Asturias & Cantabria: Covadonga, the Holy Shroud & the True Cross
A Catholic Pilgrimage Through Northern Spain
9 Days / 7 Nights | Oviedo, Covadonga, Santo Toribio de Liébana, Picos de Europa, Gijón & the Cantabrian Coast | Available for Parish and Catholic Groups
A Journey Through the Sacred Heart of Northern Spain
Northern Spain preserves some of the country’s most remarkable Catholic treasures.
In the mountains of Asturias, we will pilgrimage to Covadonga, one of Spain’s great Marian sanctuaries and a place deeply associated with the beginnings of the medieval Christian Kingdom of Asturias.
In Cantabria, we will visit the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, where the Lignum Crucis, traditionally venerated as the largest surviving relic of the True Cross, has drawn pilgrims for centuries.
And in Oviedo Cathedral, we will enter the historic Holy Chamber to encounter the Santo Sudario — the Holy Shroud of Oviedo, one of the most important relics preserved in Spain and traditionally associated with the cloth placed over the face of Christ after His death.
Together, these places create an unusually rich pilgrimage centered on Mary, the Passion of Christ, the relics of the Early Church and the Christian origins of Spain.
But this journey is also about northern Spain itself.
The dramatic landscapes of the Picos de Europa, the Atlantic coastline, fishing villages, pre-Romanesque churches, historic Oviedo and Gijón, and the industrial and emigrant history of Asturias give the pilgrimage a cultural depth that goes far beyond the shrines alone.
Designed especially for parishes and Catholic groups from the United States, this is a journey of faith, history, nature and fellowship through one of Spain’s most beautiful and less internationally traveled regions.
The Holy Shroud of Oviedo
One of the most distinctive elements of this pilgrimage is the opportunity to visit the Santo Sudario preserved in Oviedo Cathedral.
Unlike the Shroud of Turin, the Oviedo cloth does not contain an image of a complete body.
Instead, Catholic tradition associates it with the cloth placed over the face of Christ following His death.
For centuries, the relic has been preserved within the Holy Chamber of the Cathedral of San Salvador and has made Oviedo an important pilgrimage destination in its own right.
For Catholic groups, this provides a powerful opportunity to reflect upon the Passion, death and burial of Jesus Christ in a setting where Christians have venerated relics for more than a thousand years.
Santo Toribio de Liébana & the Lignum Crucis
Deep within the mountains of Cantabria stands another extraordinary pilgrimage destination.
The Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana preserves the Lignum Crucis, traditionally identified with a major fragment of the Cross upon which Christ was crucified.
The monastery developed into one of Spain’s great pilgrimage centers and retains a special Holy Year tradition.
The journey toward Santo Toribio — surrounded by the mountains of the Picos de Europa — also reminds us of something essential about pilgrimage:
sacred places are often reached by leaving ordinary life behind and setting out toward somewhere different.
Covadonga: Faith at the Beginning of a Kingdom
Covadonga occupies a unique place in Spanish history and spirituality.
The sanctuary is deeply connected with Our Lady of Covadonga, but also with the origins of the medieval Kingdom of Asturias.
For generations, the Holy Cave has been a place where history, national memory and Marian devotion meet.
Today, pilgrims come not only to admire the spectacular mountain landscape, but to pray before the small image of the Virgin known affectionately throughout Asturias as La Santina.
For American groups, Covadonga offers the opportunity to encounter a Marian devotion that remains profoundly woven into the Catholic identity of an entire region.
Faith Between the Mountains and the Sea
Northern Spain feels different from the Spain many travelers first imagine.
Here, green mountains descend toward the Atlantic.
Ancient monasteries stand in remote valleys.
Fishing villages cling to the coastline.
And some of Spain’s oldest Christian traditions remain deeply embedded in the landscape.
At Covadonga, faith is connected with the birth of a medieval Christian kingdom.
At Santo Toribio, pilgrims venerate the Cross.
At Oviedo, the relics of the Passion remind us of Christ’s suffering and burial.
And along the coast, churches, local devotions and communities reveal a Catholicism shaped not by monumental cities alone, but by mountains, work, emigration, family and place.
This pilgrimage invites us to experience that northern Christian tradition firsthand.
Not simply as tourists.
As pilgrims.
Pilgrimage Highlights
- Our Lady of Covadonga — pilgrimage to the Holy Cave and Basilica of one of Spain’s most important Marian shrines.
- Covadonga & the Christian Kingdom of Asturias — discover the place traditionally associated with the beginnings of Christian resistance after the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.
- Lakes of Covadonga — optional excursion into the spectacular Picos de Europa.
- St. John Paul II in Covadonga — follow in the footsteps of the Pope who visited the sanctuary and surrounding mountains.
- Santo Toribio de Liébana — visit one of Spain’s historic pilgrimage monasteries.
- Lignum Crucis — venerate the relic traditionally associated with the True Cross of Christ.
- Holy Shroud of Oviedo — visit the Holy Chamber of Oviedo Cathedral, where this ancient relic is preserved.
- Cathedral of San Salvador, Oviedo — encounter one of the great medieval pilgrimage churches of northern Spain.
- Asturian Pre-Romanesque Churches — visit Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo.
- Cangas de Onís — discover the first capital of the Kingdom of Asturias.
- Ribadesella — experience the Cantabrian coast and the distinctive homes built by Asturians who returned from the Americas.
- Fuente Dé — possibility of ascending by cable car into the Picos de Europa.
- Potes & the Liébana Valley — explore one of Cantabria’s most beautiful mountain regions.
- Gijón — encounter the maritime, industrial and Catholic heritage of Asturias.
- Cudillero, Luanco & Candás — discover traditional fishing villages along the northern coast.
- Holy Mass, prayer and spiritual reflection can be incorporated throughout the pilgrimage.
Important Information and Terms and Conditions
The published program is a general description and may be adjusted due to availability, operational requirements, local conditions, or the group’s needs. By registering, each traveler confirms that they have reviewed and accepted our Terms and Conditions.
Confirmed trip details, payment information, official meetings and presentations, updates, and final travel documentation will be provided through the official WeTravel page, the final itinerary, and other communications from Pilgrim Groups Travel. Travelers are responsible for reviewing all documents, insurance provisions, entry requirements, and travel instructions provided.
Proposed Itinerary
Day 1 — USA – Madrid
Our Pilgrimage Begins
At the appropriate time, we will meet at our designated U.S. departure airport and board our overnight transatlantic flight to Madrid, Spain.
Meals and refreshments will be served according to the airline’s schedule.
Overnight flight to Europe.
Day 2 — Madrid – Asturias
Welcome to Northern Spain
Upon arrival at Madrid International Airport, we will be welcomed by our Pilgrim Groups Travel representative and accompanying guide.
We then begin our journey north toward Asturias, traveling through the landscapes of central and northern Spain.
Depending on arrival time and final transportation arrangements, lunch may be provided en route.
Upon arrival in Asturias, check-in at our hotel and time to rest after the international journey.
Subject to timing and arrangements, we may celebrate our opening Holy Mass.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Asturias / Oviedo area
Day 3 — Covadonga – Cangas de Onís – Ribadesella
Our Lady of Covadonga
After breakfast, we travel toward Covadonga, the spiritual heart of Asturias and one of Spain’s great Marian pilgrimage destinations.
We will visit the Holy Cave — Santa Cueva — where Our Lady of Covadonga, affectionately known as “La Santina,” is venerated, as well as the magnificent Basilica overlooking the valley.
Covadonga is also inseparable from the early history of the Kingdom of Asturias and the Christian history of medieval Spain.
Subject to ecclesiastical arrangements, we may celebrate Holy Mass at the sanctuary.
Depending on weather, access and the physical abilities of the group, there may also be the option to ascend toward the famous Lakes of Covadonga, set high within the Picos de Europa National Park.
The mountain landscape here was also visited by St. John Paul II, adding another meaningful Catholic connection to the day.
After lunch, we continue to Cangas de Onís, traditionally remembered as the first capital of the Kingdom of Asturias.
Later, we travel toward the Cantabrian coast and the beautiful town of Ribadesella.
Here we can stroll along the waterfront and discover the striking casas de indianos — elegant homes built by Asturian emigrants who made their fortunes in the Americas and later returned home.
Return to our hotel.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Asturias / Oviedo area
Day 4 — Fuente Dé – Santo Toribio de Liébana – Potes
The True Cross in the Mountains of Cantabria
After breakfast, we travel east into Cantabria and the spectacular landscapes of the Picos de Europa.
Our first stop may be Fuente Dé, where pilgrims who wish may ascend by cable car for extraordinary views over the surrounding mountains.
We then continue toward one of the spiritual highlights of the pilgrimage: the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana.
This historic monastery preserves the Lignum Crucis, traditionally venerated as the largest surviving relic of the Cross of Christ.
For centuries, Santo Toribio has been a destination of Christian pilgrimage and possesses its own ancient Holy Year tradition.
We will have time to visit the monastery, pray before the relic and, subject to arrangements, celebrate Holy Mass.
Afterward, we continue to Potes, the picturesque capital of the Liébana Valley.
After lunch, time will be available to walk through its historic streets and enjoy the mountain atmosphere before returning to Asturias.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Asturias / Oviedo area
Day 5 — Oviedo
The Holy Shroud & the Relics of San Salvador
Today we dedicate the day to Oviedo, one of the most important historic Christian cities in northern Spain.
Our guided exploration will introduce us to the historic center and landmarks such as the Campoamor Theatre, the historic University building and the Church of San Tirso.
The spiritual centerpiece of our visit will be the Cathedral of San Salvador.
For medieval pilgrims, Oviedo was so important that an old saying developed along the Camino:
“He who goes to Santiago and not to the Savior visits the servant and leaves the Lord.”
Within the Cathedral, we will visit the Cámara Santa — the Holy Chamber — where some of the most treasured relics of the medieval Spanish Church are preserved.
Among them is the Santo Sudario, the Holy Shroud of Oviedo, traditionally associated with the cloth used to cover the face of Christ after His death.
This extraordinary relic gives the day a profound connection with the Passion of Christ and makes Oviedo a particularly meaningful destination for Catholic pilgrims.
Subject to arrangements, we may celebrate Holy Mass at or near the Cathedral.
In the afternoon, we turn to the remarkable Pre-Romanesque heritage of Asturias, visiting Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo, two masterpieces that preserve the artistic legacy of the early medieval Asturian kingdom.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Asturias / Oviedo area
Day 6 — Industrial Asturias & Gijón
Faith, Work & the Modern Story of Asturias
Today we encounter another side of Asturias.
After breakfast, we travel toward the historic mining valleys to learn about the region’s industrial and working-class heritage.
Depending on the final program, we may visit a mining museum or former mining complex, discovering the difficult conditions, traditions and communities that shaped modern Asturias.
After lunch, we continue toward Gijón, the largest city on the Asturian coast.
Our panoramic and guided exploration may include the San Lorenzo Beach, the historic fishermen’s quarter of Cimavilla, marina, Revillagigedo Palace and other important landmarks.
For the Catholic dimension of the visit, we may include the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or another local church.
Depending on the interests of the group, the day may also incorporate the remarkable former Universidad Laboral, one of the largest architectural complexes in Spain.
Return to our hotel.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Asturias / Oviedo area
Day 7 — Cudillero – Cabo Peñas – Luanco – Candás
The Fishing Villages of the Cantabrian Coast
After breakfast, we devote the day to the beautiful coastal landscapes and fishing traditions of Asturias.
We begin in Cudillero, one of northern Spain’s most picturesque fishing villages, whose brightly colored houses rise in the shape of an amphitheater above the harbor.
We then continue along the coast toward the dramatic cliffs of Cabo Peñas, one of the most impressive viewpoints on the Asturian coastline.
Our journey continues to Luanco, with time to enjoy its waterfront and historic maritime character.
Later, we visit Candás, where local devotion centers on the Santísimo Cristo de Candás, a beloved image with deep roots in the faith and identity of the community.
Subject to arrangements, the day may include Holy Mass or a moment of prayer in one of the coastal churches.
Return to our hotel.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Asturias / Oviedo area
Day 8 — Asturias – Madrid
From the Cantabrian Mountains to Madrid
After breakfast, we say farewell to Asturias and begin our journey toward Madrid.
Depending on the final routing, time may be available for an additional stop along the way or for lunch en route.
Arrival in Madrid and check-in at our hotel.
The remainder of the day may be free, or groups may choose to incorporate a farewell dinner, Holy Mass or introductory sightseeing in the Spanish capital.
Overnight: Madrid
Day 9 — Madrid – USA
Return Home
After breakfast, at the appropriate time, transfer to Madrid International Airport for our return flight to the United States.
We return home after a journey through some of the most sacred and beautiful landscapes of northern Spain.
At Covadonga, we prayed before the Santina.
At Santo Toribio de Liébana, we encountered the tradition of the True Cross.
At Oviedo, we stood before the relics preserved in the Holy Chamber and contemplated the Passion of Christ through the Holy Shroud.
And throughout Asturias and Cantabria, we encountered a land where Christian history, mountains, villages and living traditions remain deeply connected.
Arrival in the United States and end of our pilgrimage services.
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