Monasticism in the western world can be traced back to Saint Anthony. Turing his back on the corrupted city, he escaped into the wilderness where solitude and the absence of others/objects allowed a deep, unobstructed, inward awareness of the soul. Soon he lead others in his practice of prayer, silence and vegetarian diet. They would come to be known as the Desert Fathers. The Egyptian wilderness practices of Anthony found a similar home in the empty and austere landscapes of Spain, and anyone who has wandered around here can testify to the innate monastic character of the region. 

Our pilgrimage takes us to one or a select route of monasteries. We are not interested in tourist destinations, nor taking people on a tour. Our goal is to learn more about what makes this ancient lifestyle so important and needed in this modern day and age. Here we have a unique opportunity to experience a day in the life of a monk. Our day features diverse learning activities with the monks including privately guided walk throughs of the monastery to learn about their history and art that is reflected magnificently through their spaces and forms. Monasteries of Spain and France are austere & impressive, excellent examples of romanesque and medieval architecture some of which are recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage sites. The nature lover has access to many hiking trails nearby that lead you to shrines and lookout points. Monasteries also offer guesthouses for those looking to stay longer, and even an internal guesthouse for men only who would like to live and participate with the monks.