Visit some of the most amazing cities in Spain and Europe:

BARCELONA, TARRAGONA, VALENCIA, GRANADA, CORDOBA, SEVILLE

El Greco, "St. Paul" (1606),

Museo del Greco,

Toledo, Spain.

THE STEPS OF SAINT PAUL IN SPAIN AND THE FIRST CHRISTIANS

A special opportunity for St. Thomas University Friends and Family to discover the

enormous influence Spain had in the evolution of Christianity

with History Travel Tours and Julià Travel

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THE STEPS OF ST. PAUL IN SPAIN AND THE FIRST CHRISTIANS: DISCOVER THE ENORMOUS INFLUENCE OF SPAIN IN THE EVOLUTION OF CHRISTIANITY

OVERVIEW OF THE TOUR: This unique and exciting tour designed for Friends and Family of St. Thomas University, will take participants through some of the most amazing historical cities of the Roman Empire’s presence in Hispania, as Spain was known in Roman times. We’ll have presentations by Church historians, professors and archeologists focused on the tremendous influence Spain had in the early evolution of Christianity, which took place mostly in regions controlled by the Roman Empire. It should be noted that Rome’s southernmost province in Hispania, Baetica (today’s Andalucía), was one of the areas with the largest growth of Christian communities in the Empire by the year 300 AD.

Over the last fifty years, many scholars and biblical historians have been focusing on the role Roman Hispania played in the evolution of Christianity. Of special interest by these historians has been to determine why there was such rapid and extensive growth of Christian communities throughout Hispania in the 250-300 years following the death of Jesus Christ. A growing number of historians have been concluding that, based on historical accounts written in ancient church documents, it was the Apostle Paul of Tarsus who embarked on a missionary trip to Hispania between the years 64-67, and that he was directly or indirectly responsible for the establishment of many of these early communities. These historians have concluded that Paul came from Rome through the provincial capital and port city of Tarraco, todays Tarragona, just south of Barcelona, which we will visit on this tour. There we’ll have presentations by biblical historians at well preserved Roman ruins where Paul likely preached.

Another very important visit of the tour will be to the Chapel of the Holy Chalice of Jesus in the Cathedral of Valencia. We’ll be given a personal presentation of the history behind the Holy Chalice by Church historian and Custodian of the Chapel, Fr. Jaime Sancho. He will explain why even National Geographic historians have concluded that of the five contenders in the world that claim to hold the Holy Chalice of Jesus, the one in the Cathedral of Valencia is the one they agree to be the genuine chalice of Jesus.

For members of the Archdiocese of Miami, Valencia is a special place to visit since St. Thomas of Villanova, the saint for which our own St. Thomas University was named, was the Bishop of Valencia from the year 1544 until his death in 1555. He is buried in the Cathedral of Valencia and we can actually visit his burial crypt. While in Valencia, we will have a discussion on his life and his commitment to supporting and helping the poor.

The tour will then go to Granada, where one of the first Christian Councils in the history of the Catholic Church took place between the years 302-304 (the exact year is not known). The name of the Roman city at the time was Iliberis, so the Council has gone down in church archives as the Council of Iliberis. This Council took a tremendous historical significance since from it came a number of church canons that were adapted only a few years later at the Council of Nicaea, which is considered the most important Council in the history of the Church. During our stay in Granada, we’ll also visit the world renowned “Alhambra,” the fabulous Moorish palace of the last Muslim King in Spain.

The tour will then take us to the magnificent historical cities of Cordoba and Seville, both of which have a very rich history of the early presence of Christian communities and also had and extensive Jewish and Muslim presence. Cordoba was actually the capital of the Muslim kingdom in Spain between the years 756 and 1248. There we will visit the fantastic Cathedral which used to be the Mesquite of Cordoba. Seville has an equally rich Muslim, Christian and Roman history. Visits will be included to the Cathedral, the third largest in the world, and the famous Giralda.

Grupo Julia, the most experienced ground transportation tour company in Spain and the partners of History Travel Tours, will be providing all ground transportation on luxury buses. We will have highly experienced drivers and tour guides throughout the entire trip, and will be staying in four/five star hotels. The tour’s presenters are all distinguished church historians, professors and archeologists.

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SUMMARY ITINERARY

The 10-day/9-night St. Thomas University Friends and Family Tour The Steps of St. Paul in Spain: Discover the

Importance of Spain in the Evolution of Christianity picks up in Barcelona. The cost of this personalized trip is $2,799

per person (double occupancy), not including airfare (air travel is not included in the package price to allow participants

to add pre/post travel plans and/or use miles, etc., but can be coordinated by History Travel tours, if requested; single

occupancy pricing is available). All hotel accommodations are in 4+ star hotels and include full breakfast. A detailed

Itinerary is provided in the following pages. Ground transportation is provided on luxury coach buses.

Day 1 Thursday October 20, 2016

Barcelona: 2-nights Check in 12:30 PM

Accommodations: Catalonia Ramblas Hotel; Meals: light lunch at hotel, dinner at restaurant overlooking the Port of Barcelona (Fonda del Puerto)

Day 2 Friday October 21, 2016

Barcelona Meals: lunch at nearby restaurant; Dinner and Night on your own to explore Barcelona (hop-on-hop-off bus included both days in Barcelona until night time)

Day 3 Saturday October 22, 2016

Valencia: 2-nights Check-in 5 PM

Tarragona – Day visit before Valencia

Accommodations: Astoria Palace in center of Valencia ; On the way to Valencia, stop for a day tour in Tarragona; Meals: lunch at Archdiocese Museum in Tarragona; Dinner in Valencia: authentic Paella Valenciana

Day 4 Sunday October 23, 2016

Valencia Meals: Visit Chapel of the HOLY CHALICE; Lunch at restaurant near Cathedral; Dinner and night on your own to explore Valencia

Day 5 Monday October 24, 2016

Granada: 2-nights; Check-in 5 PM Caravaca De La Cruz: Day visit on way to Granada

Accommodations: Historic Alhambra Palace Hotel; on the way to Granada will stop at Caravaca de la Cruz

Meals: Lunch at Salones del Castillo Restaurant; Dinner at restaurant in Granada, next to the Alhambra overlooking the city of Granada

Day 6 Tuesday October 25, 2016

Granada Meals: Lunch in restaurant across the Alhambra; Dinner and night on your own so you can explore Granada

Day 7 Wednesday October 26, 2016

Cordoba: one-night; Check-in 12 PM

Accommodations: Hotel Amistad NH – Historic Mansion;

Meals: Lunch at Archdiocesan Museum; Dinner at Spanish Mansion Restaurant close to hotel and Cathedral

Day 8 Thursday October 27, 2016

Seville: 2-nights; Check-in 5 PM Ecija: Day visit on way to Seville

Accommodations: Hotel Doña Maria, by the Cathedral Meals: Lunch at Ecija next to Roman Forum where St. Paul preached. Dinner: Roof-top tapas cocktail reception at the Doña Maria Hotel with spectacular view of Cathedral

Day 9 Friday October 28, 2016

Seville Meals: Lunch at typical Seville tapas restaurant after visiting cathedral. Dinner and evening free for you to explore Seville

Day 10

Saturday October 29, 2016

Seville End of tour – After breakfast, transport to airport or train station as needed

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We will start the tour on Thursday in the fabulous city of Barcelona, considered one of the most attractive cities in all of Europe. We will stay in a four-star hotel near the heart of the action center – Las Ramblas. After lunch at the hotel, you’ll be able to explore Barcelona with a hop-on-hop-off pass. Dinner will be a Barcelona culinary experience at la Fonda del Puerto restaurant. The next morning will be an optional visit to the Abbey at Montserrat, followed in the afternoon by a tour of the marvelous Church of the Sagrada Familia. Tradition exists that hermit Monks lived within the high elevation of Montserrat since early Christian times. The origins of the Virgin Mary of Montserrat Sanctuary date back to the year 888. It soon began to receive pilgrims who contributed to the spread of stories of miracles performed by the Virgin of Montserrat. The Basílica de la Sagrada Família (Church of the Holy Family) is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi (1852–1926). Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site,

and in November 2010 Pope Benedict

XVI consecrated and proclaimed it a minor basilica as distinct from a Cathedral, which must be the seat of a bishop. The second night will be free for you to explore the city and take advantage of our Hop-on-hop-off busses.

The tour departs Barcelona Saturday morning and stops in the Port-city of Tarragona, which is one hour south of Barcelona. We will have a historical presentation in front of one of the best preserved Roman ruins in Spain, the Roman Amphitheater (first century AD), by the Director of the Biblical Museum of Tarragona. This site is not only one of the likely places where the Apostle Paul preached, it is also where some of the first Christian martyrs in Hispania were sacrificed in 259 AD: Bishop San Fructuoso and his deacons, Eulogio and Augurio. We’ll be visiting the Cathedral and learn about the fascinating traditional accounts of the presence of Paul and Saint Tecla in this Roman capital port city.

Tarragona – Ancient Roman Provincial Capital

Two Nights in Barcelona

DETAILED ITINERARY OF THE TOUR

Church of La Sagrada Familia

The Abbey at Montserrat

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The tour will then take us to Valencia, which is two hours south of Tarragona. Right after checking in at the Astoria Palace Hotel, located in the historic center of the city, we will have a traditional dinner of Paella Valenciana in one of the most popular restaurants in Valencia.

The next morning we will visit the Cathedral of Valencia, where many archeologists and historians, including those from National Geographic, believe there’s a great likelihood that the Holy Chalice of Jesus is the one residing in the Cathedral’s “Chapel of the Holy Chalice.” It’s important to note that Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have traveled to Valencia and celebrated Mass with the Holy Chalice. In addition, when Pope Francis declared this year as the Holy Jubilee Year of Mercy, he also declared for Valencia an extraordinary Jubilee Year of the Holy Chalice, which he also declared would be celebrated in perpetuity every five years in honor of the Holy Chalice. We’ll have a personal presentation by Fr. Jaime Sancho, the Canonical in charge of the Chapel who has been interviewed at length by National Geographic and other international media. We will also visit the Crypt of St. Vicente, Patron Saint of Valencia, who was martyred in the year 304 AD. The second night will be free for you to explore Valencia and the excellent shopping opportunities in shoes and clothing as well as its culinary experiences.

For members of the Archdiocese of Miami, Valencia is a special place to visit since St. Thomas of Villanova, the saint for which our own St. Thomas University was named, was the Bishop of Valencia from the year 1544 until his death on 1555. He is buried in the Cathedral of Valencia and we can actually visit his burial crypt and reflect on his life and his commitment to helping the poor.

On the way to Granada we will stop for lunch at Caravaca de la Cruz. This is an important stop since in 1998 Pope John Paul II awarded the Basilica in Caravaca de la Cruz the “Jubilee Year in Perpetuity,” making it one of only seven holy places in the world designated by the Vatican for Perpetual Jubilee celebration. The seven include St. Peter’s in Rome; the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem; Santiago de Compostela; Valencia; Santo Toribio de Liébana (Spain); the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Toledo; and the Basilica in Caravaca de la Cruz. Note that five of the seven are in Spain. Cardinal Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, celebrated Caravaca’s first jubilee year in 2003, and in 2010 there were major local celebrations. The basilica is actually a Moorish castle that was converted to a church by the Knights Templar around 1235 A.D. We’ll have a special tour by a historian who will explain the history and miracles attributed to Caravaca. We’ll also participate in the blessing of the cross that holds remnants of the Cross where Christ was crucified, followed by a typical lunch before departing for Granada.

Two nights in Valencia (Known as Valentia in Roman times)

Caravaca de la Cruz

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We will arrive in Granada late afternoon on Monday and will stay at the historical Alhambra Palace hotel, which is only a five minute walk from the entrance to the fabulous Alhambra. For dinner we’ll walk three minutes to the Carmen San Miguel Restaurant, whose renown Chef actually participated as an expert Chef in special events at the famous Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida (http://www.carmensanmiguel.com/). Granada is important for it is where the Council of Iliberis took place, the first fully documented council of the Christian church, held at the Roman City of Iliberis, which is today’s Granada. The exact date of the Council is disputed, but most scholars believe it was held between 302–304 AD. It’s the first Christian council of which fully documented canons have survive providing the earliest reliable information on the extensive presence of Spanish Christian communities. Thirty seven Christian communities, with 19 bishops and 24 presbyters participating, primarily from southern Hispania, assembled in order to establish the Christian precepts their church communities would follow. It was presided by Felix, the Bishop of Acci (todays Guadix), but one of its leaders was the well-known Bishop of Cordoba, Osio, who later became a spiritual advisor to the Emperor Constantine. The 81 canons that were adopted reflect the internal life and external relations of the Spanish church in the early 4th century. Subsequently, some of the canons were included in the canons of later councils, including the Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.), considered the most important Council in the history of the Church. In Granada, we’ll visit The Alhambra, and have an optional visit to the Abbey of Sacromonte.

Two Nights in Granada (Known as Iliberis in Roman Times)

The Alhambra

The Abbey of Sacromonte

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We will depart for Córdoba after breakfast in Granada. Córdoba has an incredibly rich history. It was the capital of the Roman Province of Baetica from the year 44 BC until the fall of the Roman Empire over 400 years later. It was also the capital of the Muslim Caliphate in Spain, from 756 to 1248 AD. We will check in to the Cordoba Spanish mansion hotel of Amistad NH and walk over to have a light lunch and presentation at the Archdiocese Museum. The presentation will be by a Church historian on the early presence of Christians in Cordoba and how those Christian communities grew to include important figures like Bishop Osio. We will also have a discussion on the amazing history of Cordoba, which included the long existence of Jewish communities living in relative peace within the 500 years of Islamic reign. The Cathedral of Córdoba, also referred to as the Mosque of Cordoba (Spanish: Mezquita de Córdoba),

is the Catholic cathedral of the Archdiocese of Cordoba dedicated to the

Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Its structure is regarded as one of the most astounding examples of Moorish architecture. It’s important to note that the Mosque was built over the Christian Visigoth church of St. Stephen, which was destroyed by the invading Muslims. After the city was reconquered by King Fernando III in the name of Christianity, the King decided to not destroy this wonderful structure, and to adapt it, so it was converted into a Roman Catholic cathedral through the insertion of a Christian church in its center, as seen by the aerial view below.

Arial View – Cathedral/Mesquite

Inside view of main Cathedral chapel

One Night in Cordoba – Ancient Roman Capital as well as Ancient Muslim Capital

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On the way to Seville from Cordoba, we will stop to have lunch at Ecija, which is only 45 minutes south

of Cordoba. Ecija is the other city in Spain that has a strong tradition of having St. Paul preach in his

missionary mission to Hispania. We’ll have a church historian provide a full summary of the legend of

his presence during lunch. Afterward, we will continue to Seville, which is about one hour southwest

of Seville. We’ll stay at the unique Doña Maria hotel, a four-star hotel on the plaza directly across from

the Cathedral of Seville. The hotel has a beautiful roof-top terrace overlooking the Giralda and the

Cathedral where we will have a “welcome” cocktail reception with an extensive array of tapas.

The next morning we’ll have a presentation from a church historian of the Archdiocese of Seville on the

evolution of early Christianity in Seville and surrounding region. This presentation will also provide a

final summary of the historical influence and presence in Spain of the Romans, the Visigoth Christians,

the 700 years of Muslim presence, the influence of the Jewish communities, and finally the reconquer

and unification of the Spanish kingdom under the name of Christianity (see visual images below). After

this morning presentation, a visit to the Cathedral is scheduled and afterward a visit to The Royal

Alcazar of the Kings of Spain, the oldest monarch palace in the world that has been in continuous

operation as a home of Kings; first as the home of the Muslim kings of this region and later as the

visiting home of the kings of Spain. The Alcazar is recognized as one of the most beautiful palaces in

Europe and is regarded as an excellent example of Mudejar architecture in Spain. This is a style of

architecture that is strongly influenced by the Muslim/Moorish style and combines the Spanish styles

from the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile. UNESCO has registered the Alcazar as well as the Cathedral

and other buildings in Seville as a “World Heritage Site.”

You will have the afternoon and evening of the last day of the tour free to explore Seville as well as the

Jewish Quarters, considered one of the oldest and most unique such quarters in Spain and Europe. The

shops and restaurants in the city provide for an excellent opportunity to relax and enjoy the city.

Two Nights in Seville (Hispalis, as it was known in Roman Times)

Street View: Famous Giralda and Cathedral

Roof top view of Giralda from Hotel Doña Maria

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Saturday morning after breakfast we will provide for transportation to the airport. Those wishing to extend their tours will have access to an additional two or three nights extension tours to Madrid and/or Tangier in the north of Morocco, which is just across from Spain through the Strait of Gibraltar (including a nine mile ferry-boat ride). Below is a glimpse of the presentation that will be made on the last Saturday morning at the Doña

Maria Hotel:

Saturday: Last day of the tour

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Grupo Julià and History Travel Tours are pleased to offer two optional tours at the conclusion of the main tour, for

those participants that might be interested.

Madrid: 290€/person; Two nights, three days: Seville-Toledo-Madrid; Return home from Madrid

- A comfortable luxury bus ride from Seville to Toledo with air-conditioning, music and movies tailored just for

you; and luxury bus ride from Toledo to Madrid

- One-night accommodations in a four-star hotel in each city with delicious buffet-style breakfasts;

- Visit Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been known as the Imperial City since it was declared the

capital of the Kingdom of Castile after it was reconquered from the Muslim in 1085 by King Alfonso VI of Castile.

The king allowed for the coexistence of the three religions, which remained as such for several hundred years,

leading to Toledo also becoming known as the City of the Three Cultures. There will be visits to the Cathedral

as well as to the Museum of El Greco, perhaps the best known artists of his time

- Visit Madrid, considered one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe. The tour includes a hop-on-hop-off tour

of the city with 15 stops that allow you to explore the amazing history of this city. It also includes entrance to

the world renowned Prado Museum.

- English-speaking History Travel Tour guides will be at your disposal at all times to assist you with anything you

might need.

- Next morning transportation to airport and return trip

Morocco: 350€/person; Three-day, two nights Morocco including: - A comfortable round trip luxury bus ride from Seville to Tarifa in the southern tip of Spain

- Round trip Ferry Tickets to cross the strait of Gibraltar into Morocco and a new continent (Africa)

- 3 days and 2 nights in a four-star hotel, complete with a swimming pool, WIFI access, double or triple spacious

rooms, delicious buffet-style breakfasts and mouth-watering dinners;

- Day Trips to Chefchaouen, Tangiers and Assilah;

- Guided tour of Chefchaouen's Medina (old city) by knowledgeable local guides who can answer any and all

questions you’ll have about Moroccan culture and/or "the blue city";

- Short Camel Ride by the stunning beaches of Tangiers;

- Free time in Chefchaouen & Assilah to explore the beautiful city for yourself and experience the local tradition

of bargaining with local shopkeepers for beautifully hand-crafted tapestry;

- Traditional Moroccan Music Show and dinner

- All meals in Morocco, including lunch overlooking the majestic medina of Chefchaouen and dinners at the hotel

(drinks not included);

- English-speaking History Travel Tour guides will be at your disposal at all times to assist you with anything you

might need.

- Return to Seville hotel through ferry ride back

- Next morning transportation to airport and return trip

Additional Tours available after Seville:

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Space on this private, personalized tour is limited, so please RSVP your interest in participating (and number of people)

by no later than August 12, 2016 at info@historytraveltours.com. A first deposit ($600 per person) is required by

August 19, 2016. For more information, please visit www.HistoryTravelTours.com.

For questions or additional information, please contact History Travel Tours at 305-330-6931 or via email at

info@historytraveltours.com.

History Travel Tours is a new Julià Group company focused on developing and conducting high quality

historical/religious tours. These tours will include distinguished university professors, historians, and archeologists as

expert tour guides and presenters. The company will first focus on the marvelous historical destinations found in Spain,

which has a rich history going back to the early times of the Roman Empire. In doing so, it will highlight the important

presence of the three Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam throughout Spain’s history. Special

emphasis will be placed on its signature tour: The Steps of St. Paul in Spain: Discover the Importance of Spain in the

Evolution of Christianity. This will be an exciting tour that will take participants through some of the most important

historical cities of the Roman Empire’s presence in Spain, while at the same time focusing on the immense influence

Spain had in the evolution of Christianity.

Grupo Julià (the Julia Group). After more than 80 years in operation, the Julià Group has become a global leader in

the Tourism and Ground Transportation industry. With its origins in Spain, where its corporate headquarters are

located, the company is today present in dozens of cities around the world and in 8 countries: Spain, the U.S., Great

Britain, Mexico, Argentina, Morocco, Andorra, and Puerto Rico. The company has also become one of the principal

members of Gray Line Corporation, the largest provider of sightseeing tours in the world, and is the Gray Line partner

in Spain. The Julià Group’s extensive presence in Spain as specialists in passenger transportation and tourism services,

provides History Travel Tours a significant advantage in its development of historical and religious tours.

The only Catholic Archdiocesan-sponsored University in Florida, St. Thomas University (www.stu.edu) places an

institutional emphasis on social justice and ethical behavior, and provides its globally diverse student body with low

student/teacher ratios designed to graduate “Leaders for Life.” Founded originally in Havana Cuba in 1946 by American

Augustinians, and shuttered during the Castro revolution, the private, non-profit university re-opened in Miami in 1961

and offers more than 45 undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees at its 144-acre, residential campus in

Miami Gardens, Fla., and through distance learning. Programs include one of the oldest (and highly ranked)

undergraduate programs in Sports Administration in the country, an Institute in Intercultural Human Rights, well-

respected Law School, and unique, market-ready programs in Cyber Security Management, Trade and Logistics and Big

Data Analytics.

About History Travel Tours and the Grupo Julià

Trip Reservation Information

About St. Thomas University