 Aug – Prepare for the Feast of the Assumption

Mass of Sending to WYD — On the 15th, solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the Bishops of Barcelona will celebrate the 2011 Mass to send pilgrims to Madrid. We hope to join in the fiesta and celebrations for the feast day in Barcelona

16 Aug – Registration for World Youth Day

Travel to Madrid by bus, check into the hotel and register for WYD

From the early morning, the pilgrims and groups registered in WYD will be able to collect their accreditation and backpacks in the places indicated by the organization.

   19:00 – WYD Opening Mass

The World Day begins at 5:30 pm (provisional time) with a Mass in Madrid´s Cibeles Square, presided over by the archbishop of Madrid and concelebrated by the bishops and priests participating in WYD.

   21:00 – Youth Festival

The first activities of the WYD cultural Program begin, which include concerts, exhibitions, displays, guided visits to Museums, plays, and a long etcetera. The program will be unveiled little by little…

17 Aug – Programme

09:00 – Catechesis sessions

WYD participants, organized by linguistic groups, will have catechesis session with bishops from all over the world. The sessions will take place in churches, schools, auditoriums and sports centers of Madrid. The rest of the day will be spent with various youth activities

   21:00 – Youth Festival

The first activities of the WYD cultural Program begin, which include concerts, exhibitions, displays, guided visits to Museums, plays, and a long etcetera. The program will be unveiled little by little…

18 Aug – Programme

09:00 – Catechesis sessions

WYD participants, organized by linguistic groups, will have catechesis session with bishops from all over the world. The sessions will take place in churches, schools, auditoriums and sports centers of Madrid.

   17:00 – Papal Welcome

At 5:00 pm (provisional time), the participants will receive the Pope in Cibeles Square.

   21:00 – Youth Festival

The first activities of the WYD cultural Program begin, which include concerts, exhibitions, displays, guided visits to Museums, plays, and a long etcetera. The program will be unveiled little by little.

19 Aug – Programme

09:00 – Catechesis sessions

WYD participants, organized by linguistic groups, will have catechesis session with bishops from all over the world. The sessions will take place in churches, schools, auditoriums and sports centers of Madrid.

   17:00 – Friday´s Youth Festival

WYD cultural program, which includes concerts, exhibitions, displays, guided visits to Museums, plays, and a long etcetera. The program will be unveiled little by little …

   21:00 – Via Crucis

At 9:00 pm (provisional time) the WYD Via Crucis will begin. At each station, a statue from the traditional Spanish Holy Week will be located, representing the scene. These statues will come from all over Spain.

20 Aug – Programme

16:00 – Preparatory ceremony in Cuatro Vientos

Young people will arrive little by little at the aerodrome and take their places. Meanwhile, different activities will take place on the stage (testimonies of young people, musical interpretations, prayers to the Virgin, etc.), to prepare for the Vigil.

   20:00 – Vigil with the Pope

At 8:00 pm (provisional time), the Pope will arrive at the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome, and Eucharistic adoration will begin. Planned is an address by the Holy Father.

   23:00 – Night in Cuatro Vientos

WYD participants will spend the night in the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome. For those who so wish, there will be several tents where they will be able to adore the Most Blessed Sacrament.

21 Aug – Programme

09:00 – WYD Mass of Sending

At 9:00 am (provisional time) the Pope will concelebrate Mass with thousands of bishops and priests, and he will address young people and those who are not so young, to send them out to the world to witness to their faith, as the Lord did with his Apostles. At the end of the conclusive Mass, the Holy Father will announce the place where the next edition of World Youth Day will be held.