ACTIVITIES

Within Ávila:

• Visits to the main city monuments including The Cathedral of San Salvador, the Basilica of San Vicente, the Monastery of Santo Tomás, the Church of La Santa, the Monastery of the Incarnation, the medieval walls, etc.
• A nocturnal visit to the city walls with a theatrical history representation
• Attendance at diverse concerts and cultural activities organized by the city council during the July Summer Festival in Avila and other cultural events organized by different local institutions. Some examples are: flamenco and tango spectacles, jazz and classical music concerts, Mexican mariachi bands, Afro-Cuban music concerts, poetic walking tours along the walls, open air summer cinema with Spanish films, etc.
• Paella picnic or end of course dinner
• Other activities for any of the students who might be interested include doing volunteer work at the Diocesan center for the handicapped or at nursing homes, attending the traditional novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel that take place in July and are located at several different churches in the city, or participating in university prayer groups.

Outside of Ávila:

• Professors and experienced guides accompany the students on all the excursions and explain the most important details, including the Carmelite sites.
• In Madrid (1 day), the excursion focuses on a visit to the Prado Museum and afterwards, for those interested, there is a literary and historical walk through old Madrid.
• In Salamanca (1 day), there will be a guided visit to both the Old and New Cathedrals, The Old University with its famous façade, the Plaza Mayor and its nearby historic sections.
• The excursion to Segovia Segovia (1 day), includes a guided visit to the Monastery of Discalced Carmelite Friars with the sepulchre of Saint John of the Cross, the Roman Aqueduct, the Cathedral, the Plaza Mayor, and the Alcázar (Segovia’s renowned castle).
• In Alba de Tormes (1/2 day), the Castle of the Dukes of Alba, the Monastery of the Annunciation of discalced Carmelite nuns with Saint Teresa of Avila´s tomb and the Monastery of Discalced Carmelite Friars will be visited.
• In Fontiveros (1/2 day), the students visit the small chapel built over Saint John of the Cross’ birthplace and the San Cipriano parish church.