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20 Pilgrimage Sites Across the United States Worth Visiting

Affinity Travel

While this list is by no means comprehensive, here are 20 popular pilgrimage sites spread across the United States.

Ave Maria Grotto and St. Bernard Abbey

Cullman, alabama.

Known throughout the world as “Jerusalem in Miniature,” Ave Maria Grotto is a beautifully landscaped, fouracre park designed to provide a natural setting for the 125 miniature reproductions of some of the most famous historic buildings and shrines in the world. The masterpieces of stone and concrete are the lifetime work of Brother Joseph Zoettl, a Benedictine monk of St. Bernard Abbey.

The grotto is located less than an hour from Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama, two hours from Nashville and three from Atlanta. ( www.avemariagrotto.com )

Our Lady of San Juan del Valle

Our Lady of San Juan del Valle National Shrine

San juan, texas.

The Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle has drawn people from all over the world. Attracting more than one million visitors each year, it’s become one of Texas’ most popular attractions. The shrine abounds with diversity and recognizes and honors all faiths, paths and beliefs. Pilgrims, visitors and tourists are welcome to experience a spiritual journey in the Basilica grounds, with free tours available daily. Onsite hotel accommodations with 92 comfortable rooms provide convenient access. ( www.olsjbasilica.org )

California Mission Trail:

California Missions Trail

San diego to sonoma, california.

There are 21 missions making up the California Historic Missions Trail that stretches from San Diego to Sonoma. The first mission was built in 1769 and the last mission was built in 1823. Most are still active Catholic parishes and have regularly scheduled services. The missions include San Diego de Alcala, San Luis Rey de Francia, San Juan Capistrano, San Gabriel Arcangel, San Buenaventura, San Fernando Rey de Espana, Santa Barbara, Santa Ines, La Purisima Conception, San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, San Miguel Arcangel, San Antonia de Padua, Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, San Juan Bautista, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara de Asis, San Jose, San Francisco de Asis Mission Dolores, San Rafael Arcangel and San Francisco Solano. ( www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22722 )

Mother Cabrini Shrine

Golden, colorado.

Located less than an hour west of Denver, Mother Cabrini Shrine is a shrine in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Francis Xavier Cabrini. Originally a summer camp for the girls from the Queen of Heaven Orphanage, the property became a place of prayer, pilgrimage and devotion after the canonization of St. Cabrini in 1946. The shrine offers retreat facilities that accommodate up to 28 guests in the Stone House and a private chapel. Daily mass is offered, and the facility is open every day. ( www.mothercabrinishrine.org )

Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche

St. augustine, florida.

In the early 1600s, the Spanish settlers of St. Augustine established the first Shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the United States. As you walk through the historic grounds at the mission, you will be retracing the steps of America’s first founding fathers more than 400 years ago. The present chapel was reconstructed in 1915 and enshrines a replica of the original statue of Nuestra Señora de la Leche y Buen Parto – Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery. ( www.missionandshrine.org )

Basilica of the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Washington, d.c..

Designated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as a National Sanctuary of Prayer and Pilgrimage, the basilica is the nation’s preeminent Marian shrine, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The basilica is the largest Roman Catholic church in the U.S. and one of the 10 largest churches in the world. It is considered one of foremost centers of worship, welcoming more than 1 million visitors per year.

With more than 70 chapels and oratories that relate to the Blessed Mother and people from countries around the world, visitors can virtually make a pilgrimage to many of the great Marian shrines of the world. ( www.nationalshrine.com )

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows

Belleville, illinois.

One of the most popular shrines in North America, with more than one million visitors each year, the shrine is run by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. With more than 200 acres of land, it is also one of the largest. The church, completed in 1990, features Icon of Mary, The Living Waters Font and a brilliant altar backdropped by a 15-by-20-foot Aurora Borealis window. Onsite hotel accommodations envelop groups in the experience. ( www.snows.org )

Our Lady of the Sierras

Hereford, arizona.

Located near the Mexico border roughly an hour drive south of Tucson, the shrine consists of a 75-foot-tall cross, a statue depicting Our Lady, chapel, stations of the cross and Mary’s Knoll at the foot of the hill. No matter your faith, this is a peaceful spot to reflect, gain perspective and take in amazing views of the Huachuca Valley and Mexico. ( www.ourladyofthesierras.org )

Shrine of Christ’s Passion

St. john, indiana.

The Shrine of Christ’s Passion is a multi-media, interactive religious attraction in Northwest Indiana, just outside of Chicago. The main attraction is a half-mile winding prayer trail that depicts the last days of Jesus Christ’s life. Forty life-size bronze sculptures in a tranquil setting, complete with beautiful music and sculptured gardens, allow visitors to experience the story of the Crucifixion and Resurrection as never before.

The newly opened Moses at Mount Sinai puts you directly in a scene with Moses himself. The path leads you on a journey with his 10 Commandments and has music, voiceover, lighting, and sound effects.

An impressive gift shop features hundreds of faith-inspired items perfect for souvenirs or gifts. ( www.shrineofchristspassion.org )

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Baltimore, maryland.

America’s first cathedral, the church is a national shrine, Marian shrine and national historic landmark. More than 100,000 people visit the Basilica each year, making it one of Baltimore’s top tourist activities.

Guided tours are offered Monday through Saturday. The hour-long tour includes all areas of the church including Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel, Crypt, Museum and the Pope John Paul II Prayer Garden. ( www.americasfirstcathedral.org )

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

St. louis, missouri.

The Cathedral Basilica is known for having the largest mosaic collection in the Western Hemisphere, which took nearly 80 years to complete. The mosaics cover 83,000 square feet, comprising 41 million glass pieces and more than 7,000 colors. They depict various scenes and passages from the Old and New Testament of the Bible, archdiocesan events and in the narthex, the life of King Louis IX of France. There is a chapel dedicated to the souls of former leaders of the archdiocese, and several cardinals are buried in the crypt of the cathedral. Guided tours are available weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ( www.cathedralstl.org )

Shrine of our lady of the island

Shrine of Our Lady of the Island

Long island, new york.

Sitting on 70 acres, the shrine is designed to give pilgrims ample opportunity to reflect and pray. The Shrine of Our Lady of the Island was established by the Missionaries of the Company of Mary in order to be a center of authentic Marian spirituality and devotion, and to renew Catholic life through liturgy, preaching and pilgrimages.

On its expansive grounds you’ll find an 18-foot statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, an outdoor Stations of the Cross, a rosary walk, a Pope John Paul II memorial, a Blessed Sacrament Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Island and numerous statues and areas for prayer. ( www.ourladyoftheisland.com )

The Sorrowful Mother Shrine

Bellevue, ohio.

Founded in 1850, it is the oldest Marian shrine in the Midwest and east of the Mississippi River. A missionary priest of the Most Precious Blood, Fr. Francis de Sales Brunner built a small red brick chapel to the Sorrowful Mother because of his great devotion to Mary.

There are more than 30 grottos among the 120 acres open to visitors. Paved walkways winding among tall trees lead to Stations of the Cross and replicas of Lourdes and the Sepulchre Grotto and are favorite places of prayer and meditation. ( www.sorrowfulmothershrine.org )

House of Mary Shrine

Yankton, south dakota.

Located on the picturesque shore of Lewis & Clark Lake, six miles west of Yankton, South Dakota, its panoramic provides spectacular views of area wildlife. You can walk the Way of the Cross that winds up Calvary Hill, which features three 50-foot wooden crosses at the 13th station. Other peaceful places for prayer and reflection include a beautiful rosary pond, a rosary way, Mary’s Entrance, Little House of Mary and a meditation area. ( www.thehouseofmaryshrine.org )

Shrine of the True Cross

Dickinson, texas.

Located between Houston and Galveston, Texas, this 1936 relic of the True Cross was obtained for the shrine from the Basilica Church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Holy Cross in Jerusalem) in Rome, where a large piece of the Holy Cross resides. The relic of the Holy Cross is available in the church year round for veneration with mass daily. ( www.truecrosschurch.org )

National Shrine of St. Odilia

Onamia, minnesota.

In 1952, a major relic of St. Odilia was brought to the Crosier community in Onamia, 90 miles north of the Twin Cities. A shrine in her honor was set up in the priory chapel, where the reliquary is currently housed. St. Odilia has promised her intercession on behalf of the Crosiers and all those who invoke her aid. For centuries it has been the practice of the Crosiers to bless water in honor of St. Odilia, dipping her relic in it and asking God to give it “power against all diseases and bodily infirmities.”

There are three “stations” in the national shrine. The religious icon of St. Odilia and two of her relics help pilgrims “look through” the icon designed as a window into heaven and pause for prayer in the presence of the relics. ( www.crosier.org )

National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa

Doylestown, pennsylvania.

An hour outside of Philadelphia, the shrine sits on 170 acres on Beacon Hill overlooking Peace Valley in Doylestown. The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa welcomes pilgrims of all nationalities and faiths to visit and take part in the religious and cultural activities held at the Shrine throughout the year.

In the lower church below the main church is a replica of Our Lady’s Chapel at Jana Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, Poland, where the original icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa resides. There are four side chapels dedicated to St. Paul the First Hermit, Our Lady of Nazareth, Divine Mercy and Our Lady of Guadalupe. Retreats are offered year-round at the Ave Maria Retreat House. ( www.czestochowa.us )

National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods

Indian river, michigan.

This Northern Michigan facility is an expansive wooded complex featuring six shrines and monuments including the Shrine of St. Francis, Our Lady of the Highways Shrine, the Holy 28 Stairs and The Man on the Cross. The Shrine is the home for the largest collection of dolls dressed in traditional habits of men’s and women’s religious communities in the United States.( www.crossinthewoods.com )

Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers

Monastery of the Holy Spirit

Conyers, georgia.

The Monastery of the Holy Spirit is a community of more than 40 monks spanning several generations who live, work and pray together. The monastery has facilities to accommodate any group need. Classrooms for a lecture, meeting space for a business meeting or rooms for overnight stays are all available and can be used alone or in combination depending on your needs. Monks are available to speak with your group.

The expansive visitor center features interactive displays including videos about the monastic tradition while the new 17,000- square-foot Heritage Center incorporates both new and renovated historic Monastery structures and integrates elements of learning and hands-on activities. ( www.trappist.net )

Madonna Queen of the Universe

Madonna Queen of the Universe Shrine

Boston, massachusetts.

Overlooking Logan Airport in Boston is a 32-foot statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Located at the national headquarters of the Order of Don Orione, it is a replica of the one at the Don Orione Center in Rome. ( www.catholicshrines.net/states/ma3.htm )

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35 Important Biblical Sites Around The World For Epic Pilgrimages.

There are 1,173 Biblical Sites mentioned in the Bible! But today, we are exploring 35 of them in detail. Biblical sites are physical locations on Earth mentioned in the Bible or associated with biblical events and figures.

The Biblical sites have significant religious and historical importance for millions worldwide, particularly those who practice the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In addition, these sites are holy places where people worship, pray, and seek spiritual fulfilment.

Some of the most well-known biblical sites include Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Mount Sinai. For those who hold these sites in reverence, visiting them can be a transformative experience, allowing them to connect with their faith and gain a deeper understanding of the stories and teachings of the Bible.

35 Important Global Biblical Sites :

** DISCLAIMER: most of these places are unsafe and dangerous to travel to due to recent political and religious unrest. Always seek your government’s advice before planning trips to these Biblical Sites. **

Table of Contents

Jerusalem, israel.

Jerusalem is a Middle Eastern city with immense historical, cultural, and religious significance for people of different faiths. It is the capital city of Israel and one of the oldest cities in the world, with a rich and complex history dating back over three millennia. It is considered one of, if not the most important and famous of the biblical sites.

Today, Jerusalem is a bustling metropolis that attracts millions of tourists annually, drawn by its stunning architecture, vibrant markets, and diverse population.

Jerusalem is also an important biblical site, with many significant events from the Old and New Testaments within its walls. In addition, it is a holy city by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. It is home to some of the most revered religious sites in the world. For Jews,

Jerusalem is the site of the ancient Temple and the holiest city in Judaism. It contains the Western Wall and the Temple Mount. For Christians, it is the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

It has key locations, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Via Dolorosa. For Muslims, it is the site of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, two of the most sacred places in Islam.

Jerusalem’s spiritual significance is vast and multifaceted. Millions of people from all over the world come to this city to connect with their faith and deepen their understanding of its profound historical and religious significance.

Bethlehem, West Bank

Bethlehem is a small city in the West Bank, just south of Jerusalem. It is one of the world’s most important religious and cultural sites and attracts millions of visitors annually.

Bethlehem is renowned for its beautiful architecture, ancient history, and vibrant markets and is a hub for Palestinian culture.

Bethlehem is one of the most famous and revered biblical sites. This is because it is the birthplace of Jesus Christ, considered the central figure of Christianity. According to the Bible, Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago.

The story of Jesus’ birth is one of the world’s most well-known and beloved stories and has inspired countless works of art, literature, and music. 

Today, Bethlehem is home to many important Christian sites, including the Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Jesus was born. This church is one of the oldest continuously operating churches worldwide and is an important pilgrimage site for Christians worldwide. 

Nazareth, Israel

Nazareth is a city in the northern region of Israel, known for its rich biblical history and cultural significance. It is the largest city in the Galilee region, with over 75,000 people. 

Nazareth is renowned for its beautiful scenery and friendly people. It is also a hub for Arab culture in Israel.

Nazareth is an important biblical site and the childhood home of Jesus Christ. According to the Bible, Jesus grew up in Nazareth with his parents, Mary and Joseph, and worked as a carpenter before beginning his ministry.

Jesus’ childhood and adolescence in Nazareth is one of the world’s most well-known and beloved stories and has inspired countless works of art, literature, and music. 

Today, Nazareth is home to many important Christian sites. Including the Basilica of the Annunciation. The basilica is built on the site where the Angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus. 

Mount Sinai, Egypt

Mount Sinai is a mountain in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, over 2,200 meters above sea level. It is considered one of the most important biblical sites in the world and attracts millions of visitors each year.

Mount Sinai is renowned for its rugged beauty and stunning vistas. It is also very spiritually energetic and religiously significant, and it is an enormously crucial biblical site.

It is where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments from God. According to the Bible, Moses climbed the mountain to speak with God, who instructed him to bring the Israelites out of Egypt and lead them to the Promised Land.

The story of Moses and the Ten Commandments is one of the world’s most well-known and beloved stories. It has inspired countless works of art, literature, and music. 

Today, Mount Sinai is home to many important religious sites, including the Monastery of St. Catherine. The monastery is built on the site where Moses saw the burning bush.

This monastery is one of the oldest continuously operating monasteries in the world. It is an important pilgrimage site for Christians, Jews, and Muslims worldwide.

Jericho, West Bank

Jericho is an ancient West Bank city near the Jordan River. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and has a history of more than 10,000 years. 

Jericho is the biblical site of one of the most famous stories in the Bible: Joshua and the Battle of Jericho. According to the Bible, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days. By blowing trumpets and shouting, the walls came tumbling down. 

The Battle of Jericho is one of the world’s most well-known and beloved stories. It has inspired countless works of art, literature, and music.

Today, Jericho is home to many important religious sites. Including the Monastery of the Temptation. The temple is built on the site where Jesus is said to have been tempted by the devil.

Sea of Galilee, Israel

The Sea of Galilee is a freshwater lake located in northern Israel, near the border with Syria. It is the largest freshwater lake in Israel. The Sea of Galilee is famous for its natural beauty, crystal-clear waters, lush greenery, and picturesque surroundings.

The Sea of Galilee holds immense biblical significance. As the location where Jesus Christ performed many miracles. According to the Bible, Jesus walked on the water of the Sea of Galilee. He calmed a storm and fed a crowd of thousands with just a few loaves and fish. 

The Sea of Galilee is also the site of many important events in Jesus’s life, including his baptism by John the Baptist, calling the disciples, and sermon on the Mount.

Today, the Sea of Galilee is home to many important religious sites, including the Church of the Multiplication, which is built on the site where Jesus is said to have fed the multitude.

Mount of Olives, Israel

The Mount of Olives is a biblical site of great religious and historical significance. It is located just east of Jerusalem’s Old City. It is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. They are both linked to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Additionally, it is significant to Judaism as the site of the oldest Jewish cemetery in the world. But to Islam as the place where the Prophet Muhammad prayed and ascended to heaven. The Mount of Olives is a revered site for believers of these three Abrahamic religions.

Mount Carmel, Israel

Mount Carmel is a biblical site located in northern Israel, near Haifa. It is a mountain range that rises to an elevation of 1,742 feet above sea level. It is mentioned several times in the Bible. 

The most famous story is about the Prophet Elijah. Who challenged the prophets of the pagan God Baal to a showdown on Mount Carmel. According to the account in the book of 1 King, Elijah prayed to God. God then sent down fire that consumed Elijah’s sacrifice. While the sacrifice of the prophets of Baal remained untouched. 

This event led the people of Israel to return to God and abandon the worship of Baal. It is a symbol of God’s power and provision. It is also home to the Carmelite order of monks and nuns. Who has a strong tradition of prayer and contemplation?

Damascus, Syria

Damascus is an ancient city in modern-day Syria. It is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Bible mentions Damascus several times, and its role in biblical history is significant. 

The Old Testament is where Abraham’s servant Eliezer went to find a wife for Isaac. It is also where the apostle Paul, then known as Saul, had a transformative encounter with Jesus Christ. 

Damascus was a major centre of early Christianity. It was the site of many significant events, including the conversion of St. Paul and the establishment of the first Christian community. 

Today, Christians revered Damascus as an important biblical site and home to several Christian churches and monasteries. However, the ongoing conflict in Syria has significantly damaged the city and its historical sites.

Nineveh, Iraq

Nineveh is an ancient city that was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River in what is now modern-day Iraq. It is a very important biblical site. Where Prophet Jonah was sent to preach repentance to the people. 

According to the Book of Jonah, the city was notorious for its wickedness. Jonah was reluctant to preach to its inhabitants. Finally, after spending three days in the belly of a large fish. Jonah obeyed God and preached to the people of Nineveh. Who then repented their sins. 

The city is also mentioned in the books of Nahum and Zephaniah. Which describes its destruction as a punishment for its wickedness. 

Nineveh is a biblical site associated with one of the most famous stories in the Old Testament. Its destruction serves as a warning against disobedience to God. 

Today, the ruins of Nineveh are a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular destination for archaeologists and tourists.

Babylon, Iraq

Babylon is an ancient city in modern-day Iraq. It’s also known as the capital of the Babylonian Empire. Also known for it’s towering ziggurat, the Tower of Babel. According to the Bible, Babylon was constructed by a group of people in an attempt to reach heaven. 

As the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and deported many Jews to Babylon. The Babylonian captivity lasted for several decades. Until the Persian king Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon. This allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem. 

Babylon is an important biblical site. Representing a significant moment in Jewish history and the fulfilment of prophecies about the city’s destruction. 

Today, the ruins of Babylon are a UNESCO World Heritage site. A popular destination for tourists and archaeologists interested in ancient Mesopotamian history.

Cana, Israel

Cana is a small village located in the Galilee region of northern Israel. In the Bible, it is the site of Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine at a wedding feast. Therefore, it is considered one of the lesser-known but equally as critical biblical sites.

According to the Gospel of John. Jesus and his disciples were attending a wedding in Cana when the hosts ran out of wine. Mary, the mother of Jesus, asked him to help. He instructed the servants to fill six stone water jars with water. When drawing out the water, He had turned it to wine. This significant event begins Jesus’ public ministry and demonstrates his divine power. 

Today, Cana is a popular pilgrimage site for Christians. The Franciscan Wedding Church in the village commemorates the biblical miracle.

Capernaum, Israel

Capernaum is a biblical site as an ancient fishing village. It is located on Israel’s northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The Bible mentions it several times. It’s significant as the place where Jesus lived and performed many miracles during his public ministry. 

In the New Testament, Capernaum is said to be Jesus’ “own town,” where he healed a paralysed man, exorcised a demon, and raised a young girl from the dead. Capernaum was also the site of a synagogue where Jesus preached and performed miracles, including healing a man with an unclean spirit. 

Today, the ruins of Capernaum are a popular destination for Christian pilgrims and tourists. The site includes a well-preserved ancient synagogue and the House of St. Peter, where Jesus is said to have stayed.

Emmaus, Israel

Emmaus is a biblical site mentioned in the New Testament where two of Jesus’ disciples encountered him on the day of his resurrection. 

The story of the encounter is recounted in the Gospel of Luke, where the disciples, walking to Emmaus, were joined by a stranger who explained the scriptures and broke bread with them. Only when the stranger blessed the bread and broke it did the disciples recognise him as Jesus. 

The encounter at Emmaus is significant as it represents one of Christ’s first appearances to his followers and affirms the resurrection. Today, the village of Emmaus is identified with the modern-day town of Abu Ghosh and is a popular destination for Christian pilgrims.

Gethsemane, Israel

Gethsemane is a biblical site at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. It is significant as the place Jesus prayed on the night before his crucifixion. 

According to the New Testament, Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper, where Jesus prayed and asked God to spare him from the suffering he knew was to come. Here, Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples, betrayed him to the authorities, leading to his arrest and subsequent trial and crucifixion. 

Gethsemane is an essential site in Christian tradition and is a place of prayer and meditation. Today, the Garden of Gethsemane is popular with Christian pilgrims and tourists visiting Jerusalem.

Hebron, West Bank

Hebron is a biblical site located in the West Bank. It is significant as one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world and as the burial place of several important figures in the Bible. 

According to the Old Testament, Hebron was founded over 3,000 years ago and was the home of Abraham, who purchased a burial cave in the city for his wife, Sarah. It was also where Abraham’s descendants, Isaac and Jacob, were buried, along with their wives. 

Hebron is revered as a holy site by Jews, Christians, and Muslims and is home to the Cave of the Patriarchs, a large complex that includes the burial sites of biblical figures and a mosque. Today, Hebron is a contested city and remains a source of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Jaffa, Israel

Jaffa is a biblical site located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Israel. It is significant for its long and rich history and is one of the oldest port cities in the world, with a history dating back more than 3,000 years. 

According to the Old Testament, Jaffa was conquered by the Israelites under Joshua’s leadership, and King Solomon used timber from the city to build the Temple in Jerusalem. 

Jaffa is also significant in the New Testament, where it is mentioned as the place where the apostle Peter raised a woman named Tabitha from the dead. 

Today, Jaffa is a vibrant and diverse city home to many historical and cultural landmarks, including the Old City of Jaffa, the Jaffa Port, and numerous art galleries, museums, and restaurants.

Megiddo, Israel

Megiddo is a biblical site in northern Israel, significant for its rich history and strategic location. It was an essential city in the ancient world and was inhabited continuously for over 5,000 years. 

According to the Old Testament, Megiddo was the site of several significant battles, including the Battle of Megiddo, where the forces of Pharaoh Neco of Egypt killed King Josiah of Judah. 

Megiddo is also significant in the New Testament, in the Book of Revelation, as the site of a final battle between the forces of good and evil. 

Today, Megiddo is a popular tourist destination. It is also home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tel Megiddo, a large archaeological complex that includes the remains of ancient fortifications, palaces, and temples.

Samaria, West Bank

Samaria is a biblical site in the central highlands of the West Bank. It is significant as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Israel. 

The city was also the site of several significant events in the Bible, including the story of the Prophet Elijah, his encounter with King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, and the exiled Israelites’ return from Babylon under the Persian king Cyrus. 

Today, the city of Samaria is a popular destination for tourists. In addition, it is home to several important archaeological sites, including the ancient city’s ruins and King Ahab’s palace.

Sodom and Gomorrah, Dead Sea region

God was said to have destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities located in the Dead Sea region of the Middle East, for their wickedness, according to the Old Testament.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah recounted in the Book of Genesis, describes how the cities were destroyed by fire and brimstone as a punishment for their inhabitants’ sins.

While some historians and archaeologists attempt to identify the location of the cities, others dismiss them as purely mythical. Despite the ongoing debate, Sodom and Gomorrah remain significant sites in the Bible. They serve as cautionary tales of the consequences of sin and wickedness.

Tarsus, Turkey

Tarsus is a biblical site in southern Turkey and is significant for its association with the apostle Paul, one of the most influential figures in the early Christian church. 

According to the New Testament, Paul was born in Tarsus and spent much of his early life there. In Tarsus, Paul received his education in the Jewish faith and later converted to Christianity. 

After his conversion, Paul became one of the most prolific writers and preachers in the early Christian church, writing many letters that make up the New Testament and establishing churches throughout the Mediterranean world. 

Today, Tarsus is a popular destination for Christian pilgrims and is home to several important archaeological sites, including the ruins of the ancient city and the Cleopatra Gate. This grand entrance gate dates back to the Roman period.

The Jordan River, Israel/Jordan

The Jordan River is an essential biblical site for its central role in the history of Israel and Christianity. According to the Old Testament, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River as they entered the Promised Land, and it was here that John the Baptist baptised Jesus in the New Testament. 

The Jordan River is the site of several other significant events in the Bible, including the parting of the waters by the ProphetProphet Elijah and the crossing of the river by the ProphetProphet Elisha. 

Today, the Jordan River is a popular destination for Christian pilgrims. It is home to several important sites, including the baptismal site of Jesus and the traditional site of Elijah’s ascension into heaven.

The Temple Mount, Jerusalem

The Temple Mount is a biblical site located in Jerusalem that is significant as the site of the First and Second Temples, two of the most essential structures in Jewish history. 

Today, the Temple Mount is a site of great religious significance for Jews, Muslims, and Christians. It is home to several critical religious structures, including the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque .

Mount Moriah, Jerusalem

Mount Moriah is a biblical site in Jerusalem that is significant for its association with several important events in Jewish and Christian history. 

According to the Old Testament, on Mount Moriah, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of faith. Later, King David purchased the site and constructed an altar there, and his son Solomon built the First Temple on the same spot. 

In the New Testament, it is believed that Jesus visited the Temple on Mount Moriah and taught there. 

Today, the site is known as the Temple Mount and is home to several critical religious structures, including the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The site is considered one of the world’s most significant sacred sites and a popular destination for tourists and religious pilgrims.

The Garden Tomb, Jerusalem

The Garden Tomb is a biblical site in Jerusalem. Many Christians believe to be the site of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. 

The site is also known as Gordon’s Calvary, after British general Charles George Gordon. Who first identified it as a possible location for the crucifixion and burial of Jesus in the late 19th century. 

The Garden Tomb is located near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem and is a popular destination for Christian pilgrims. The site features a rocky hill resembling a skull. Similar to the one described in the New Testament as the crucifixion site. Many believe the nearby tob could be where Jesus was buried (and resurrected).

Despite its popularity among some Christian groups, the precise historical accuracy of the Garden Tomb as the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus remains a subject of debate and controversy among scholars and theologians.

Mount Nebo, Jordan

Mount Nebo is a biblical site in Jordan that is significant for its association with Moses and the Israelites. According to the Old Testament , it was from the summit of Mount Nebo that Moses first viewed the Promised Land after leading the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness for 40 years. 

The site is also believed to be where Moses died and was buried, although the exact location of his tomb remains unknown. 

Today, Mount Nebo is a popular destination for tourists and religious pilgrims. In addition, it is home to several critical religious structures, including the Memorial Church of Moses, which was built in the early 20th century to commemorate the biblical events associated with the site. 

The site is also known for its panoramic views of the Jordan River Valley and the Dead Sea, making it a popular spot for photography and sightseeing.

Petra, Jordan

Petra is a significant biblical site located in Jordan. It is famous for its ancient and stunning architecture and historical and cultural significance. Petra was founded in the 4th century BC by the Nabataeans, an Arab tribe that controlled the ancient trade routes in the region. 

As a result, Petra became a major trading centre, a hub for exchanging goods between the East and the West. The city’s most famous monument is the Treasury, a massive building carved into the rock face that served as a tomb for the Nabataean king Aretas III. 

The city also features a Roman amphitheatre, several temples, and other impressive structures. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul sought refuge in Petra after escaping Damascus. 

Today, Petra is a popular tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Petra is attracting visitors from around the world who come to marvel at its beauty and learn about its rich history and culture.

Damascus Gate, Jerusalem

Damascus Gate is a biblical site in the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City, one of the city’s most important entrances. The gate dates back to the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who rebuilt Jerusalem in the 2nd century AD. 

The gate was named after the city of Damascus in Syria, which was an important trading partner with Jerusalem during the Roman period. 

According to tradition, the entrance is associated with the Apostle Paul. Who was said to have entered the city through this gate on his way to Damascus, where he had a vision of Jesus that led to his conversion to Christianity. 

Today, Damascus Gate is a popular gathering place for locals and tourists. It is surrounded by a bustling marketplace, with shops selling everything from fresh produce to souvenirs. The gate’s imposing facade, with its crenellated walls and turrets, symbolises Jerusalem’s rich, complex history and enduring spiritual and cultural significance.

Siloam Pool, Jerusalem

Siloam Pool is a biblical site in the southern part of the Old City of Jerusalem . The Gospel of John mentions the pool as where Jesus healed a blind man by rubbing mud on his eyes.

The pool is also mentioned in the Old Testament, associated with King Hezekiah, who is said to have built a tunnel to bring water from the Gihon Spring to Jerusalem during the Assyrian siege in the 8th century BC. 

Today, Siloam Pool is a popular tourist destination and a site of religious pilgrimage, with visitors coming from around the world to see the ancient structure and to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and the biblical figures who came before him. 

The pool is a powerful symbol of the connection between faith, history, and culture. In addition, it serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of Jerusalem as a city of spiritual and cultural significance.

Shiloh, West Bank

Shiloh is a biblical site located in the West Bank, believed to have been the religious capital of Israel during the period of the Judges before the establishment of the First Temple in Jerusalem. 

According to the bible, Shiloh is where the Ark of the Covenant used to be housed and where the Israelites would come to worship and offer sacrifices. 

The site is also associated with several key biblical figures. Including the Prophet Samuel was raised in Shiloh and anointed King Saul and King David as Israel’s first kings. 

Today, Shiloh is a popular destination for tourists and pilgrims. Visitors come worldwide to see the ancient ruins and experience the site’s rich cultural and religious heritage. In addition, the ruins of Shiloh serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of the biblical period and the role that Israel has played in shaping the course of human history.

Mount Tabor, Israel

Mount Tabor is a biblical site located in northern Israel, believed to be the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus as described in the New Testament. 

According to the Bible, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to the top of the mountain, where he was transfigured before them, with his face shining like the sun and his clothes becoming as white as light. 

Moses and Elijah also appeared to Jesus and the disciples, and a voice from heaven declared Jesus to be God’s son. 

Today, Mount Tabor is a popular destination for tourists and pilgrims, with visitors coming from around the world to see the church and monastery built on the site and to hike or drive to the summit for breathtaking views of the surrounding area. The place symbolises the Christian faith and the enduring legacy of Jesus’ teachings and miracles.

Ein Gedi, Israel

Ein Gedi is a biblical site in the Judean Desert of Israel, on the western shore of the Dead Sea. According to the Bible, King David hid in the nearby caves of Ein Gedi while fleeing from King Saul. 

The site is also believed to be where David wrote many of his Psalms and where he spared the life of Saul when he had the chance to kill him.

Today, Ein Gedi is a popular destination for tourists and hikers who come to explore the area’s stunning natural beauty and see the remains of the ancient settlement that once existed there. 

In addition, the site serves as a reminder of the rich history and cultural heritage of Israel and the enduring legacy of the biblical period.

Emmaus Nicopolis, West Bank

Emmaus Nicopolis is a biblical site in the West Bank, believed to be where the resurrected Jesus appeared to two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus.

According to the Bible, the disciples did not recognise Jesus at first. However, as they walked and talked with him, he explained the scriptures and broke bread with them, revealing his identity before disappearing.

Today, as a result, Emmaus Nicopolis is a popular destination for tourists and pilgrims who visit the remains of the ancient Roman city that once existed there and saw the Church of the Resurrection commemorating the event of Jesus’ appearance to his disciples.

Because of this, biblical sites like these serve as powerful reminders of the central role that Jesus’s resurrection plays in the Christian faith and of the enduring legacy of the biblical period.

Philippi, Greece

Philippi is a biblical site in Greece, known for being the location of the first recorded Christian baptism in Europe. 

According to the Bible, the Apostle Paul visited Philippi during his second missionary journey and converted a wealthy woman named Lydia. Later, he and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi but were miraculously freed by an earthquake, leading to a conversion of their jailer and his family. 

Today, Philippi is a popular destination for Christian pilgrims and history enthusiasts, who come to see the ruins of the ancient city that once existed there, including the forum, the theatre, and the prison where Paul and Silas were held. 

The site serves as a powerful reminder of the early spread of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean world and the enduring legacy of the Apostle Paul and his teachings.

Corinth, Greece

Corinth is a biblical site in Greece, known for being the location of one of the Apostle Paul’s most important missionary journeys. According to the Bible, Paul visited Corinth during his second missionary journey and stayed there for 18 months, establishing a thriving Christian community. 

He also wrote two of his epistles, 1 and 2 Corinthians, to the church in Corinth, which are now part of the New Testament. Today, Corinth is a popular destination for tourists and history enthusiasts, who come to see the ruins of the ancient city that once existed there, including the 

Acrocorinth, the Temple of Apollo, and the Bema are believed to be where Paul preached to the Corinthians. These biblical sites serve as powerful reminders of the early spread of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean world and the enduring legacy of the Apostle Paul and his teachings.

Conclusion on Biblical Sites Around The World 

In conclusion, biblical sites are physical locations mentioned in the Bible or have significant ties to biblical events or figures. These sites hold immense historical, cultural, and religious significance for people worldwide and are revered as important landmarks of human civilisation. 

Visiting biblical sites allows people to connect with the rich history and traditions of the Bible and to gain a deeper understanding of the stories, people, and events that have shaped human culture and society.

However, it is essential to note that visiting biblical sites should only be done if they are safe. Unfortunately, many of these sites are politically and socially volatile and may be subject to conflict or unrest. 

Visitors must take appropriate safety precautions and stay informed about the current situation in the area before embarking on a journey to a biblical site.

Visiting biblical sites can be an enriching and transformative experience despite the potential risks. It allows people to connect with their faith, deepen their appreciation for history and culture, and form lasting bonds with people from diverse backgrounds. 

For those who can visit these sites safely, the experience can be life-changing and unforgettable.

Thank you for reading our 35 Biblical Sites Blog!

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Sacred Destinations

Sacred sites, religious places, pilgrimages, welcome to sacred destinations.

"If we instinctively seek a paradisiacal and special place on earth, it is because we know in our inmost hearts that the earth was given to us in order that we might find meaning, order, truth and salvation in it." Thomas Merton

Nearly every culture in human history has sought to honor the divine, the mysterious, the supernatural, or the extraordinary in some way. Most often this happens at sacred sites - special places where the physical world seems to meet the spiritual world. These might be awe-inspiring natural places, sites connected to a god, a saint, or a hero, places where miracles or visions were reported, or buildings consecrated for worship or ritual.

Sacred sites remain spiritually meaningful to millions today and the ancient practice of pilgrimage is as popular as ever. But you don't have to be a believer to recognize that holy places, religious architecture, and sacred art are some of the most beautiful and interesting sights you'll encounter in your travels.

Founded in 2005, Sacred Destinations is a richly-illustrated ecumenical guide to more than 1,200 sacred sites, holy places, pilgrimage destinations, and religious buildings in over 60 countries around the world. So whether you're looking for religious travel ideas, want information about a particular religious building or sacred site, or just love great architecture , you've come to the right place - happy exploring!

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19 Sacred Sites Around the World, From Ancient Churches to Hilltop Temples

By Bridget Hallinan and Alex Erdekian

Spiritual experiences come in many forms, from the religious and intellectual, to those centered in art and nature. And so often, these moments are brought on by travel—sometimes unexpectedly, and sometimes because we journey in search of sacred sites, through pilgrimages, sabbaticals, and even solo trips, usually in times when we need an awakening the most.

From Rome to Bethlehem, in the shape of natural landmarks and houses of worship alike, these are some of the world’s most beautiful sacred places. Whether you’re planning a future visit, or simply looking to appreciate the grandeur of these sacred sites from afar, read on for our favorites.

This gallery was originally published in March 2018. It has been updated with new information.

Ghats of Varanasi, India

India 's Ganges River, although notoriously polluted, is believed to have healing, purifying properties—a belief bolstered by tests conducted on the water . In Varanasi, one of the country's seven sacred cities, locals interact with the river via ghats —stepped platforms leading down into the water—and use them as sites for multiple ceremonies. There are bathing rituals for "purification of sins," pilgrimages to collect sacred water, and even designated ghats for cremations, where pyres burn 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can see the phenomenon for yourself if you take a boat tour along the Ganges.

Taktsang, Bhutan

This Buddhist monastery and temple, also known as "The Tiger's Nest," sits perilously on a cliff, 900 meters (2,952 feet) above the Paro Valley in Bhutan , making it worth a trip for the views alone. Taktsang was built in 1692, at the site of a cave where Guru Rinpoche—or second Buddha—meditated for "three years, three months, and three hours" to ward off evil. The site has been sacred ever since, and you can reach it via a steep, two-hour climb from the valley. Once you get to the temple, you can explore the grounds after removing your shoes.

Wat Rong Khun, Thailand

This temple in Chiang Rai is one of the more recent constructions on our list, having been built by Thai artist Chalermchai Kosipipat just two decades ago in 1997. The gleaming white structure is an ode to Buddha's purity, as well as samsara —the cycle of birth, existence, and death. There's a sculpture of hands raising up from the earth, seemingly from the underworld, beside the bridge leading into the temple, with warrior sculptures flanking each side. But Wat Rong Khun also shows its modernity in many art installations, including nods to superheroes and aliens. 

Borobudur, Indonesia

Located in Java, Indonesia , Borobudur is an iconic Buddhist temple with construction dating back to the eighth and ninth centuries, during the Syailendra Dynasty. The UNESCO World Heritage site comprises of three tiers, and 72 small stupas—dome-shaped structures containing relics usually related to Buddha—plus one larger central stupa at the top. The structure is specifically designed to represent the path to enlightenment: Each level represents a level of the universe, and the higher you climb, the closer you are to nirvana.

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Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Iran

Also known as "The Pink Mosque," Nasir al-Mulk Mosque in Shiraz, Iran , is famous for its stunning array of colors—thanks to a unique combination of stained glass windows and mosaics. When Nasir al-Mulk was built in 1888, it was specially designed to take advantage of morning light, and the sun filtering through the windows creates a rainbow effect, highlighting the jewel-toned tiles and rugs in the interior. If you're able to visit the mosque, make sure you go early for the best view.

Stonehenge, U.K.

The true purpose and origin of Stonehenge remains a contested mystery: Theories range from the legendary Welsh wizard Merlin having transported the rocks from Ireland, to the stone circle being a model for female fertility, to a calendar used for seasonal rituals, and an astronomical prediction tool for phenomena like solar eclipses . Regardless, the spiritual landmark remains one of the U.K.'s most popular attractions, drawing some 800,000 visitors annually. There are ties to Druidic and pagan culture, too, and some groups of them still gather at the site to celebrate equinoxes and solstices. To visit, you can take a day trip from London —about two and a half hours by bus.

Abu Simbel Temples, Egypt

The Abu Simbel Temples were built by Ramses II of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt during his reign from 1279-13 B.C.E. The complex, in southern Egypt , includes two temples: both the Great Temple and nearby Small Temple. Carved out of a sandstone cliff, the Great Temple's main entrance is flanked by four statues of Ramses himself, with likenesses of family members at his feet. Supposedly, the structure is dedicated to the ancient sun gods Amon-Re and Re-Horakhte, though Ramses is also depicted as a god. On two days of the year—usually February 21 and October 21—the sun hits the Great Temple just right and illuminates the inner shrine.

Boudhanath, Nepal

Much like Indonesia's Borobudur, the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, is designed with levels that symbolize enlightenment. The bottom plinth represents earth, the dome represents water, the tower represents fire, and the top spire represents air. All-seeing eyes mark the tower on each side, representing Buddha's all-knowing gaze. Between the glimmering gold and white colors and the imposing spire, which draws your eyes up to the sky, the structure is truly spectacular to witness. Boudhanath is a popular pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists, and a huge tourist attraction in Kathmandu.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

This famous twelfth-century temple in Cambodia is modeled after the mythological Mount Meru, where Hindus believe the ancient gods live. At its highest point, Angkor Wat reaches more than 700 feet tall. The temple complex, which has ties to both Hinduism and Buddhism, has walls covered with carvings, including over 3,000 asparas (nymphs) and many other mythological events and figures. It's a vastly popular tourist attraction: in 2018, short of 3 million tourists paid a visit, which was a third of all who stepped foot in Cambodia. Tourists begin lining up as early as 4:30 a.m. for tickets, so make sure you get there early—or be prepared to wait.

Uluru, Australia

Uluru (aka Ayers Rock, or Big Red Rock) is an iconic Australian landmark. Considered sacred by native Anangu Aboriginals—the custodians of the land—they believe that Uluru and its surrounding area was created by their ancestors and that their spirits continue to inhabit the land today. In light of this cultural significance, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Board of Management voted in 2017 to ban visitors from climbing onto the rock—which was a popular tourist activity during sunrise and sunset, often accompanied by a champagne toast. Ever since October 2019, tourists have had to go around Uluru's base instead, out of respect for the Anangu and the rock's protection.

Spanish Synagogue, Czech Republic

Prague 's Spanish Synagogue is a sight to behold. The jewel-toned interior design is representative of the Moorish Revival style, influenced by the Alhambra Palace in Granada—hence, the moniker. The structure was built in 1868 for a local Reform congregation, and in addition to being a synagogue, it also hosts two permanent exhibitions: one on the history of Jewish people in Bohemia and Moravia, and the other of silver artifacts from a synagogue in the same region. The synagogue has a rich history as well. During World War II and the Holocaust, the seized possessions of local Jewish communities were stored within.

Cenote Sagrado, Mexico

Cenotes —which are natural sinkholes or wells filled with water—were sacred to the Maya people, and used as communication portals with the gods. The Cenote Sagrado in Chichén Itzá, Mexico, is believed to have been the site of rituals, and offerings. Jewelry, incense, pottery, and copious remains of bodies—suggesting human sacrifices to the gods were made—have been discovered at the bottom by archaeologists. White this cenote was a pilgrimage destination for the Maya, today visitors can freely swim or take a dip in it.

Church of St. George, Ethiopia

In northern Ethiopia , the small town of Lalibela is known for its eleven medieval churches carved out of monolithic rock. Dating back to the twelfth century, the churches were built on orders of King Lalibela, who envisioned the creation of a "New Jerusalem" during a time when pilgrimages to the holy land were hindered by Muslim conquests. Today the site still sees many pilgrimages, largely from Coptic Christians. The structures, complete with catacombs and ceremonial passages, are fascinating; the Church of St. George, or Biete Ghiorgis (pictured), is particularly famous for its cross-shaped design and network of trenches, which connects it to the other churches.

Devils Tower, U.S., Wyoming

Devils Tower, a gargantuan geological structure and an American national monument, rises 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River and plains in northeastern Wyoming . It's a world-renowned climbing destination —but it's also a sacred site for more than 20 Native American tribes and indigenous people, according to the National Park Service. The Crow call the tower "Bear Lodge" and have been known to fast and worship there, even building small stone houses for dream quests. The formation has also been the site of one of the Lakota's famous battles, purification rites, and the tribe's sacred Sun Dance. The Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Shoshone have documented ties, too, and many ceremonies and prayer offerings continue to take place at the tower today. You may see religious paraphernalia such as prayer cloths at the site, but the NPS urges tourists to be respectful and avoid disturbing.

Western Wall, Israel

Israel is acknowledged as the Holy Land in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, and Jerusalem's Western Wall is its holiest site. The limestone structure has been a place of worship since the 11th century, as the closest place to Temple Mount (where it’s said God created man) from which worshippers can pray. It’s common practice for visitors to write their prayers, hopes, and wishes on slips of paper, then slide them into the cracks of the walls. The memos are collected throughout the year, before being buried in a Jewish cemetery on the nearby Mount of Olives.

Monasteries of Meteora, Greece

Though Meteora isn’t name-recognizable like the Notre Dames of the world, you’ve likely seen images of these mountain-top monasteries before. The set of stone buildings are set atop steep, jagged cliffs in Central Greece, creating a scene seemingly out of a fairytale. Eastern Orthodox monks first occupied the region’s caves in the 11th century, before the monasteries were even built. Now, after a thousand-year history of much turmoil—including Turkish invasion, the creation of the complex and its frescoes, and efforts to use it as a refuge from the Ottoman Empire—six of the 24 of the monasteries remain active. The Ypapanti monastery is usually open to the public, and well worth the four-and-a-half hour train ride from Athens.

St. John the Divine, U.S., New York City

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is perhaps the best known of New York City’s holy sites, but also worth a visit is the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, further uptown. Situated at 112th and Amsterdam in Morningside Heights, the gargantuan Gothic Revival cathedral is the largest Episocopal church in the world. Important works of art lie within, including a Keith Haring altarpiece of white gold and bronze, carved with the artist’s signature figures—one of his last works before dying of AIDS. Take a tour up to the top, where you’ll get a humbling view of the bustling city from above. (Guests are even allowed to stand on a buttress.)

The Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

The story of Jesus’s birth is oft-retold throughout the world, and crucial to the telling is the cave where the birth took place. That very grotto in Bethlehem, submerged beneath the oldest basilica in the Holy Land on the West Bank, is open to visitors today. A silver star lies on the ground, supposedly marking the exact point where Jesus was born. While this site is Bethlehem’s most popular tourist attraction year-round, there are even larger festivities come Christmastime, including crowds of carolers and midnight services. It’s a World Heritage site, too—the first one UNESCO listed under Palestine.

Sistine Chapel, Italy

The wait to enter the Sistine Chapel will likely command hours of your time, but it’s well worth it. Painted across the ceiling of the chapel are Michelangelo’s Renaissance frescoes, which depict biblical tales such as The Creation of Adam . Beyond the subject matter of the works, there’s a spiritual experience in simply bearing witness to the artistic feat, completed from 1508 to 1512. And, thanks to strict rules on noise levels and photography, you’ll likely stare up in pure silence, without even the click of a camera shutter to distract you. (The chapel is often called Rome’s quietest attraction, despite the millions of annual visitors.)

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The Top 10 Biblical Sites You Need to Visit

The Bible is filled with stories of people and places that have shaped the history and culture of the world. From the Garden of Eden to the land of Canaan, the Bible offers a rich tapestry of stories and landmarks that have captured the imagination of people for centuries. If you are a lover of history, culture, and spirituality, then here are the top 10 biblical sites you need to visit.

• Jerusalem, Israel - As the capital of Israel, Jerusalem is one of the most important cities in the Bible. It is the site of many important events, such as the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection.
• Bethlehem, West Bank - The birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem is one of the most sacred sites in the Christian faith. It is also home to the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest churches in the world.
• Nazareth, Israel - Known as the childhood home of Jesus, Nazareth is a city steeped in biblical history. It is the site of many important events, such as the Annunciation and the beginning of Jesus' ministry.
• Sea of Galilee, Israel - A freshwater lake that is mentioned several times in the Bible, the Sea of Galilee is surrounded by picturesque landscapes and is home to several important biblical sites, such as the Mount of Beatitudes and the town of Capernaum.
• Mount Sinai, Egypt - According to the Bible, Mount Sinai is the place where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. It is a sacred site for both Jews and Christians and is located in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.
• Petra, Jordan - While not mentioned specifically in the Bible, Petra is an ancient city that has played an important role in the history of the Middle East. It is known for its stunning rock-carved architecture and was once the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom.
• Jericho, West Bank - One of the oldest cities in the world, Jericho is mentioned several times in the Bible. It is believed to be the site of the first city conquered by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership.
• Mount of Olives, Israel - Located just outside of Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives is mentioned several times in the Bible. It is the site of several important events, such as Jesus' ascent to heaven and his weeping over the city of Jerusalem.
• Ephesus, Turkey - While not specifically mentioned in the Bible, Ephesus was an important city in the early Christian church. It is home to several ancient ruins, including the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• Damascus, Syria - While currently facing a crisis, Damascus is an ancient city that has played an important role in the history of the Middle East. It is believed to be the site of the conversion of the Apostle Paul and is mentioned several times in the Bible.

Visiting these biblical sites can provide a valuable opportunity to connect with the history and spirituality of the Bible. Whether you are a religious pilgrim or simply a lover of history and culture, these sites are sure to leave a lasting impression.

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The Catholic Travel Guide

Catholic Shrines, Pilgrimage Sites & Places of Interest in the United States

Although the United States is a fairly young country compared to many others, it abounds with Catholic shrines and places of interest to Catholics. The history of the Catholic Church in the U.S.A. has not always been an easy one. Although many who settled here came for religious freedom, this did not always apply to Catholics. In fact, as immigrants from such countries as Ireland and Italy (with largely Catholic populations) came in the late 19th Century, anti-Catholicism arose in certain parts of the country, stoked on by such groups as the Ku Klux Klan and some Protestant pastors. Church-burnings and intimidation took place, and many newspaper cartoons portrayed Catholics as agents of the devil.

The Irish, for example, they were branded as shiftless drunkards and advertisements were known to include the words “ No Irish Need Apply “.  The Italian, Czechs and Polish were also greeted with hostility.

Despite these obstacles, Catholicism grew in the country and today it accounts for roughly 25% of the population.

Almost every state has something to appeal to Catholic vacationers and pilgrims alike. If you are traveling and looking for a place to visit or attend Mass then check one of these out. In addition many of the shrines offer pilgrimages and retreats.

Have missed your favorite?     Email us and we will add it…we are always looking for ways to add Catholic places of interest.

Cullman: Ave Maria Grotto and St. Bernard Abbey

Birmingham:  Cathedral of Saint Paul and St. Stephen the Martyr Chapel

Fort Mitchell:   Blessed Trinity Retreat Center

Irondale and Hanceville:   EWTN Studios and Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Mobile:   Churches & shrines

Juneau: Shrine of Saint Therese of Lisieux

Grand Canyon Park: El Cristo Rey Chapel

Hereford: Shrine of Our Lady of the Sierras

Phoenix & surrounding area: Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale,Tempe

Sedona: Chapel of the Holy Cross

Sonoita:   Santa Rita Abbey & Retreat House

Tonopah:   Our Lady of Solitude Monastery (Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration)

Tucson: Mission San Xavier del Bac; Mary Undoer of Knots Byzantine Catholic Shrine;  Shrine of Saint Gianna;

Yarnell:  Shrine of Saint Joseph of the Mountains

Dardendale:  Ol’ Shalom Ranch /retreat center

New Blaine: Hesychia House of Prayer

Springdale: Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church (traditional Latin Mas s)

Subiaco:  Subiaco Abbey

Beverly Hills:   Church of the Good Shepherd

Big Sur:     New Camaldoli Hermitage

Carmel: San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission Basilica

Fresno: Shrine of Saint Terese

Garden Grove (Los Angeles area): Christ Cathedral & Our Lady of La Vang Shrine)

La Jolla: Infant Jesus of Prague Shrine in Mary Star of the Sea Church

Sacramento:  National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament

San Diego: Basilica Mission San Diego de Alcala

San Francisco:   Many Shrines and Places of Interest

San Jose:   Mount Saint Joseph Carmelite Monastery

Santa Ana: Heart of Jesus Retreat Center

Santa Barbara:  Santa Barbara Mission

Santa Clara: Shrines and Monastery

Santa Cruz: Shrine of Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer

Silverado:   Saint Michael’s Abbey

Statewide: The Spanish Missions

Tehachapi: The Bethlehem Priory of Saint Joseph (Norbertine Monastery)

Valyermo:  Saint Andrew’s Benedictine Monastery

Denver:  Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception & tomb of Servant of God Julia Greeley

Golden: Mother Cabrini Shrine

San Luis:   Stations of the Cross Shrine

Snowmass : Saint Benedict’s Abbey

Virginia Dale: The Abbey of Saint Walburga

CONNECTICUT

Litchfield: The Lourdes in Litchfield

New Haven: Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center (formerly The Knights of Columbus Museum)

New Haven: Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague

 Stamford:  Villa Maria Guadalupe Retreats

 Waterbury: Shrine of Saint Anne for Mothers

DISTRICT OF COLMBIA

 Washington:   Click here for the many shrines & places of interest in Washington, D.C.

 Fort Lauderdale:   Churches near the cruise port of Fort Lauderdale

 Key West: Basilica of Saint Mary Star of the Sea

  Miami:   Click here for many Shrines & Places of Interest in Miami

 Orlando:   Click here for many Shrines & Places of Interest in Orlando

 Saint Augustine: Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche

 Sarasota:   Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church (First class relic of St. Padre Pio)

Tampa:   Our Lady Help of Christians Center

The Florida Keys:   St. Mary Star of the Sea, Underwater statue of Christ of the Chasm

Atlanta: Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Conyers: Monastery of the Holy Spirit

Macon:   Saint Joseph Catholic Church

Savannah:   Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist; Childhood Home Museum of Flannery O”Connor

Agana:   Catholic Churches in Guam

Lahaina, Maui, Molokai, Oahu: Catholic shrines and places of interest

Coeur d’Alene: Cataldo Mission State Park

Belleville:   National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows

Berwyn (Chicago area) : St Odilo Catholic Church & National Shrine of Souls in Purgatory

Chicago: Many Catholic shrines and places of interest in Chicago

Darien: National Shrine of Saint Therese

Des Plaines (Chicago area): Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

El Paso:   Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Spiritual Centre

Marytown: National Shrine of St. Maximillian Kolbe

Morton Grove: Shrine of All Saints (over 1500 relics)

Peoria:   Tomb of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen & Museum of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Quincy:   Grave of Servant of God Father Augustus Tolton

Teutopolis:   Saint Francis of Assisi Church

Greensburg:  Edelweiss House Retreat Center and Farm

Huntington: Saint Felix Retreat Center

Saint John: The Shrine of Christ’s Passion

Saint Mary’s:   Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin

Saint Meinrad:   Saint Meinrad Archabbey and Monte Cassino Shrine

Terre Haute:  Carmelite Monastery

Dubuque:  Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey

Dyersville: Basilica of Saint Francis Xavier

Sioux City:   Trinity Heights Queen of Peace Shrine

West Bend: The Grotto of the Redemption

West Burlington:   Our Lady of Grace Grotto

Beloit:  St Padre Pio Chapel with first class relic

Mound City: Shrine of Saint Philippine Duchesne

Victoria:   Basilica of Saint Fidelis…..”the Cathedral of the plains”

 Wichita:   Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception & tomb of Emil Capaun .

Covington:   Basilica Cathedral of the Assumption

Louisville:  Several Catholic churches and shrines

Nazareth: Nazareth Retreat House

Trappist:   Abbey of Gethsemani

Whitesville:   Passionist Nuns at Saint Joseph Monastery

Convent: Manresa House of Retreat

Grand Coteau: Shrine of Saint John Berchmans

Lake Charles:  Several Catholic places of interest

Metairie:  National Shrine of Saint Ann

New Orleans: Catholic Shrines & Places of Interest

Opelousas:   Ave Maria Shrine, Orphan Train Museum

Richard (Diocese of Lafayette): Grave of Servant of God Charlene Richard

Saint Martinville:   Saint Martin de Tours Catholic Church

Shreveport:   The Museum of the Holy Shroud at the Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans

Kennebunkport: Saint Anthony Franciscan Monastery

Lewiston:  Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

Baltimore: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption; St Jude Shrine, Nat Shrine of St. Alphonsus Liguori

Ellicott City: Shrine of Saint Anthony

Emmitsburg : National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes; National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

MASSACHUSETTS

Attleboro: National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette

Boston:   Several shrines & places of interest

Chicopee: Saint Stanislaus Basilica

Cape Cod Area: Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard

Easton: Father Peyton Memorial 

Fall River:   Saint Anne’s Shrine

Fiskdale (Sturbridge):   Saint Anne Shrine

Salem:   Saint John Paul II Shrine of Divine Mercy

Spencer:   Saint Joseph’s Trappist Abbey

Still River: Saint Benedict Abbey

Stockbridge: National Shrine of Divine Mercy

Detroit: Shrine of Blessed Solanus Casey, Old Saint Mary’s Church, Mother of Divine Mercy Parish: St. Josaphat Church & Sweetest Heart of Mary Church

Grand Rapids:   Basilica of Saint Adalbert

L’Anse: Shrine of (Venerable) Bishop Baraga (“The Snowshoe Priest”)

Indian River: The National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods

Marquette:   St. Peter Cathedral & Tomb of Ven. Bishop Baraga

Royal Oak: National Basilica Shrine of the Little Flower

Washington: Capuchin Retreat Center

Cold Spring: Assumption Chapel

Minneapolis:  Basilica of Saint Mary

New Prague:   Shrine to Blessed Karl of Austria

New Ulm:   Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity

Saint Paul:   Cathedral & National Shrine of Saint Paul

Onamia: National Shrine of Saint Odilia

MISSISSIPPI

Natchez:   Basilica of Saint Mary

Branson: Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church

Clyde: Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration Monastery

Eureka: The Black Madonna Shrine

Florissant:   Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine

Gower:  Abbey of Our Lady of Ephesus

Laurie: National Shrine of Mary, Mother of The Church

Perryville:   National Shrine of the Miraculous Medal

Saint Charles: Shrine of Saint Philippine Duchesne

Saint Louis:   Cathedrals, shrines and Basilca

Saint Patrick:   Shrine of Saint Patrick

Starkenburg: Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows

Butte: Our Lady of the Rockies

Saint Ignatius:  Saint Ignatius Mission Parish

Stevensville: Saint Mary’s Mission and Museum

Denton:  Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary…..Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP)

Gretna: Shrine of the Holy Family

Gretna:   The Cloisters on the Platte

Omaha: Cathedral of Saint Cecilia

Schuyler:   Saint Benedict Retreat Center

Waverly: Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House (Diocese of Lincoln);         Knights of the Holy Eucharist (founded by Mother Angelica)

Las Vegas: Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer

Reno: Saint Thomas Aquinas Cathedral

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Colebrook: National Shrine of Our Lady of Grace

Brick:  Shrine to Blessed Carlo Acutis in Saint Dominic’s Church

Clifton:   Holy Face Monastery

Elizabeth:   Saint Walburga Monastery and Retreat Center

Kearny:   Sanctuary of the Four Chaplains in Saint Stephen’s Church

Landisville:  Shrine of Saint Padre Pio

Montclair:   Our Lady of Mount Carmel Oratory

Newark : National Shrine of Saint Gerard

Patterson:   Grave of Father Leo Heinrichs, martyr

Summit: Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary

Washington: Blue Army National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima

Abiquiu: Monastery of Christ in the Desert

Albuquerque: Many old churches plus the Shrine of Saint Bernadette

Chimayo: El Santuario de Chimayo & Shrine of Santo Nino de Achoa

Golden: Saint Francis Assis Catholic Church

La Laguna:    Laguna, New Mexico: Saint Joseph of Laguna Mission

Mescalero: Saint Joseph’s Apache Mission

Santa Fe:   Many places of interest

NEW YORK STATE

Auriesville: Shrine of the North American Martyrs

Buffalo/Niagara Falls:   Two national shines and beautiful churches

Edmeston: Rosa Mystica House of Prayer & Retreat Center

Fonda: National Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine

Manorville (Long Island):  Shrine of Our Lady of the Island

Middletown:   National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

New York City:   Many sites of interest listed 

Piffard (Finger Lakes area):   Abbey of the Genesee

Stony Point: Salesian National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians

Syracuse: Shrine of Saint of Marianne Cope

NORTH CAROLINA

Asheville:  Basilica of Saint Lawrence

Raleigh:   Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral

Bellevue:  The Sorrowful Mother Shrine 

Bloomingdale: Catholic Family Land

Burton:   Christ the Bridegroom Monastery & Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch

Canton: Rhoda Wise House and Grotto

Carey: Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation

Cincinnati:    Holy Cross Immaculata; Saint Anthony Shrine & Friary; Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center

Cleveland:     Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist; Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration Chapel; St Elizabeth of Hungary Shrine

Columbus:   Jubilee Museum; Shrine of Blessed Margaret of Castello, O.P

Euclid:  National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes

Maria Stein: Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics & Spiritual Center of Maria Stein

Marietta:  Basilica of Saint Mary of the Assumption

Massillon: National Shrine of Saint Dymphna

Mogadore:   Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto (life size replica of the Lourdes Grotto)

North Jackson: National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon

Toledo:   Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral

Windsor:   Servants of Mary Center for Peace

Hulbert:   Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey

Oklahoma City:   Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine

Prague: National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague

Stillwater:   Saint Francis Xavier Church (beautiful new church built in the traditional style)

Portland: National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

Saint Benedict: Mount Angel Abbey

Weston:    Duchovny Dom Byzantine Catholic Mens Monastery

PENNSYLVANIA

Barto: National Centre for Padre Pio

Doylestown: National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa

Kulpmont: Saint Pauline Spirituality Center

Philadelphia:   Many places of interest

Pittsburgh: Five Shrines and places of interest 

Scranton:   Saint Thomas More Parish (Anglican Rite)

Uniontown: Mount Saint Macrina

Warminster: Shrine of Saint Gianna

PUERTO RICO

San Juan:   Major Catholic Churches in San Juan

RHODE ISLAND

Nasonville: First Shrine of Saint Therese of Lisieux

Portsmouth: Portsmouth Abbey Monastery and School

SOUTH CAROLINA

Charleston: Church of Saint Mary of the Annunciation; Saint Ann Catholic Church; Cruise port

Greenville:   Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church (Romanesque & Mission style church)

Kingstree:  Shrine of Our Lady of South Carolina, Our Lady of Our Hope)

Moncks Corner:   Mepkin Abbey (Trappist Monastery)

Rock Hill:   Rock Hill Oratory

SOUTH DAKOTA

Alexandria:   Fatima Family Shrine & Our Lady of Mercy Carmelite Monastery

Irene: Broom Tree Retreat & Conference Center (Diocese of Sioux Falls)

Rapid City:   Saint Martin Monastery

Sioux Falls: Saint Joseph’s Cathedral

Yankton: The House of Mary Shrine

Chattanooga:    Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

Gatlinburg: St Mary Church at Great Smoky Mountains Natl Park

Kingstree: Shrine of Our Lady of South Carolina, Our Lady of Our Joyful Hope

Knoxville:   Sacred Heart Cathedral :  Beatiful new Cathedral built in the traditional style

Memphis:   Saint Martin de Porres National Shrine & Institute

New Hope: Shrine of Our Lady Virgin of the Poor

Due to the large geographic area of the state (roughly the size of France), we are showing the various geographic areas within Texas next to each city.

College Station:   Saint Mary’s Catholic Center on the campus of Texas A&M University

Corpus Christi (South Texas):   Our Lady of Corpus Christi Retreat Center

Cristoval (central Texas): Mount Carmel Hermitage

Dallas/Fort Worth (North Texas…called “The DFW Metroplex): Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Garland, Grand Prairie

Galveston (South Texas Gulf coast):   Near Houston, popular cruise port and historical churches

Grand Prairie (Dallas area):  Nazareth Retreat Center

Hill Country (central Texas): Painted Churches of Texas

Houston Area (Southeast Texas):    Includes Dickinson, Friendswood, Houston

Kerens (North Texas):   Benedictine Monastery of Thien Tam

Lindsay (North Texas): Saint Peter’s Catholic Church (historic church built by German immigrants)

Lufkin (Southeast Texas):   Monastery of the Infant Jesus

New Braunfels (central Texas): Mission of Divine Mercy

Panna Maria (central Texas): First Polish Catholic Church in the U.S.

Pipe Creek (San Antonio area):  Sanctus Ranch Retreat Center

Rockport (South Texas Gulf coast): Schoenstatt Center Lamar

Round Top (Central Texas): St Martin Church….the smallest Catholic Church in the world .

San Antonio (Central Texas): The Missions (incl the Alamo); Shrine of the Little Flower; Padre Pio Shrine & many others

San Juan (South Texas): Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan de Valle National Shrine

Taft (South Texas Gulf coast):   Immaculate Conception Church (relic of Saint Jose Sanchez del Rio)

Tyler:  (East Texas):  Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul

 Salt Lake City:  Cathedral of the Madeleine  (under the auspices of St Mary Magdalene)

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

Saint Thomas: Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul

Isle de la Motte: Shrine of Saint Anne

Jamaica: Our Lady of Ephesus House of Prayer

Alexandria:   Basilica of Saint Mary

Arlington:  Saint Agnes Church (beautiful new altar and ambo)

Fredericksburg:   Saint Jude Catholic Church (relics of the 12 apostles)

Front Royal:   Christendom College Christ the King Chapel

Roanoke :  Saint Andrew’s Catholic Church

Williamsburg: National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham

WASHINGTON STATE

Olympia: Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Seattle:   Catholic churches near the cruise ports

WEST VIRGINIA

Charleston:   Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

Charles Town :  Priory of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem) Latin Mass; Saint James the Greater Catholic Church

 Wheeling:  Churches and places of interest

Briggsville:  National Shrine of Saint Philomena

Fennimore :  Saint Mary’s Church (beautifully restored church)

Green Bay area:   National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion; National Shrine of Saint Joseph

Hubertus: Basilica Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians at Holy Hill

La Crosse: Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine

Milwaukee: Many sites of interest

Peshtigo: Miraculous saving of a Tabernacle and Host

Rudolph : Rudolph Grotto Gardens

Saint Nazianz:   Holy Resurrection Monastery

Cody: Yellowstone National Park

Grand Teton: Chapel of the Sacred Heart

Pine Bluffs:   Statue of Our Lady of Peace

Didn’t find what you were looking for?     Email us with your suggestion and we will get right on it .

12 thoughts on “U.S.A.”

St. Andrew in Roanoke, Virginia should be on your list. I wonder why it isn’t

Dear John, Thank you for your suggestion….we were not aware of this parish and its rich history. We will add a page to our site.

Please add St. Mary Basilica in Natchez, Mississippi. It is a beautiful minor basilica and one of the oldest churches in the south.

Dear Rebecca,

Thank you for your suggestion, it is a beautiful Basilica. Unfortunately the Basilica is closed for renovation at the time. We will contact them to see how long that will be the case.

I believe that St Mary has now reopened.

Thanks for the comments…..Which St Mary’s?

Asheville NC has St Lawrence Basilica. Super beautiful place. You must add this site! Daily tours, Mass, Adoration.

Thanks so much for letting us know about this magnificent Basilica! We have added a page to our site that will offer more information.

Thank you for creating this list. It is a great tool to use while planning vacations!

Another shrine that you could add for South Dakota is the Fatima Family Shrine in Alexandria, SD. Also, there is a retreat center just outside of Irene, SD, called Broom Tree. It is a really neat place to visit, especially if you’re able to go at a time of year that you could walk around the grounds.

Thanks for telling us about this Shrine…we will add it to our website. And thanks for the compliments…we hope everyone will find it useful.

I didn’t see The Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima,in Younstown, NY nor St Anne’s Shrine in Fiskdale MA listed.

As far as the Fatima shrine is concerned it it is listed here , but their physical address is Lewiston, New York as shown on their own website.

We were not aware of the St.Anne Shrine….thanks for bringing it to our attention. We will get it listed as soon as possible.

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What Sites Should Be on Your Holy Land Tour Itinerary?

You’ve decided to start planning for a Holy Land Tour. You’re looking at different tour groups, their leaders, and their itineraries. They look the same, with a few differences here and there. You can’t decide because you want to know what sites should be on your Holy Land Tour itinerary.  

What sites should be on a Holy Land tour itinerary?

• In Galilee : Nazareth, Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, Tagbha, and the Mount of Beatitudes.
• In Jerusalem : the Temple Mount, the Israel Museum, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, The Western Wall, the Western Wall tunnels, the Southern Steps, the Via Dolorosa, and the Garden Tomb.
• Around Jerusalem : Bethlehem and the Judean Wilderness.
• In the Rift Valley ; Jericho, the Dead Sea, Masada, Qumran, and the Jordan River.

This is a long list. For a ten-day excursion, it’s almost too long, but it can be done. The problem with this list is that it barely touches the surface of what the Holy Land has to offer. But it covers most of the important sites in Jesus’s ministry and the period in which he lived.

Note: All Bible verse links go to biblegateway.com

Before I begin, let’s talk about the concept of tradition . In the Old Testament, Moses routinely marks places where God interacted with His people. Often, he built a stone pile that contrasted the landscape. They were tangible reminders of spiritual events.

Though the tradition of placing a pile of rocks seems to have died with him, establishing a tradition of commemoration did not. Throughout history, both Jews and Christians have sought to commemorate significant events in the relationship between God and His people.  Because communities and cultures rise and fall, sometimes these locations are forgotten. Or tribal knowledge inadvertently shifts the location where an event happened. Or commemoration was delayed because of political and cultural influences.

These questions don’t mean that tradition in the absence of definitive knowledge weakens the significance of an event. We must remember that the location is just a tangible reminder of the event. We visit the Holy Land to immerse ourselves in the place where God interacted with His people. And where His Son, Jesus, walked among His people.

During your tour, you will come across many archaeological digs which provide evidence of biblical places. You will also visit numerous sites that lay claim to the same event.

There are TWO Gardens of Gethsemane!! There are between TWO and FIVE sites, which claim to be the location where Jesus was born.  Archaeologists have argued for decades over where Golgotha is.

The thing to remember is that competing claims do not lead to a flimsy argument for the existence of God. All these sites have strong arguments in favor of their claims. The arguments have never been over the legitimacy of the events. Rather, they have been over where the pile of rocks should be placed.

Almost every Holy Land tour hits Galilee first. It’s too important for Christians to miss, so it’s usually front-loaded in case scheduling problems arise.

Galilee is important because the majority of Jesus’s ministry happened here. Almost every site you’ll visit has had a church or some kind of worship center built on it. You may feel robbed of an authentic experience because of this. Just think of it as the modern-day version of a pile of rocks.

Nazareth is a thriving city, so there isn’t much to see historically. However, the Church of the Annunciation is where you will most likely go. It’s a beautiful structure, both inside and outside. The church sits on top of the plot of land in which tradition believes the angel Gabriel informed Mary she would give birth to Jesus.

Just to the north of Nazareth is Kanna , better known in the Bible as Cana. John 2 tells the story of Jesus’s first miracle, the turning of water into wine, during a wedding feast at Cana. The Wedding Church in Kanna is the usual tourist stop.

Mount Precipice is on the south side of Nazareth and offers a fantastic view of the Jezreel Valley. Luke 4:29-30 tells the story of when the people of Nazareth seek to throw Jesus from “the brow of the hill on which the town was built.” But he passes through them and disappears. Mount Precipice is the traditional site of this event.

There is no hiking required as the parking lot is right next to the lookout. This is an easy site to visit and can offer a serene atmosphere for an early morning prayer service.

What you will probably miss in Galilee.

The Wedding Church at Cana is nice. But to the northeast of the town of Kanna is something far more interesting. A mound that archaeologists think is the first-century location of Cana sits hidden in the small hills. Ostraca and shards of pottery bearing the name of the city have been found there. Once funding is obtained and approval granted, biblical historians and archaeologists will descend on the site to excavate it.

The site is difficult to get to at the moment. It is off the beaten path and requires a mile hike along a dirt road through some farmland. The road eventually ends, and you’ll have to make your own path to the top of the mound.

There’s nothing of particular importance on top, but you can say you possibly visited the ‘real’ Cana .

Sepphoris was a town near Nazareth and the capital of the Galilee region in Jesus’s time. Under Herod, the city underwent a good amount of construction going. Although not mentioned in the Bible, Sepphoris is a place of interest because of its first-century building projects.

Biblical historians have suggested that Joseph might have worked there as a carpenter. He may have even taken Jesus with him to learn how to build.

The archaeological remains at Sepphoris have been well preserved and offer great insight into life in the first century.

The Sea of Galilee.

Otherwise known as Lake Gennesaret, the Sea of Galilee is home to several important sites.

If your group takes a boat ride on the sea , you’ve chosen wisely. If you’re lucky, you’ll get dropped off in Tiberias next to the Jesus Boat Museum . Inside, the preserved hull of a first-century fishing boat is on display. The boat was found encased in mud off the nearby shore of the lake in the mid-1980s. It will give you an idea of the boats Jesus and the Disciples sailed in.

To the north, Capernaum was the home of Peter and the headquarters of sorts for Jesus’s ministry. At the site, you’ll find a fourth-century synagogue and the ruins of some first-century housing structures. One of the homes is believed to have been Peter’s.

Above the ruins is a church built as a memorial to Peter. Pews are situated around the outside of the sanctuary. The center of the sanctuary floor is glass so that visitors can see the ruins below.

Tabgha is the traditional site of the feeding of the Five-thousand ( Matt 14 ; Mark 6 ; Luke 9 ; and John 6 ). Nothing exists in terms of ruins because the event took place in a field. However, today the Church of the Multiplication stands as a memorial to the event.

The Sermon on the Mount ( Matt 5-7 ) is one of the most famous passages in the Bible. It also occurred on an undeveloped plot of land. Tradition and the Bible, place it on the slopes of the Chorazin Plateau overlooking Tabgha and Capernaum. A Roman Catholic church has adorned the landscape of the plateau since the 1930s.

If you chose a good tour group, you will walk along a trail leading away from the Mount of Beatitudes Church down to Tabgha.

What you’ll probably miss at the Sea of Galilee.

To the west of Tabgha is a site that was discovered more recently than the ones above. The name of the town was Magdala . The town of Mary Magdalene, or rather Mary of Magdala. The site is small, but archaeologists have been working on it fervently. A worship center has been built at the site to memorialize the women of the Bible.

The list of Christian holy and historical sites in Jerusalem is vast. However, the majority are situated in and around the Old City. Because of this, your time in Jerusalem will be spent walking a lot. So be prepared.

• Israel Museum . Don’t miss the model of the Old City.
• Mount of Olives. Your tour bus will take you there. But if you can hike up for a sunrise alone or with your spouse, you’ll thank me.
• Kidron Valley. Stay with your group!
• Church of All Nations (Garden of Gethsemene)
• Dominus Flavit. Traditional site where Jesus wept.
• Western Wall
• Western Wall Tunnels. Fascinating. You’ll see part of a first-century sidewalk and stones the size of half a football field.
• Temple Mount. A must-see.
• Via Dolorosa. It can be cliché to carry the cross through the stations of the cross. But if that’s on your list, own it and never look back.
• The old City Market. Check out Zak’s for some decent antiquities.
• The Garden Tomb. Probably not THE tomb, but it provides a great look at how first-century tombs looked.
• The Upper Room. The traditional site where Jesus and the disciples had the last supper. ‘Traditional’ is the operative word here.
• The Southern Steps. Here you’ll find pieces of the original temple wall and some original mikvahs.
• Church of the Holy Sepulcher. A church built over the traditional site of the tomb Jesus was placed in. Get in line to see the stone bench. Stay for the door ceremony at the end of the day.
• Church of Saint Anne. Located next to the pools of Bethesda, the Via Dolorosa starts here.
• Mount Scopus Lookout. Another lookout of the Temple Mount from the North East.

What you will probably miss in Jerusalem.

The City of David archaeological dig ( Official Website ) is something relatively new. At least in the last decade. For centuries the site was covered by houses. As land opened up, archaeologists have been able to dig and uncover parts of the original city from the time of David. The dig is across the street from the Southern Steps.

One of the fascinating finds was the original city wall about halfway up the slope from the Kidron Valley. Even more fascinating is another wall just a little higher up than the main wall. Archaeologists have determined this to be Nehemiah’s Wall .

In the book of his namesake, Nehemiah leads a building campaign to rebuild the wall. The Israelites accomplish the feat in 56 days. Though the book does not say how they built it so fast, because the wall was higher up, its perimeter is shorter.

Hezekiah’s Tunnel ( 2 Kings 20 ). When the Assyrians invaded Jerusalem in 701 BCE, King Hezekiah had a tunnel carved that lead from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam. Known as Hezekiah’s Tunnel, tourists can walk through it from the City of David to the pool. If the tunnel is on your itinerary, wear sandals or shoes you don’t mind getting wet. And be prepared for a few tight spaces.

Around Jerusalem.

One site I recommend you put on your ‘must-see, no compromises’ list is the Judean Wilderness . There are a couple of lookout points that are frequented by tourists. It doesn’t matter which one you choose. What you’ll see is miles and miles of untamed wilderness. The exact same wilderness Abraham, David, and Jesus saw.

Some tours skip the lookout points because they can be a bit of a detour. If it’s not on your itinerary and you have a day off in Jerusalem, I recommend finding a way to get out there. The lookouts aren’t far. The whole trip might take an hour or two at most. Your quiet time with God will thank you.

Bethlehem is a bit of a dump these days, but it’s a must-see for any Holy Land tour. You’ll stop at the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherds Field . Both have some kind of claim as the birthplace of Jesus. Beware of the so-called ‘tour guides’ that will bombard you at the Church of the Nativity. They aren’t tour guides, nor is the price worth it.

What you’ll probably miss around Jerusalem.

The Herodian is a palace complex built into a hill. Although Herod was a horrible person, one of the things he did was commission several epic engineering projects. The Temple rebuild was one; another was the port at Caesarea. For the Herodian, his engineers carved out the center of a hill and constructed a fortified compound inside.  

Herod knew he was not liked. So, he built several fortified palace compounds where he could escape to during a revolt. The Herodian is replete with all the amenities a rich ruler could want. Including a small theater so he could entertain his Roman guests.

The Rift valley.

The journey east can often be accomplished in a day if done right. The sites you’ll visit are the 1) dig site at Jericho, 2) Qumran, 3) the Dead Sea, and 4) Masada.

Also known as Tell es-Sultan, Archaeologists first dug the ancient city of Jericho up in the 1800s. In the 1950s, Kathleen Kenyon uncovered a great amount of detail, including the Tower of Jericho.

Qumran is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were unearthed in 1948. To date, ten caves have been discovered. The Essenes were a monastic culture that lived and worked at Qumran. They maintained strict rules making new copies of scrolls and properly disposing of old ones.

The Dead Sea needs no introduction. Every tour stops at one of the many tourist swimming spots. Make sure to have your suit and your sandals ready to go. Most places will have gift shops where you can buy Dead Sea mineral lotions as well.

Masada is a mountain fortress built by Herod’s engineers for him. The compound sits on top of a mesa overlooking the Dead Sea. The engineers designed it to be self-sustaining. An intricate labyrinth of gutters and cisterns replenish and hold water year-round. It even had fields for growing crops and tending to farm animals. In 73 CE, a small band of Jewish rebels led by Josephus barricaded themselves on top.

For nine months, the Tenth Roman Legion laid siege to Masada. Jewish slaves built a ramp to the top. Twigs, branches, and grass matting were used to create stabilizing layers as dirt piled up. The weaved vegetation gave structure to the ramp and made it sturdy. The ramp still exists today. If the bus drops you off on the west side of the park, you get to walk up the ramp!

What you’ll probably miss in the Rift Valley.

Ein Gedi ( 1 Samuel 24 ) is where David and his band of marauders hid from Saul. We don’t know which cave David hid from Saul in. Today, there is a tourist stop where travelers and city dwellers can cool off in the natural springs. A trail leads from the main pools into a ravine. It’s a short little hike and can give you a great idea for how David and his men possibly lived during exile.

Final Thoughts.

The list above is not exhaustive by any means. And I didn’t even get to Southern Israel or Samaria. Both areas have interesting and significant sites you should see someday.

It’s probably a good idea for you to set some expectations for your tour right now.

If you think this is all you’re going to get, focus on the experience over the site list. Make sure you get a good group leader and group. Any tour with a good leader will make sure you hit the good sites.

The desire to go on a tour of the Holy Land is a great desire to have. Whether this trip will be your only trip or the first or one of many, God has you on the right path. Like the debates about where the pile of rocks should go, you don’t need a hard point to interact with God. he will meet you wherever and whenever He wants. He may even wait until you’re home to have that interaction.

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Holy road trip: US landmarks show the miracles and majesty of Catholicism

With a copper spire that soars nearly 300 feet skyward, this French Gothic cathedral is an architectural wonder. The impressive 45,000 square-foot-edifice – featuring 23 altars, elaborate hand-carved wooden decorations and German-imported stained-glass windows – could be one of the great churches of Europe.   

It's not. It's the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark .  

The New Jersey showpiece is one of hundreds of intriguing holy sites around the country featured in the recently published, "Monuments, Marvels and Miracles: A Traveler's Guide to Catholic America," (Our Sunday Visitor, 2021).

Americans   who want to explore the monuments of Catholicism need not travel overseas to embark on a pilgrimage; they can just grab the car keys, says author Marion Amberg.

"The purpose of this book was to get people on the road to holy sites right here at home. You don't have to go to Rome," she said. 

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Amberg, a Santa Fe, New Mexico-based travel writer who grew up Catholic, hopes to offer believers a new way to explore America's Catholic gems – more than   500 of them – which she collected and organized according to region.  

Among her personal favorites, she said, is Assumption Chapel in Cold Spring, Minnesota , also called the Grasshopper Chapel. The chapel was constructed in 1877 at the height of the three-year locust plague that was destroying the wheat fields in the Midwest. Father Leo Winter, a newly ordained minister at the time, encouraged people to pray to the Virgin Mary and asked settlers to build a frame chapel honoring "Maria Hilf" which means Mary's Help, to avert the plague.

"Days after it was dedicated, the grasshoppers disappeared and never returned," Amberg said in a recent interview with The Record, which is part of the USA TODAY Network.   

During her 13 months of research for this project, she developed a new appreciation for prayer when she discovered that three parishes – in Colwich, Kansas; Windthorst, Texas; and Atlanta – had recited the rosary every day during World War II. In each one, every member who was serving in the military returned home safely, Amberg said.

"It demonstrates the power of prayer," she said. 

One of the most inspiring sites, she said, is the Four Chaplains Monument in Kearny, New Jersey. The memorial pays homage to the clerics who gave away their life vests to four sailors on the SS Dorchester when the ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1943.

"It makes you wonder, 'would I have had the guts and faith to do what they did?'" she said, adding that the men gave their lives so the others could live. "You have a Methodist, (George Fox) a rabbi (Alexander Goode), a Dutch Reformed minister (Clark Poling), and a Catholic priest (John Washington). Those four guys got along and respected each other. I love that. The sculpture shows the four chaplains praying in their respective traditions."  

Of the 904 men aboard the ship, only 230 survived. Eyewitnesses recall that the last anyone saw of the chaplains was that they stood against the ship's railing, arms linked and praying as they went down with the ship.  

Many of the sites have awe inspiring stories behind them.

When a fire destroyed the interior of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1895, all that was left behind was a large wooden crucifix that had been hanging above the main alter. The "miraculous crucifix" has since been revered by generations of parishioners and is now enshrined in a side altar of the church.

Couples struggling with fertility issues often visit the National Shrine of St. Gerard Majella at St. Lucy's Church in Newark  for a blessing from Saint Gerard, the patron of unborn children, for a miracle baby. And women who have difficult pregnancies seek relief with "holy hankies" handkerchiefs touched to a relic of Saint Gerard. Murals in the shrine chapel depict the saint's life in this historic church built by Italians and Sicilians in the 1920s.  

The book also contains Catholic sites around the nation that are picturesque as well as oddities, including the  Christ of the Abyss,  a nearly 9-foot-tall, 2-ton bronze statute of Jesus that was submerged in 25 feet of water at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Florida . The sculpture draws scuba divers and snorkelers who come to explore it close up.

The Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut, is a lavish Nativity scene dating to the 18th century that is believed to have been a gift to the King of Sardinia for his coronation in 1720. The collection, located in a monastery of Benedictine nuns, includes 68 hand carved figures who are dressed in typical New England garb. 

Built to resemble the cloisters of medieval Europe, The Cloisters in Manhattan  is a picturesque museum overlooking the Hudson River that will transport visitors back to the middle ages. A branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it contains medieval gardens, and several chapels along with an impressive collection of over 5,000 works of art and architecture. 

America's oldest church is French : St Joan of Arc Chapel in Milwaukee  dates to the 15th century, and was in Chasse, France. According to the legend, Saint Joan of Arc visited and prayed at the altar in 1429 before heading to war. After World War I, an architect discovered the chapel and transferred it to New York, where it was purchased by a railroad baron's daughter who lived in a French chateau on Long Island. When a 1962 fire gutted the chateau but miraculously spared the chapel, the new owners donated the gem to Marquette University in Milwaukee. 

The book was scheduled to be published in 2020, but then the pandemic hit, and it had to be pushed back, Amberg   said.

"The timing was providential because people are ready to have a new adventure but don't want to go to Europe yet," Amberg said. "This book is taking them on adventures all across America."

Those who opt to remain home can learn a lot about Catholicism just from reading the book, or they can virtually explore the sites because each entry has a link to a website, she said. 

Amberg, who loves traveling, said she often combines pilgrimage with her family vacations.

"Visiting churches allows us to see the American melting pot," she said. " We can learn the faith stories of all the various cultures that make up our nation." 

America, she tells readers in the introduction of her book, "has faith all around us." 

It can be found, she says, "in grand cathedrals and tiny chapels, in miracle shrines and underwater statutes and even in blessed dirt."

Deena Yellin covers religion for NorthJersey.com. Email:  [email protected]  | Twitter:  @deenayellin  

40 Must-See Holy Sites in Israel and the West Bank

By: Author Milijana

Posted on Published: November 10, 2018  - Last updated: March 31, 2024

Categories ISRAEL , MIDDLE EAST , SPIRITUAL TRAVEL

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A complete guide to popular holy sites in Israel and the West Bank. Traveling to Israel and the West Bank, but not visiting religious places of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity means not trying to understand the cultures and beliefs of people inhabiting this area and far.  Religious, spiritual, or simply curious about other cultures and respectful of their beliefs, here is a recommended list of the most important religious sites In Israel and the West Bank and the most popular holy sites in Israel and the West Bank. The list covers sacred places of four monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Bahai’s Faith. It sums up holy places of Judaism, holy places of Christianity, holy places of Islam, and holy places of Bahai Faith in Israel and the West Bank.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. PLEASE READ MY  DISCLAIMER  FOR MORE INFO. 

RELIGIONS OF ISRAEL AND THE WEST BANK 

Today Christianity is the biggest religion in the world with about 2.1 billion followers worldwide.

Islam is the second-largest religion with over 1.8 billion followers. Judaism has about 13 million followers and the Bahai Faith has about 7 million followers worldwide.

To summarize, that’s more than 4 billion people.

4 billion people, out of the estimated 7.5 billion people on the Earth. What do those 4 billion people have in common?

Holy places in one country, today called Israel .

Israel and the West Bank cover the largest part of the biblical Holy Land, while a few sites are in Jordan and Egypt ( Sinai mountain ).

Speaking of religions in Israel, today about 75% of the population of Israel are followers of Judaism, about 18% are followers of Islam, 2% are Christians and about 1.6% are Druze (an Islamic sect). Regarding the main religions in the West Bank, about 75% of the West Bank’s population are followers of Islam, about 17% are followers of Judaism and 8% are followers of Christianity.

Holy sites in Israel and P alestine

Recommended Holy Land tour: 8 Days in the Holy Land for Catholics (Viator)

1.1 Temple Mount or Haram Al-Sharif

1.2 dome of the rock, 1.3 al-aqsa mosque, 1.4 the western wall or the buraq wall, 1.5 church of the holy sepulchre, 1.6. via dolorosa, 1.7 king david’s tomb, 1.8 last supper room, 1.9 church of dormition, 1.10 dome of ascension, 1.11 church of saint mark, 1.12 mount of olives, 1.13 garden of gethsemane, 1.14 church of all nations, 1.15 tomb of the prophets, 2.1 church of the nativity and the grotto of the nativity, 2.2 church of st catherine, 2.3 milk grotto, 2.4 tomb of rachel, 3.1 basilica of the annunciation, 3.2 church of st joseph, 3.3 synagogue church, 3.4 mary’s well, 3.5 church of the transfiguration, 4.1 tombs of the patriarchs and matriarchs, 5.1 mount of beatitudes, 5.3 capernaum, 5.4 jesus trail, 5.6 qasr el yahud – the jesus’ baptism site on the river jordan, 6.1 muhraka monastery, 6.2 stella maris monastery and elijah’s cave, 6.3 shrine of the bab and the bahai’s garden, 7.1 house of abbud, 7.2 bahji mansion and shrine of baha-ullah, 8.1 tomb of rabbi shimon bar yochai, 8.2 haari ashkenazi synagogue, 8.3 sephardic harri synagogue, 8.4 abuhav synagogue, map of holy sites in the holy land.

• Why is Jerusalem a holy city?
• Why is Jerusalem important?

Why is Jerusalem important to Jews? 

• Why is Jerusalem important to Christians?
• Why is Jerusalem important to Muslims?

RECOMMENDED READ

40 popular holy sites in israel and the west bank.

The following list of popular holy sites in Israel and the West Bank covers the most important holy sites of Judaism , holy sites of Christianity , holy sites of Islam , and holy sites of Bahai’s Faith .

The list wraps up 40 sacred places in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Hebron, the Sea of Galilee, Haifa, Acre (Akko), and Safed.

The collection of 40 sacred places in Israel and the West Bank starts with the holiest city in the world – Jerusalem.

1. Holy Sites in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, meaning ‘the City of Peace’ in Hebrew, is called the holiest city in the world. Jerusalem is a holy city of 3 major monotheistic religions and the oldest monotheistic religions in the world. Jerusalem is a holy city for Muslims, Jews, and Christians. As such, Jerusalem holds a striking number of holy sites in Israel. Jerusalem is one of the most sacred places in the world, if not the most sacred place in the world.

The Old City of Jerusalem is divided into 4 quarters: the Muslim quarter, the Christian quarter, the Jewish quarter, and the Armenian quarter. Present-day Jerusalem holds about 1.200 Jewish synagogues, about 150 Christian churches, and more than 70 Muslim mosques.

To briefly outline the history of Jerusalem, let me say that the official history of Jerusalem starts in 1.000 BC when King David made Jerusalem the capital of the Kingdom of Israel. After that Jerusalem was conquered many times and ruled by Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Syrians, Romans, Muslims, Crusaders, Egyptian Mamelukes, Ottoman Turks, and Brits, partially by Jordanians and now Israelis and partially by Palestinians.

Knowing the history of Jerusalem, historical places in Jerusalem, and sacred sites in Jerusalem, it’s quite obvious why Jerusalem is a holy city of Islam, a holy city of Judaism, and a holy city of Christianity. Even more, Jerusalem is the holiest city of Judaism, the holiest city of Christianity, and one of the 3 major Islamic holy cities. Therefore, it’s not surprising that a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Jerusalem is on the wish list of many believers.

The most important sacred sites in Jerusalem are the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif), Dome of the Rock, Al Aqsa mosque , Western Wall (Buraq Wall), Church of Holy Sepulcher , Via Dolorosa , King David’s Tomb , Last Supper Room , Church of Dormition , Dome of Ascension, Church of St Mark , Mount of Olives , Garden of Gethsemane , Church of All Nations , and Tomb of the Prophets .

But, three major holy sites in Jerusalem and famous landmarks in Jerusalem are the Temple Mount (with Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosque ), the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The Temple Moun t (with Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosque ), the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchr e in Jerusalem are considered the holiest places in Israel and some of the holiest places in the World.

Holy Sites in Jerusalem:

What is the Temple Mount?

The TEMPLE MOUNT, also called HARAM AL-SHARIF which means the NOBLE SANCTUARY, is a plateau in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Temple Mount is considered to be the holiest place in Jerusalem and a place of huge importance to today’s 3 main religions in the World: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.

Why is the Temple Mount important?   Why is the Temple Mount a source of argument?

The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism. It is the site where King Solomon’s First Temple stood once.

But, for Muslims, the Temple Mount is Haram Al-Sharif (or the Noble Sanctuary), the site where Prophet Muhammed ascended to Heaven from the Earth on a winged horse during his Night Journey.

Haram Al-Sharif is the 3rd holiest place in Islam, after Mecca and Medina, and a place of Islamic worship. Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, and Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem are the most important holy sites of Islam. On that account, major Islamic holy cities are Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem.

Why is the Temple Mount important to Judaism? 

For Jews, the Temple Mount is the site where the First Temple or the Great Temple of Jerusalem built by King Solomon stood. The temple held the Ark of the Convent with the Ten Commandments.

The Temple Mount is believed to be the place of the Biblical Mount Moriah with the sacred rock on which Abraham planned to sacrifice his son Isaac to God. The Temple Mountain is the holiest site in Judaism holding the Foundation Stone where Earth was created. It is a Jewish place of worship.

Why is the Temple Mount important to Christianity? 

The Temple Mount is also a sacred place of Christianity.  For Christians, this is the place where Jesus as a baby was first presented to God, and where he was praying and preaching to his disciples daily.

Jesus as a child impressed the Jewish teachers with his knowledge at that time synagogue on the Temple Mount. Jesus in anger overturned the tables of moneychangers in front of the synagogue (temple) on the Temple Mount.

The TEMPLE MOUNT holds another two important religious sites in Jerusalem and Jerusalem landmarks: the DOME OF THE ROCK and AL-AQSA  MOSQUE .

The Dome of the Rock is a Jerusalem landmark that dominates the architecture of Jerusalem. Thus, when you see postcards from Jerusalem most likely you see the golden cupola of the Dome of the Rock.

What is the Dome of the Rock? Why is the Dome of the Rock important?

The Dome of the Rock is a Muslim shrine in Jerusalem built on the Temple Mount or the Noble Sanctuary.

Why is the Dome of the Rock important to Islam​?

The Dome of the Rock is built over the sacred stone where the Prophet Muhammed ascended to Heaven from the Earth on a winged horse during his Night Journey.

Thus, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is one of the most important Islamic holy sites in the world.

Why is the Dome of the Rock important to Judaism​?​

According to Jewish beliefs, this is the very same rock on which Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son to God and the rock in the center of Solomon’s Temple.

Therefore, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is one of the most important Judaism holy sites.

Why is the Dome of the Rock important to Christianity?

Abraham is highly praised by all Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.

In short, all Abrahamic religions come from Abraham’s family tree.

So, the Temple Mount has been a Christian pilgrimage site for centuries as well.  Furthermore, in medieval times during the conflict between Christians and Muslims, when a Fatimid Caliph ordered the destruction of the Church of Holy Sepulchre (the church where Jesus was crucified and buried), the Crusaders took the Dome of the Rock and turned it into a church called ‘Templum Domini’ or ‘Temple of the Lord’.

Al Aqsa mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and one of Jerusalem’s most famous places.

The Al Aqsa mosque stands on Haram-Al Sharif (or, the Temple Mount) compound in Jerusalem.

While the Dome of the Rock was built around 690 AD, the Al-Aqsa mosque was built 20 years later around 710 AD.

In the 11th century during the Crusaders’ times, Crusader kings converted the Al-Aqsa mosque into a royal palace. In the 12th century, it became the headquarters of the Knights of Templar. Sultan Saladin took it in the 12th century, followed by Mamluks in the mid-14th century.

Today Muslims or more precisely the Waqf (the Supreme Muslim Religious Council ) manage the Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque, while the City of Jerusalem is under Israeli governance.

The entrance to Temple Mountain for non-Muslims is from the wooden Mughrabi Bridge next to the Western Wall.

Opening times: 7:30 am -11 am, and 1:30 pm- 2:30 pm (closed on Fri and Sat to non-Muslims)

The WAILING WALL, or the Western Wall or Kotel HaMa’aravi in Hebrew, is the last remaining wall of the Temple Mount where once the ancient Solomon’s Temple of Jerusalem and where the Holy of Holies – the Gate to Haven stood. The Holy of the Holies is the most sacred site in Judaism. Therefore, the Western Wall in Jerusalem is one of the most popular holy sites in Israel.

There are separate prayer sites for men and women on the Western Wall. The left side of the wall is reserved for men’s praying and the right side for women. According to tradition, prayers put their prayer notes in the cracks between the rocks. The Western Wall is the Buraq Wall for Muslims. The Buraq Wall is the site where Prophet Muhammad tied his horse Burqa on the Night Journey to Jerusalem. On that account, this site is one of Islam’s sacred sites and one of the most important Islamic holy places.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is the most important and holiest Christian site in the world. It is the holiest place in Christianity where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is one of the most popular holy sites in Israel and one of the most famous sacred sites in the world.

Where is Jesus buried? Where is Jesus’ tomb?

The tomb of Jesus is in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. 

Furthermore, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem holds the STONE OF ANOINTING (also called the STONE OF UNCTION), the GOLGOTHA HILL (also called the CALVARY, or the PLACE OF THE SKULL) where Jesus was crucified, the AEDICULE CHAPEL (the Mausoleum) with the TOMB OF JESUS and the ANGEL STONE, the stone door which was used to close the tomb of Jesus. For that, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is the holiest site in Christianity. For centuries six Christian denominations share the church: the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Ethiopian, Coptic, and Syriac Orthodox, while a Muslim family keeps the key to the church.

Opening hours: 5 am – 8 pm (summer), and 4 am-7 pm (winter)

WAY OF SORROWS  or VIA DOLOROSA in Jerusalem marks a 500 m-long route of suffering Jesus Christ on his way to crucifixion. Undeniably, the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem is one of the most famous holy places in Jerusalem and the most popular holy sites in Israel. Walking Via Dolorosa is among the most popular things to do in the Holy Land for Christians. And, Jerusalem Old City walking tours are some of the best Jerusalem tours . 14 Stations of the Cross start with the first station in the courtyard of Al-Omariya School for boys in Jerusalem (close to the Lion’s Gate in Jerusalem) and finish with the last 4 stations in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The biggest part of the Via Dolorosa is in the Muslim Quarter, while the smaller part is in the Christian Quarter in Jerusalem. On Good Friday the Christian procession goes via Via Dolorosa which is accompanied by Muslim guards in Ottoman uniforms marking their authority.

The TOMB OF KING DAVID is one of the most important Judaism places of worship and holy sites in Jerusalem. It is a Jewish holy place on Mount Zion, located just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem in the Armenian quarter. King David was the second king of the ancient Kingdom of Israel and was highly praised in the Old Testament. The Tomb of King David in Jerusalem is a Jewish holy place of worship and one of the most popular holy sites in Israel.

The Room of Jesus’ Last Supper, one of the most important holy sites of Christianity is just above the room with the tomb of King David.

Opening hours of the Tomb of King David in Jerusalem: 8 am-5 pm (Sat – Thu), 8 am-1 pm (Fri)

The list of Christian sites in Jerusalem goes on with the ROOM OF THE LAST SUPPER which is located on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The Room of the Last Supper also called the CENACLE ROOM, is one of the most popular holy sites in Israel for Christians. This is a holy site of Christianity as this is the room of the Last Supper where Jesus washed their feet to His apostles and shared His last meal with them the night before He died and the night when He instituted the Eucharist. This is also the place where the Holy Spirit came on the apostles on Pentecost. The Last Supper Room is also known as the UPPER ROOM since it is located in an upper room in the King David’s Tomb compound.

Opening hours of the Room of Last Supper Room in Jerusalem: 8 am – 5 pm (Sat Thu), 8 am-1 pm (Fri)

The Church of Dormition stands on the top of Mount Zion in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is another important sacred site of Christianity as it is believed to be the place where the Virgin Mary fell asleep and died.

Opening times: 8:30 am-11.45 am, 12:40 pm-5:30 pm, (Mon-Fri); 8:30 am-11.45 am, 12:40 pm-2:45 pm, 3:30 pm-5:30 pm  (Mon); 10:30 am-11:45 am, 12:30 pm-5.30 pm (Sun)

The Dome of Ascension in Jerusalem is another popular holy site in Israel. It is one of the sacred sites of Christianity but also one of the sacred sites of Islam. It is a Christian sacred site and a sacred site of Islam on Mount Zion. This is the place where Jesus ascended to Heaven. The shrine has been a part of a mosque since the 12th century when Sultan Saladin defeated the Crusaders. Since Muslims believe also in the Ascension of Jesus Christ, the church was converted into a mosque. Ergo, it is one of the sacred places of Islam as well. Christians are allowed to celebrate the Ascension here on the Ascension Feast Day.

The Church of St Mark is a Syriac Orthodox church in the Armenian quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. Syriac Christians were the first people who adopted Christianity as indigenous people of the Holy Land.

Syriac is the Aramaic dialect Jesus spoke. The oldest surviving liturgy in Christianity is served in Syriac.

Syriac Orthodox Church is an Oriental Orthodox church that is autonomous and doesn’t belong either to Rome or Constantinople.

The Church of St Mark is one of the most beautiful churches I have seen in Jerusalem and one of Jerusalem’s religious sites that shouldn’t be missed out in Israel.

Opening times: 9 am-5 pm (Apr-Sep); 7 am-4 pm (Oct-Mar); 11 am-4 pm (Sun)

The MOUNT OF OLIVES is a Christian holy place and a Jewish holy site. According to the Old Testament, King David ran away from the Mount of Olives when his son rebelled. For Jewish believers, the Messiah will descend on the Mount of Olives and enter Jerusalem through the Golden Gate on Judgment Day.

Christians believe that Jesus went from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Also according to the New Testament, Jesus was arrested on the Mount of Olives.

The GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE is another holy site of Christianity in Jerusalem. It is the garden on the foot of the Mount of Olives where Jesus prayed the night before he was arrested and crucified.

The Church of All Nations, also called the Basilica of Agony, is located in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Garden of Gethsemane and the Basilica of Agony are Christianity’s sacred places.

The BASILICA OF AGONY, or the Church of All Nations, is a church just next to the olives of the Garden of Gethsemane. It is another holy place of Christianity and one of the important holy sites of Jerusalem. The basilica was built over the rock where Jesus prayed in agony before he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot. A pair of thornbirds on the Rock of Jesus Agony symbolize souls who want to share Christ’s Passion. Opening time: 8 am – 12 pm, 2 pm – 6 pm (or 2 pm – 5 pm in winter)

The TOMB OF THE PROPHETS  on the Mount of Olives is again one of those holy sites in Jerusalem that is a Christian holy place and a holy place of Judaism as well.

The Tomb of the Prophets is a catacomb with the tombs of Biblical prophets Zechariah, Malachi, and Haggai. If you are looking for the tomb of Old Testament prophets, the Tomb of the Prophets on the Mount of Olives is the place to visit. Opening hours of the Tomb of the Prophets: 9 am-3 pm (Fri, Sat, Sun closed)

Plan your trip to Jerusalem Book your stay at Chain Gate Hostel, or Stay Inn Hostel (budget) Jerusalem Hotel (mid-range) The Sephardic House Hotel in the Jewish quarter (luxury) Check out the most popular tours in Jerusalem Jerusalem Walking Tour: In the Footsteps of Jesus (the most popular tour) Old Jerusalem Full-Day Tour

What are the most important holy sites in Jerusalem?

The most important sacred sites in Jerusalem are the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif), Dome of the Rock, Al Aqsa mosque, Western Wall (Buraq Wall), Church of Holy Sepulcher, Via Dolorosa, King David’s Tomb, Last Supper Room, Church of Dormition, Dome of Ascension, Church of St Mark, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Church of All Nations, and Tomb of the Prophets.

But, 3 major holy sites in Jerusalem and famous landmarks of Jerusalem are the Temple Mount (with Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosque ), the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

What are the holiest places in Israel?

The Temple Moun t (with Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosque ), the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchr e in Jerusalem are considered as the holiest places in Israel and some of the holiest places in the World.

2. Holy Sites in Bethlehem

The City of Bethlehem in the West Bank is located only 9 km south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem in Hebrew means ‘the City of Bread’.  Bethlehem is a holy city holding several important sacred places of Christianity, sacred places of Islam, and sacred sites of Judaism. Bethlehem is one of the most important holy cities of Christianity since it is the birthtown of Jesus Christ. Since Jesus is a prophet for Muslims, Bethlehem is also a holy city of Islam. But Bethlehem is also the birthtown of King David, the Israeli’s second king, and therefore a sacred place of Judaism. Jerusalem and Bethlehem are the most important two holy cities for Christianity. For Christianity, holy sites in Bethlehem are the Church of the Nativity, Church of St Catherine, Milk Grotto, and Tomb of Rachel (near Bethlehem).

If you want to see the place where Jesus was born, you should head to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY in Bethlehem was built over the grotto where the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus. To enter the church the visitors need to go through small and narrow doors and bow themselves in the respect of the place where God humbled Himself and became a human. Small steps in the church lead down to the GROTTO OF NATIVITY.

The church is run by 3 Christian denominations: the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Catholic Churches. The biggest part of the church is run by the Greek Orthodox Church and smaller parts by the Armenian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. Thus, Christmas in the Church of Nativity is celebrated in line with the Julian Calendar on 7 January, not on 25 December. UNESCO listed Bethlehems Church of the Nativity as a World Heritage Site.

Opening hours of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem: 6:30 am – 7:30 pm (Apr-Sept), 5:30 am – 5 pm (Oct-Mar); the Grotto is closed on Sundays

The Church of St Catherine is a Catholic church adjacent to the Nativity Church in Bethlehem. St. Catherine of Alexandria was an advocate of Christianity who was beheaded by Emperor Maximian for her faith in the 4th century. On 25 December the Christmas Mass is celebrated and broadcast worldwide from the Church of St Catherine, not from the Nativity Church.

Opening times: 6 am-7:30 pm (Apr-Sep), 5:30 am-5 pm (Oct-Mar)

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO READ:  Climbing Mount Sinai in Egypt 

The Milk Grotto in Bethlehem is a sacred place for Muslims and Christians.

According to the legend, Mary and Joseph stopped in the cave, above which now a chapel stands while running away from the Roman soldiers to Egypt. While nursing baby Jesus, a drop of Mary’s milk dropped down onto the stone which became white.

This is a Christian pilgrimage site for women who want to conceive.

Opening hours: 8 am-5 pm (Sun closed from 1 pm-2 pm)

Plan your trip to Bethlehem Book your stay at The Walled Off Hotel (mid-range) Dar Sitti Aziza (luxury) Or join a day tour to Bethlehem from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv Bethlehem and Jerusalem Day Biblical Tour from Tel Aviv (Viator) or Day Tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem from Tel Aviv (Viator; the most popular) Bethlehem Half-Day Tour from Jerusalem (Get Your Guide) or Bethlehem and Jerusalem Day Trip from Tel Aviv (Get Your Guide; the most popular)

The Tomb of Rachel is the burial site of Rachel, who was the wife of patriarch Jacob and who died while giving birth to son Benjamin.

The Tomb of Rachel is a Jewish, Christian, and Muslim pilgrim site. Biblical Rachel was childless for many years but eventually gave birth to her sons Joseph and Benjamin. Sadly, she died while giving birth to the latter. Therefore, the Tomb of Rachel is a pilgrimage site on the West Bank, especially for women who want to conceive.

The tomb of Rachel is in the north of Bethlehem, on the road Jerusalem-Bethlehem. It can be accessed only from the Jerusalem side.

3. Holy Sites in Nazareth

Nazareth is one of the most important Biblical places in Israel and religious places in Israel. Nazareth is a Christian pilgrim city where the Holy Family (Mary, Joseph, and Jesus) lived after coming back from Egypt.

There are several Christian holy sites in Nazareth and thus, several popular holy sites in Israel.

The Basilica of the Annunciation is made over the cave which is believed to be once the home of the Virgin Mary and the place where the angel Gabriel appeared to announce her giving birth to Jesus. It is one of the most important sacred places in Christianity.

The Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth is the largest Christian church in the Middle East.

Opening times: 8 am-6 pm

Next to the Basilica of the Annunciation stands the Church of St Joseph which is a sacred place in Christianity. The Church was built over a cave which is believed to be the carpentry workshop of St Joseph.

Opening hours of St Joseph Church in Nazareth: 8 am-6 pm

East of the St Joseph Church in Nazareth you can find another holy place of Christians – the Synagogue Church. The Synagogue Church in Nazareth is a Melkite Greek Catholic church. Melkite is a Greek word for the carpenter.

Opening hours of the Synagogue Church in Nazareth: 8 am-5 pm (Apr-Sep),  8 am-4 pm (Oct-Mar); Sun closed 

The Mary’s Well is actually a public fountain and is believed to be an ancient well fed by Mary’s Spring. The Mary’s Well is close to the Orthodox Church of St Gabriel with an altar under which Mary’s Spring flows. Orthodox Christians believe that Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary at the place where today is St Gabriel Church, not the Basilica of Annunciation. Opening hours of St Gabriel Greek Orthodox church in Nazareth: 8 am-12 pm, 1 pm-5 pm

Plan your trip to Nazareth Book your stay at: Michel House (mid-range)  Al Bishara Guest House (luxury) Or, take a day tour to Bethlehem from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem Nazareth, Tiberias, and the Sea of Galilee Day Trip from Tel Aviv (Viator) Nazareth, Tiberias & Sea of Galilee Day Trip from Tel Aviv (Get Your Guide) Nazareth, Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee Day Trip from Jerusalem (Viator) Nazareth, Tiberias & Sea of Galilee Day Trip from Jerusalem (Get Your Guide)

7 km east of Nazareth, there is a Christan religious site on Mount Tabor in Galilee which is believed to be the place of Jesus’ transfiguration.

Mount Tabor is a special holy place in Israel where the connection between humanity and the divine is visible in the sublime nature of Mount Tabor best experienced by hiking the mount. The elegant Church of the Transfiguration stands on Mount Tabor since the beginning of the 20th century. The church was designed by Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi who also designed, among others, the church on the Mount of Beatitudes and the Church of All Nations in the Gethsemane Garden.

Opening hours of the Church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor: 8 am-12 pm, 2 pm-5 pm

4. Holy sites in Hebron

Ancient Hebron was one of the holiest cities of the Holy Land.

Hebron is a holy city of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The holy city of Hebron is the 5th holiest city in Islam, the 2nd holiest city in Judaism, and a holy city in Christianity.

The Tombs of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs in Hebron is a sacred site to all Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

It is the burial site of three prophets and their wives – three biblical couples: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebeckah, and Jacob and Leah. Abraham bought this property with the Cave of Machpelah – Cave of the Double Tombs about 2,000 BC as the burial place for his wife Sarah and himself.

It is also called the Sanctuary of Abraham or Ibrahimi Mosque by Muslims. The Tombs of the Patriarchs in Hebron is the 2nd holiest site in Judaism, after the Western Wall. It is also a sacred site for Christians. To Muslims who refer Abraham to be a prophet of God, the Cave of Machpelah is the fourth holiest site in the World. This over 2000-year-old complex with the tombs of the prophets looks like a walled fortress. Herod the Great built the complex with an open roof to the sky. The complex is divided into 3 sections. Each section holds the cenotaphs of a prophet and a wife. Actual graves are in the caves beneath the cenotaphs.

The complex today is divided into two sides: a Muslim side with a mosque and a Jewish side with a synagogue. The mosque holds the cenotaphs of Abraham and Sarah, and Isaac and Rebekah. The synagogue holds the cenotaphs of Jacob and Leah, although all cenotaphs can be seen from each side through small openings.

Jewish people are not allowed to enter the mosque side while Muslims are not allowed to access the synagogue side, except on a mutually agreed few days a year.

As a Christian, I was allowed to enter both sides. And although I hadn’t initially planned to visit Hebron in my Israel and the West Bank itinerary , Hebron became one of the highlights of my trip. I came to the Tomb of the Patrichas and Matriarchs compound just before the afternoon prayers started. I visited the mosque part first, and then the synagogue part. I stood in the compound listening to the simultaneous prayers of a rabbi and an imman. They were praying to God, the God of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and their descendants (all of us!).

2017 UNESCO declared Hebron and the Tombs of the Patriarchs a World Heritage Site . Opening hours of the Tombs of the Patriarchs in Hebron: 7:30 am-11:30 am, 1 pm-2:30 pm, 3:30 pm-5 pm (Muslim side closed on Fri, Jewish side closed on Sat)

Plan your trip to Hebron Take a day tour to Hebron from Jerusalem: Hebron Day Tour From Jerusalem

5. Holy sites in the Sea of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee is an important Christian site where according to the Holy Bible Jesus calmed the water and asked Peter, James, John, and Andrew to follow Him.

Lake Kinneret is the Biblical site where Jesus walked on the water. So please head to the Sea of Galilee, if you are after the Biblical place where the ‘ Jesus walking on water ‘ story took place.

The Sea of Galilee area holds an impressive number of Biblical sites in Israel, religious sites in Israel, and popular holy sites in Israel. But, Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee is also one of the main holy cities of Judaism as well.

The Mount of Beatitudes is a hill on the northwestern part of the Sea Galilee where Jesus is believed to have taught the Seron of the Mount, including the Beatitudes. Today a Roman Catholic church stands at the top of the Mount of Beatitudes.

Opening hours of the Church of the Mount of Beatitudes: 8:30 am-12 pm, 2:30 pm-5 pm (2:30 pm-4 pm winter)

Tabgha stands at the foot of the Mount of Beatitudes and is only 3 km southwest of Capernaum.

It is a Christian sacred site. It is believed to be the Biblical place where Jesus made the Miracle of the Multiplication – where Jesus fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Thus, Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee is Christianity’s holy site.

Opening hours of the Tabgha: 8 am-5 pm (Mon Fri), 8 am-4 pm (Sat), Sun closed 

Capernaum is the hometown of Jesus’ miracles and the hometown of His first apostles: the fishermen Peter, Andrew, James, and John, and the tax collector Mathew. Therefore, Capernaum on the shore of the Sea of Galilee is one of the most popular holy sites in Israel. Today beautiful Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostles stands on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in ancient Capernaum. Opening hours of the Church of the Holy Apostles: 10 am-4:30 pm (summer), 10 am-5:30 pm (winter)

What about walking with Jesus in Israel?! Jesus Trail is a 65 km long pilgrim route in Galilee following the footsteps of Jesus Christ. The Jesus trail covers several of Christian’s sacred places and popular holy sites in Israel . The Jesus Trail route starts in Nazareth and goes through Cana, the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Tabgha, and the Mount of Beatitudes. The Jesus trial lasts 4 days. If you wish to trek several historical sites in Israel where Jesus walked and to follow Jesus’ walks, this trail is for you.

Plan your trip to Tiberias Book your stay in Tiberias: click here to get the best rates for your stay in Tiberias .

This is the place where Jesus was baptized by St John the Baptist on the western bank of the River Jordan in the Palestinian territories. In fact, the original site of the baptism of Jesus is just across this site, on the east side of the river Jordan in Jordan . The original site of Jesus’ baptism in Jordan is called Al-Maghtas. Qasr El-Yahud is a Christian, Muslim, and Jewish sacred site on the West Bank. Jewish people believe that this is the site where Israelites crossed the river Jordan and where Elijah the Prophet ascended to Heaven. That’s why this site is on the list of Judaism’s sacred places too. Opening hours of Qasr El Yahud: 8 am-4 pm (Sat-Tue), 8 am-3 pm (Fri, holidays)

Plan your visit to Jesus’ baptism site Take a day tour to Jesus’ baptism site from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem: Jordan River, Nazareth & Sea of Galilee from Tel Aviv (Get Your Guide) Bethlehem, Jericho & Jordan River – Small Group Tour from Jerusalem (Viator)

6. Holy sites in Haifa

Haifa is the third-largest city in Israel with some exquisite sacred places for Christianity, Islam, and the Bahai Faith.

The Muhraka (the Horn of Carmel ) monastery is a Carmelite monastery on the top of the Carmel mount in Haifa and the place where the prophet Elijah lived and fought the prophets of Baal.

Elijah, meaning ‘Yahweh is my God’ is a famed prophet and an important prophet for Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druze.

Mount Carmel means ‘the God’s vineyard’.

The Muhraka monastery on Mount Carmel near Haifa is a sacred place for Jews, Christians, and Muslims and one of the most popular holy sites in Israel. A Catholic religious order called the Carmelite Order was founded here more than 800 years ago.

The views over the Jezreel Valley from the monastery are nothing less than spectacular.

Opening hours of the Muhraka Monastery: Mon-Sat 8 am – 12 pm, 2:20 pm-4:30 pm (Sep-Apr), Mon-Sat 8 am-12 pm, 2:20 pm-5 pm (May -Aug), Sun closed 

The Stella Maris Monastery, or in Latin ‘the Star of the Sea’ referring to the Virgin Mary, in Haifa is the world’s headquarters of the Carmelite Catholic religious order.

The Elijah Cave stands just below the Stella Maris monastery on the foothill of Mount Carmel in Haifa. It is believed to be the cave where the prophet Elijah mediated before defeating the prophets of Baal. Elijah was God’s messenger and a famous prophet for Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druze. Therefore, the Elijah cave is one of the most sacred sites in Israel and a religious place for Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druze.

Opening hours of the Stella Maris Monastery in Haifa: 6:30 am-12.30 pm, 3 pm-6 pm

The Shrine of the Bab in Haifa is a mausoleum and the burial site of the Bab, the forerunner and the prophet of the Bahai Faith.

This is the second holiest place of the Bahai Faith, after the Shrine of Baha-Ullah in Akko.  The Shrine of the Bab, Bahais Gardens, and the Shrine of Baha-Ullah are Bahai places of worship. Bab in Arabic means the Gate. The beautiful gardens surrounding the Shrine of the Bab are well-known as the Hanging Gardens of Haifa. The Shrine of the Bab and the Bahai’s Gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Israel. The Bahai Faith is a monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century in Persia advocating the spiritual unity of humanity and the fundamental oneness of all religions. Bahai believers believe that there is only One God whose messengers were Abraham, Jesus, Buddha, and Muhammad. Bahai’s holy places in Israel are Haifa, Acre (Akko), and Bahji, near Akko.

Opening hours of the Shrine of the Bab: 9 am-12 pm Opening hours of the Hanging Gardens in Haifa:  9 am-5 pm

Plan your trip to Haifa Book your stay at: Port Inn (budget) Templers Boutique Hotel (mid-range) Schumacher Hotel Haifa (luxury) And, take a tour of Haifa Haifa and Acco Private Tour (Viator)

7. Holy sites in Akko

The Old City of Acre (Akko), popularly known as the Crusaders’ town as once it was the home of the Templars,  is one of the UNESCO sites in Israel.

The House of Abbud is a house in the center of the Old City of Akko where the founder of the Bahai Faith lived.

The Bahai Faith was founded by a man called Bahá’u’lláh, meaning the Glory of God. Baha-Ullah was Bab’s main follower. He was expelled from Teheran and lived his last 32 years in Akko. He died and was buried in Akko.

The House of Abbud is recognizable for its white-painted walls and turquoise windows. In this house, Baha-Ullah lived for a few years and composed the principles of the Bahai Faith summarized in the Bahai’s Holy book called Aqdas.

The Bahji mansion with the Shrine of Baha-Ullah is the holiest place for the Bahai Faith. 

The Shrine of Baha-Ullah holds the tomb of Baha-Ullah surrounded by beautiful Persian gardens and stands next to the Bahji mansion, which was a summer house in which Baha-Ullah spent his last years of life. The Bahji mansion is located in Bahji at the northern edge of Akko about 1.2 miles (2 km) from the center of Akko.

Opening hours of the Gardens: 9 am-4 pm  Opening hours of the Shrine and inner gardens: 9 am-12 pm (Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon)

Plan your trip to Akko Book your stay at: HI – Akko Knights Hostel (mid-range) Zidan Sarai , or The Efendi Hotel Akko (luxury) Take a day tour of Acco: Haifa and Acco Private Tour (Viator)

8. Holy sites in Safed

TZFAT or SAFED is the City of Kabbalah and it is one of the four holiest cities for Jews.

Four Jewish holy cities with holy places of Judaism are Jerusalem, Hebron, Tiberias, and Safed.  There are four main sacred places of Judaism in Safed:

The Tomb of Rabbi Shimon is the burial site of the author of the Book of Zohar (the main textbook of Kabbalah), one of the most important Judaism sacred sites in Israel and a Jewish place of worship.

The tomb is located on Mount Meron 6 miles (10 km) from Safed. Rabbi Shimon lived in the 2nd century and taught mystical Kabbalah which covers the esoteric dimension and the deepest secrets of the Torah.

Opening hours of the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai: open daily 

The Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue in Safed is the oldest synagogue still in use in Israel and is a Judaism sacred site. The synagogue was built in the 16th century in memory of Rabbi Ari, a well-known kabbalist who lived in Safed.

Opening hours of Haari Ashkenazi Synagogue in Safed: 11 am-2 pm (winter), 11 am-3:30 pm (summer), Sat closed

The Sephardic Synagogue of the Ari is the oldest synagogue in Safed. The synagogue was called ‘Elijah the Prophet’ but over time got renamed after Rabbi Ari who came to Safed in the 16th century to share his knowledge of Kabbalah.

Opening hours of Sephardic Haari Synagogue in Safed: 11 am-2 pm (winter), 11 am-3:30 pm (summer), Sat closed

According to some beliefs, the Abuhav Synagogue was miraculously transported from Spain to Safed. The Abuhav Synagogue was named after a 15th-century famous rabbi and kabbalist Abuhav.

Opening hours of the Abuhav Haari Synagogue in Safed: 11 am-2 pm (winter), 11 am-3:30 pm (summer), Sat closed

If you are planning a trip to Israel and wish to see all or some of these religious places in Israel, I suggest checking out my 10 day Israel itinerary .

I have created this Holy Land map to help you see the exact location of the popular holy sites in Israel and the West Bank. You can download the map via Google Maps and save the map on your phone or tablet. The Holy Land Map will be available to you offline on your phone or tablet. Once you are in Israel you can easily find the holy sites navigating by this map.

Map of holy sites in Israel and the West Bank for your Holy Land Pilgrimage

Why is Jerusalem a holy city ?

Jerusalem is a holy city of 3 major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jerusalem is the holiest city of Judaism, the holiest city of Christianity, and one of the 3 major Islamic holy cities (along with Mecca and Medina).

Why is Jerusalem important ?

Jerusalem is called the holiest city in the world. Jerusalem is important to all Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Jerusalem holds the Temple Mount which is considered to be the holiest place in Jerusalem. The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism where once the First Temple (or the Great Temple of Jerusalem) built by King Solomon stood. The temple held the Ark of the Convent with the Ten Commandments. But, for Muslims, the Temple Mount is Haram Al-Sharif (or the Noble Sanctuary), the site where Prophet Muhammed ascended to Heaven from the Earth on a winged horse during his Night Journey. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is the holiest Christian site in the world since it is the site where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected.

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the holiest site in Judaism where once the First Temple (or the Great Temple of Jerusalem) built by King Solomon stood . The temple held the Ark of the Convent with the Ten Commandments .

The Temple Mount is believed to be the place of the Biblical Mount Moriah with a sacred rock on which Abraham planned to sacrifice his son Isaac to God. The Temple Mountain is the holiest site in Judaism holding the Foundation Stone where Earth was created. The Wailing Wall , (or the Western Wall, Kotel HaMa’aravi  in Hebrew), is the last remaining wall of the Temple Mount where once the ancient Solomon’s Temple of Jerusalem and the Holy of Holies – the Gate to Haven stood. The Holy of the Holies is the most sacred site in Judaism.

Why is Jerusalem important to Christians ?

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is the most important and the holiest Christian site in the World where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected . The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem holds the Stone of Anointing (also called the Stone of Unction ), the Golgotha Hill (also called the Calvary , or the Place of the Skull ) where Jesus was crucified, the Aedicule Chapel (the Mausoleum) with the Tomb of Jesus and the Angel Stone (the stone door which was used to close the tomb of Jesus). For that, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is the holiest site in Christianity.

Why is Jerusalem important to Muslims ?

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is also called Haram Al-Sharif (or the Noble Sanctuary ) by Muslims. Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem is the site where Prophet Muhammed ascended to Heaven from the Earth on a winged horse during his Night Journey. Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem is the 3rd holiest place in Islam, after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina. On that account, major Islamic holy cities are Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem.

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Come and See: A Catholic Guide to the Holy Land 

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Thursday 20th of December 2018

Amazing experience Milijana, this journey to Holy Sites is so enriching. Hope to do it some time.

Carmen Edelson

Friday 16th of November 2018

There is so much to see and do in Jerusalem that it can be overwhelming. I'm glad I went with a tour group but I'd like to go again on my own.I'll certainly use this guide when I do, thank you!

There are some truly beautiful sights here. It's always amazing to remember how much the major religions of the world share, despite the differences that seemingly drive them apart. I would love to make a visit here one day to learn more about all of the faiths. This is a great compilation and description of the sights. Reading thru them, I was especially intrigued by the Mount of Beatitudes and the Bahai Gardens and would especially like to visit those.

Erica Edwards

Thursday 15th of November 2018

Fantastic post, I learnt so much reading it! I'm so fascinated by this part of the world and have yet to explore it for myself, though I'm hoping to remedy that within the next two years. It's hard for me to even begin to grasp the very depth of history that must hide around every corner there. Excellent descriptions and thanks for putting so much detail into this post.

Bernie Jackson

That's such a comprehensive and beautifully pictured guide. I had not seen much of Capernaum before, and the beauty of the Greek Orthodox church there is incredible.

I was interested to see that Hebron became the highlight of your visit, and wondered what prompted that. There is clearly an immense amount of information to see and absorb in a visit like yours. I can imagine it would take a long time to sink in and be digested after your trip.

Sacred Places to Visit in the United States

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The British Isles and Europe don't have a monopoly on sacred places. There are a number of sites in the United States that are places of magical energy and power. Here are ten amazing places in the U.S. that draw natural energy from the earth .

Bighorn Medicine Wheel, Powell, WY

Patti Wigington

The Bighorn Medicine Wheel isn't easy to get to, but it's been recognized as a place of spiritual power for hundreds of years. Sacred to several Native American groups, the Medicine Wheel is steeped in mystery. The Crow, Lakota Sioux, and Cheyenne peoples all recognize the Medicine Wheel as a place of great power. If you go there, take the time to explore the path around the Wheel -- you'll be surprised at what you may hear!

This site is known as a place where many spiritual seekers end up in their quest. Sedona is perhaps most famous for its spiraling energy vortexes, which draw people in from around the world.

Land's End Labyrinth, San Francisco, CA

High on a rocky mountainside, just a few minutes from San Francisco, there is a labyrinth in a public park. Although it's right in the middle of a large city, there are few people who take the time to hike out to this labyrinth, which sits right above the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. Take some time to check it out, because it's an absolutely magical place.

Update: In August 2015, the Land's End Labyrinth was destroyed by vandals . Caretaker Colleen Yerge told the San Francisco Gate "The labyrinth is there as a sign of peace, love and enlightenment for all. And especially for those that are suffering so much. So even when it is destroyed after I put over 40 hours of carrying rocks and assembling the piece, I still have compassion for whoever did it."

Serpent Mound, Peebles, OH

This mound is the largest known serpent effigy in North America . In some Native American legends, there is a tale of a large serpent who has supernatural powers. Although no one is certain why the Serpent Mound was created, it's possible that it was in homage to the great serpent of legend.

Mt. Shasta, CA

Mt. Shasta, located in northern California, is not only one of the state's most beautiful sites, it also has a reputation for being a place of great magical energy. The Native Americans in the area believe it is the home of the Great Spirit. Today, it is a destination not only for hikers and campers but for people in the metaphysical community seeking to nourish their spirit.

Aztalan State Park, Lake Mills, WI

Aztalan is one of Wisconsin's most notable historical and archaeological sites. It is the home of an ancient Middle-Mississippian village that thrived about a thousand years ago. Like many mound works, this site is believed to contain some interesting spiritual energy. Although the village now called Aztalan has been empty for centuries, scientists did unearth one burial mound there. It contained the remains of a young woman dressed in elaborate seashell jewelry and beads, and some refer to her as "The Princess." Today, some people still leave offerings for the Princess on a special stone.

Ringing Rocks State Park, Upper Black Eddy, PA

Ringing Rocks State Park is exactly what it sounds like - a park full of rocks that you can bang with a hammer. When struck, the rocks emit a ringing sound. The seven-acre field of rocks is open to the public. Although all the rocks at the park are composed of the same material, only about a third of them vibrate and ring when struck. Some visitors claim to have experienced metaphysical events while listening to the vibrations of the rocks.

Mt. Kilauea, Hawai'i Island (Big Island), HI

Mt. Kilauea is known as a sacred place because it is home to Pele, the volcano goddess . Even today, the mountain is a destination for many people who follow ancient Hawaiian religious beliefs.

Mt. Denali, AK

Denali, also known as Mt. McKinley, is the highest peak in North America. The word Denali means "high one" in the language of the local tribes, and the mountain is believed to be the home of many spirits. According to legend, a sun shaman named Sa lives on the mountain, and he is the master of life. Many visitors report seeing strange and unusual things at Denali.

America's Stonehenge, Salem, NH

Our New England travel Guide has some great information on the site known as "America's Stonehenge ." Located in rural New Hampshire, this site has puzzled people for a while. Is it the remainder of some prehistoric society, or simply the work of bored eighteenth-century farmers? Regardless, many people find it a place of great peace and empowerment.

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Sacred Sites of the United States

Based on current archaeological findings it is certain that human beings have been coming to the Western Hemisphere for at least 40,000 years. There were three methods of travel that were used: 1) In small sea-going craft closely skirting both the Pacific and Atlantic coast lines (from Alaska all the way to the far reaches of southern South America, and from northern Europe all the way to Brazil); 2) By land (over the so-called Bering land bridge and through various ice-free corridors on the enormous ice sheet covering what is now Canada); and 3) Presumably by larger ocean-crossing craft from different locations in Asia, Africa and Europe. Representing an assemblage of different peoples and cultures over more than forty millennia, there would have been a great diversity of shamanic and religious practices wherever people settled. While, generally speaking, it is true that the further back in time we go the less we know about such matters, the following list gives the locations of those places that were considered sacred sites in the region of the United States.

• Mt. McKinley (Denali)
• Mt. St. Elias: Sacred mountain of Yakutat Tlingit Indians
• Mount Graham: Dzil Nchaa Si, Apache sacred mountain
• Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
• I’ito (Montezuma’s Head) & ‘Oks Daha (Old Woman Sitting)
• Mt. Humphreys: Doko O Sliid, Navaho sacred mountain of the west
• Canyon de Chelly: Navaho sacred site
• Mt. Baboquivari: Tohono O’odham sacred mountain
• Meteor Crater
• Superstition Mountains
• Zuni Lake: Sacred to Zuni, Acoma, Laguna, Hopi and Taos Indians
• Mt Tamalpais
• Mt. San Jacinto: Sacred mountain of Cahuilla Indians
• Joshua Tree
• Tecate Peak
• Soldier mountain: Simolaki mountain, Sacred to Ajumawi Indians
• Conception Point: Chumash sacred site
• Garden of the Gods
• Cave of the Winds
• Great Sand Dunes
• Blanca Peak: Sisnajini, Navajo sacred mountain of the east
• Spanish Peaks
• Mt. Hesperus: Dibe’ Nitsaa, Navajo sacred mountain of the north
• Island Lake
• Crystal River Mounds
• Panther Mound
• Mount Royal Mounds
• Lake Jackson Mounds
• Stone Mountain         
• Ocmulgee Park
• Etowah Mounds
• Mt. Haleakala, Maui
• Mauna Kea, Hawaii
• Piilanihale Heiau temple, Maui
• Moku’ula, Maui
• Iao Valley, Maui
• Mo’ okini Luakini Heiau, Hawaii
• Pu’ uhonua O Honaunau, Hawaii
• Mt. Kilauea, Hawaii: Birthplace of Pele, goddess of volcanoes
• Kaulu Paoa Heiau, Kauia Island
• Nez Perce Historical National Park
• Monks mound
• Kincaid mounds
• Mounds State Park
• Angel mounds
• Effigy mounds
• Poverty Point mounds
• Tchefuncte mounds
• Marksville mounds
• Mt. Katahdin: Sacred mountain of Penobscot Indians
• Michigan mounds
• Sleeping Bear Dunes
• Pipestone Quarry: Sacred to the Dakota, Lakota, and other tribes of Native Americans
• Jeffers Petroglyph site
• Emerald mound, Tupelo
• Medicine Tree site, Ravalli County
• Chief Mountain: Mt. Ninaistakis, sacred mountain of Blackfeet Indians
• Giant Springs, Great Falls
• Sweetgrass hills
• Pahuk Pawnee: Sacred to Pawnee Indians
• Spirit Mountain (Newberry Peak): Yuman sacred mountain
• Mt. Washington
• Mystery Hill, Salem
• Mt. Taylor: Tsoodził, Sacred mountain of Navaho of south, Acoma, Laguna and Zuni people
• Chaco Canyon
• White Sands
• Ute Mountain
• Shiprock: Navaho sacred site (off limits to climbers)
• Mt. Huerfano: Dzil Na'oodilii, Navaho sacred mountain of the center
• Governador Knob: Ch'oolii, Navaho sacred mountain east of center
• Truchas Peaks: Ku Sehn Pin, Tewa sacred mountain
• Chicoma Mountain: Sacred to Pueblo Indians
• Mt. Conjilon: Tse Shu Pin, Tewa sacred mountain
• Mt. Capitan: Mescalero Apache sacred mountain
• Mt. San Augustin: Mescalero Apache sacred mountain
• Mt. Salinas: Mescalero Apache sacred mountain
• Hosta Butte (Ak’i Dah Nast’ani)
• Bandelier National Monument: Stone Lion shrines of Yapashi, near Running Eagle Falls
• Petroglyphs National Monument
• Sandia Crest: Oku Pin, Tewa sacred mountain
• Balanced Rock
• Auriesville: Shrine of Birthplace of Kateria Tekakwitha
• Fonda: Shrine of Illumination of Kateria Tekakwitha
• Mt. Richland-Balsam
• Pilot Mountain
• Serpent Mound
• Antelope and Buffalo springs, Arbuckle mountains
• Spiro Mounds State Park
• Wallowa Lake
• Wizard Island, Crater Lake
• Harney Peak
• Craven Canyon
• Mt. Inyan Kara: Sacred mountain of Cheyenne and Sioux Lakota Indians
• Bear Butte (Noaha-vose): Sacred mountain of Cheyenne and Sioux Lakota Indians
• Enchanted Rock: Sacred to Tonkawa, Apache and Comanche Indians
• Guadalupe Peak: Mescalero Apache sacred mountain
• Hovenweep ruins
• Mount Adams
• Snoqualmie Falls
• Mt. Ranier (Tacoma)
• Moundsville
• Aztalan Mound
• Devil’s Tower: Sacred to Arapaho, Crow, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Lakota, and Shoshone Indians
• Big Horn Medicine Wheel

• Global Sacred Sites List
• Introduction to Sacred Places
• New and Updated
• South Africa
• Dom. Republic
• United States
• Afghanistan
• North Korea
• Philippines
• South Korea
• Turkmenistan
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Saudi Arabia

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10 Most Sacred Sites in the United States

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There is a world of variety in what different belief systems find sacred, some have passages of rites, others have sites of worship or holy animals and without a doubt all have a list of defining principles to follow. Great thinkers have struggled with the definition of the truly sacred. But it should be safe to say that in the multicultural melting pot of the United States, there are places of impossible beauty that are undeniably sacred, no matter what your religious background is, these sites will instill a feeling of awe at being in the presence of a higher power. Whether man-made or a natural wonder, they can be considered sacred because of what history has unfolded there or simply the depth of faith their natural beauty displays.

10. Sakya Monastery -Seattle, Washington

Sakya, meaning “grey or pale earth”, is one of four major branches of Buddhism. The monastery was a Presbyterian Church from 1928 until converted in 1975. The name resonates with the original Sakya monastery now in China, built in the 13th century containing some of Tibet’s greatest art works. The saffron robes, beaming Buddhas and the gentle teachings give it an aura of peace. Its devotion to the preservation of Tibetan heritage and culture in the face of the overwhelming power of the Chinese government is striking. The Head Lama has reflected that “the changes in Tibet are an example of the true nature of human existence: all is impermanent, and everything changes” adding to the sense of being in the presence of a heavenly power far beyond anything a mere earthly superpower can muster.

9. Cahokia Mounds -St. Louis, Missouri

Over a millennium ago, Cahokia was a huge settlement cross the river from what is now St. Louis. With an estimated 40,000 people in and around it, it is believed by many to have been the largest city in the world at that time, certainly the biggest in North America before Columbus. The High Priest literally ruled over the center of Mississippian Native culture from Monk’s Mound (so named by Trappist monks centuries later) where the Sacred Fire burned. In shades of England’s Stonehenge Monk’s Mound and the burial site of the Ruler-Priest are aligned by the stars. In fact, a circle of wooden poles nicknamed Woodhenge was used as a solar calendar. There are dozens of mounds once used for ceremonies, burials, sacrifices and with them the tingling feeling that ancient spirits still roam over them.

8. Unity Temple -Chicago, Illinois

The renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed and built the Temple after the Unitarian Church of which he was a member was struck by lightning and reduced to ashes in 1905. Its replacement, too, appears to be an act of God, like no other church on the face of the earth with a complete absence of anything resembling tradition liturgical shapes and textures. Instead of soaring domes and gold leafed chapels there is a mesmerizing geometric precision. Wright saw it as a “democratic’ religious space for the worship of God and a “meeting place, in which to study man himself for his God’s sake.” Like a late Mozart symphony, it seems like a masterpiece that could only have been achieved with the help of the angels. Modern and unconventional it may be, but it still induces a powerful urge to fall on one’s knees in wonder. It is designated a National Historic Landmark and attracts visitors from around the world.

7. Crater Lake -Medford, Oregon

With a depth of 1,949 feet, Crater Lake is the deepest in the country and Top Ten worldwide. It is an underappreciated scenic gem with one-tenth the four plus million visitors the Grand Canyon gets. The Klamath nation still regards it as a sacred site, created long ago by a terrible battle between the Chiefs of the Above and Below Worlds that completely destroyed the mountain that stood there. Scientists believe that Mount Mazama imploded some 8,000 years ago after a series of cataclysmic eruptions to form a caldera or volcanic depression, which became the lake with an unforgettable shade of blue seen only here. New Age spiritual adherents believe that the lake is a major vortex site and the source of positive energy from the earth’s natural power grid.

6. The Islamic Center -Washington, D.C.

The mosque and cultural center has been ensconced on Embassy Row on Massachusetts Avenue in downtown D.C. since 1957. It was one of the earliest mosques in the country and for a time was the largest in the Western hemisphere. The interior is lush and imposing, recalling the legendary works of the great Ottoman architect Sinan, called the Muslim Michelangelo. In happy historical coincidence, it was in fact built by an Italian architect. There is something about great mosques that are piously humbling but artistically uplifting. It was there that President George W. Bush read the Koran just six days after the terrorist attack of 9/11: “In the long run, evil in the extreme will be the end of those who do evil. For that they rejected the signs of Allah and held them up to ridicule”. As the place the President of the United States reached out to a shaken Muslim community, invoking the words of the Prophet and the souls of the victims, in the name of peace, this must forever be a hallowed, sacred place.

5. Mount Shasta -Mt. Shasta, California

Part of the Cascade Range in northern California, Shasta is central to the Creation story for local Native Americans and remains a sacred place for them. They have lived there for 9,000 years and though their numbers have dwindled shockingly, descendants still conduct ceremonies in its honor. The towering extinct volcano, once an active part of the notorious Pacific Ring of Fire, stands over 14,000 feet. No other mountain on the continent has been ordained by so many groups with mystical significance. As with many Native American sacred sites, its spirituality has been adopted by contemporary belief systems. Buddhists built a monastery there with the belief that it is one of the Seven Sacred Mountains in the World. Many New Agers believe it to be a vortex emitting earth’s subterranean energy. More than a few believe it to be a refueling base for UFO’s. Some of it may seem sacrilegious, but in a way underline the beauty and power of a place whose beauty has been put here by a Creator for a higher purpose.

4. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary -Baltimore, Maryland

Maryland was founded as a safe haven for Catholics persecuted in England, but the pious Puritans took up the persecution in the New World to the point that in some places Catholics could be sentenced to death. It took 145 years after the Declaration of Independence to build this Cathedral in Baltimore, so when the Basilica opened its doors in 1821, it was a major landmark for the country. It is sublimely warm and welcoming inside. Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II have blessed it. He called it “the worldwide symbol of religious freedom”. In a sense it can be said that people died for this to be realized and so remains a moving testament to their faith and conviction in the face of intolerance.

3. Devil’s Tower -Crook County, Wyoming

It is as much as 70 million years old. A stunning geological formation, from a volcanic eruption, it has been shaped and scarred by a millennium of erosion. Known in contemporary culture from the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, some twenty Indian tribes have said to had close and sacred encounters with this natural beauty for thousands of years. It is also known as Bear Lodge and Bear tipi. There are many different legends of how it was created by the Great Spirit Legend. The crevices down its side are said to have been left by a bear sliding down in futility after his erstwhile victims found refuge on top. It was the first site declared a National Monument in 1906 and is still a place for Sun Dances, vision quests and other ceremonial customs. Its commanding presence juts out of the Black Hills looking down on its domain- does it have a supernatural power and in its mystery lies the questions by the grace of whom?

2.  Touro Synagogue -Newport, Rhode Island

The English settled Jamestown in 1607 and the Puritans landed famously at Plymouth Rock in 1620. The first Jewish settlers found their way to New York in 1654 and to Newport Rhode Island in 1658, likely fleeing persecution (as their ancestors and descendants have) in the Caribbean. The community thrived and decided it was time for a synagogue in 1759, so they chose Peter Harrison, who was considered the colonies’ greatest architect of the 18th century. Its interior is exquisite like a small English palace. Intensely symbolic, it was built so that people inside face east to Jerusalem and the number 12 is a recurring theme honoring the Twelve Tribes of Israel. It too is a historic site, but moreover it is a symbol of the devotion of a tiny group who lit a torch of hope for their ill-treated people in the New World.

1. Bighorn Medicine Wheel -Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming

They are scarce, with only a hundred or so remaining set in starkly, spectacular, settings. medicine wheel’s are intensely spiritual, places that were made for worship. The Bighorn is the grandfather of all medicine wheels, though its 10,000 foot elevation makes it a daunting destination. Its intricate celestial significance is captivating. It’s a circle with 28 spokes, the number of days in the lunar calendar and a sacred number to many tribes. The spokes point to the rising and setting places of stars near and distant, the Sun at summer solstice, Rigel in Orion, and Sirius, the Dog Star (whose apogee in August gave rise to The Dog Days of summer) in Canis Major. Medicine wheels are the New World’s Stonehenge. Despite their name, they were not used for medical purposes. They should more appropriately be called ‘sacred hoops’ honoring the gods and seeking divine wisdom to guide them in every facet of tribal life.

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World's Most-Visited Sacred Sites

Tokyo's Harajuku neighborhood is famous for its loud street fashion (embraced by singer Gwen Stefani, among others), but it's most popular attraction is hardly a household name. The tranquil Meiji Shrine attracts roughly 30 million annually, as does the Sensoji Temple, making them the world's most-visited sacred sites.

These Japanese sites no doubt benefit from their location in Tokyo, a major metropolitan area and significant tourist destination. Most of the local population adheres to Shintoism or Buddhism or both, and religious and cultural traditions encourage families to go to shrines and temples at least once or twice a year, especially around New Year's, a time called hatsumode .

While each religion has its holy seasons, there's always a reason to visit these sites, whether you're intrigued by the history, art, or simply following a packaged tour. Whatever the day, you'll find Catholics attending mass at Mexico City's Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (No. 3), among casual tourists and others who've traveled here expressly to pay their respects to an image of the Virgin Mary.

Pilgrimage is indeed one of the oldest motives for travel and going strong. The Hajj to the al-Haram mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is one of the most famous, with 2,927,717 Muslims participating in 2011—an unusually precise tally provided by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. For the annual Hindu pilgrimage to Sabarimala in Kerala, India, the visitation estimates varied so widely (anywhere from 3 to 50 million), we felt it was too unreliable to rank officially. We couldn't get a reliable confirmation for India's Sikh Golden Temple of Amritsar, suggested to receive 10,000 visitors daily, or for Temple Square in Salt Lake City, though, tellingly, the Mormon site purports to be the No. 1 tourist attraction in Utah.

But we kept digging to determine as best as possible the most travel-inspiring sacred sites—read on for the top results.

The Methodology :

We made no distinction between devout religious pilgrims and secular tourists, or between domestic and foreign visitors. Because most of these sacred sites are free and open to the public, it's impossible to get a completely accurate count of visitors or their reasons for coming. We used numbers and estimates from the sites themselves, tourist boards, government agencies, local newspaper reports and reputable media outlets.

We restricted our list to holy places associated with Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and other religions that are still commonly practiced, which ruled out ancient sites such as temples to pagan Greek gods, the Mayan pyramids of Central American pyramids, and Stonehenge. And we focused on actual, physical structures, which eliminated items like the Shroud of Turin—shown only every few years—and gatherings like the Kumbh Mela festival, which can draw more than 60 million Hindus when held every 12 years.

No. 1 Meiji Shrine and Sensoji-Temple, Tokyo

Annual Visitors: 30 million each

Built 100 years ago to honor the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, the tranquil Meiji Shinto shrine is surrounded by a holy forest of 100,000-plus trees. Gardens feature spring azaleas, summer irises, autumn foliage on Japanese maples and gingkoes, and black pines dusted with winter snow. Sensoji, also in central Tokyo, was dedicated to Bodhisattva Kannon, the most compassionate Buddha, in 628. Its five-storied pagoda is dramatically lit at night. Continuing centuries-long tradition, stalls along the temple's Nakamise Street sell food and goods to visitors—whose numbers swell around New Year's. meijijingu.or.jp ; senso-ji.jp

Source: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

No. 2 Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi, India

Annual Visitors: 21.9 million

This temple with its two golden domes sits along the western bank of the Ganges River and, with the Ganges, is the most holy site for all sects of Hinduism. Believers bathe in the river to cleanse their souls and reduce or eliminate the need to be reincarnated. Recently the government has worked to improve the quality of the water, where many millions also make offerings of flowers, food, and floating oil lamps. shrikashivishwanath.org

Source: India Tourism Office

No. 3 Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City

Jorge Castro/Travel + Leisure

Annual Visitors: 20 million

The Old Basilica, begun in the 1500s and completed in 1709, stands in stark contrast to the massive new basilica that was built in the mid-1970s and looks like a sports arena. It is, in fact, designed to hold 50,000 people, who come for mass—celebrated several times daily—and to see an image of the Virgin Mary that is said to have appeared on an apron in 1531. sancta.org

Source: Mexico Tourism Board

No. 4 Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams Temple, AndhraPradesh, India

Annual Visitors: 18.25 million

A Hindu sect called Vaishnavism that emphasized equality and love began this imposing temple perhaps 1,200 years ago. Legends mentioned this area, and pilgrims and visitors still come to see or worship at the many shrines, halls, and statues throughout the 10-square-mile complex on the 3,200-foot-high Sacred Hill. tirumala.org/maintemple_main.htm

No. 5 Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

Annual Visitors: 13.65 million

The most-visited tourist attraction in France (and No. 13 worldwide) hardly has a space that's not filled with statues of saints and angels, 30-foot-diameter stained-glass rose windows depicting Bible stories, or symbolic geometric shapes representing both limits and boundlessness. It's weathered evolving styles and renovations since its 1345 debut and today is as much an art gallery as a place of worship. notredamedeparis.fr

Source: Office of Tourism and Congress in Paris

No. 6 Sacré Coeur Basilica, Paris

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Annual Visitors: 10.5 million

Druids, Gauls, and Romans who once worshipped their gods Mercury and Mars chose this scenic hilltop for their temples. A brilliant white, 19th-century Romano-Byzantine basilica crowns this Hill of Martyrs—with the intent to cleanse it from a violent historical past while wowing visitors with a panoramic view of the city below. sacre-coeur-montmartre.com

No. 7 Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, Chiba Prefecture, Japan

Annual Visitors: 10 million

Proximity to Tokyo's Narita International Airport makes this Shingon Esoteric Buddhist temple, founded in 940, an easy stop for air travelers with long layovers. For a fee, soothsayers and vending machines promise to reveal your fortune. The temple itself is dedicated to the god of fire, and fire rituals are carried out several times each day. chiba-tour.jp

No. 7 Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kanagawa Prefecture,Japan

The pleasant walk through gardens, beside cherry trees, under toriigates, and past two ponds with three small bridges and seven islets belies the Shinto shrine's 12th-century origins as a homage to the god of war. The site's two-and-a-half-acre Peony Garden is at its most vibrant from mid-April through May, but it also nurtures 500 peonies that actually bloom during January. asahi-net.or.jp/~qm9t-kndu/hachiman.htm

No. 7 Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji Temples, Kyoto

Annual Visitors: 10 million and 6 million

The ancient UNESCO-listed Kiyomizu-dera or "Pure Water Temple" is on the side of Otowa Mountain. Springs feed the Otowa Waterfall, and Buddhist pilgrims drink the sacred water by following strict ritual. Visitors also take in the panoramic view of Kyoto's city center. On the opposite side of the city, gold leaf covers the top two floors of Kinkaku-ji, a three-story Zen Buddhist temple originally built in the early 15th century for a shogun. While visitors are not allowed inside to see the statues of the Shaka Buddha, Kannon Bodhisattva, and the Four Heavenly Kings, these can sometimes be glimpsed from the far side of the pond in front of the temple. Bring binoculars. kiyomizudera.or.jp ; japan-guide.com

No. 10 Ise Jingu, Ise, Japan

Annual Visitors: 8.5 million

Nearly 14,000 acres of this Shinto shrine complex is a "divine forest" of Japanese cypress, but the trees were worshipped here long before temple construction began in the third century. Three museums covering local history, agriculture, and fine arts are on a hill near the center of Ise Jingu, which the Japanese government has designated as a National Treasure. isejingu.or.jp

No. 11 St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome

Annual Visitors: 7 million

One of the world's largest sacred buildings and one of the holiest of Catholic sites, the basilica teems with ornate gold, marble columns, paintings of angels, iconic statues, and works created by a who's who of Renaissance artists—including Raphael, Brunelleschi, Bernini, and Michelangelo, who sculpted the marble Pietà and designed the basilica's massive dome. vaticanstate.va

Source: Italian Government Tourist Board

No. 12 Dazaifu Tenmangu, Japan

Annual Visitors: 6.6 million

Six thousand plum trees from 197 species—blooming white, pink, and red in January—surround this Shinto shrine to Michizane Sugawara, a poet and scholar who was deified as the god of calligraphy and literature after his death in the year 903. The site also has camphor trees as old as 1,500 years, fields of iris, and a double-arched bridge over a pond shaped like the ideogram character meaning "heart." dazaifutenmangu.or.jp

No. 13 Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, Germany

Annual Visitors: 6 million

This Gothic monument was a 600-year work in progress completed only in 1880. The payoff is a glorious interior whose arches reach more than 140 feet high and whose dramatic pointed towers soar more than 50 stories—and remain the city's most notable symbol. Stop to admire the Shrine to the Three Magi, and climb all 533 steps to reach a platform overlooking the Rhine and distant mountains. cologne-tourism.com

Source: Cologne Tourism Office

No. 13 Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Lourdes, France

A 14-year-old girl named Bernadette Soubirous experienced 18 visions of the Virgin Mary in the Grotto of Massabielle back in 1858. Later, her friend's arm was said to be healed by spring water in the cave. Now the cavern and surrounding area form a Catholic sanctuary that includes the original spring, two basilicas, three museums, nine chapels, and other places of worship and meeting rooms. lourdes-france.org

Source: Atout France — French Government Tourist Office

No. 13 Shrine of Padre Pio, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

The relatively modest Our Lady of Grace church (Santa Maria delle Grazie), built in the 1950s, displays the saint's preserved body, while the adjacent Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church, completed in 2004, vies for your attention with its soaring arches and modern glass façade. conventosantuariopadrepio.it

No. 16 St. Mark's Basilica, Venice

Annual Visitors: 5–6 million

This intricate masterpiece with an elaborate five-domed roof and nearly two acres of mosaics with gold backgrounds covering the walls, arches, cupolas, vaults, and floors is regarded as the finest example of Byzantine art. And no wonder: many of the sculptures and mosaics were stolen directly from Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire during the Crusades. basilicasanmarco.it

Source: Patriarcato di Venezia

No. 17 Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

Annual Visitors: 5.5 million

This 13th-century Italian-Gothic basilica was frescoed and painted by some of the most noted artists of the time: Giotto, Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini. Two hilltop churches plus the crypt with the fully intact body of the saint lure pilgrims from around the world. The grand interior of the upper church stands in contrast to the life of poverty and renunciation of earthly pleasures that, as a simple friar and accomplished poet, St. Francis lived. assisionline.com

Source: ENIT, the Italian Government Tourist Board

No. 18 St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City

This mid-19th-century Neo-Gothic cathedral—with rose windows from Chartres, France, and two 33-story-tall spires—occupies an entire city block among some of the world's most expensive real estate. This location in the heart of a major city less than half a mile from Grand Central Station and a mile from the United Nations gives plenty of locals and visitors easy access to its splendors. saintpatrickscathedral.org

Source: St. Patrick's Cathedral

No. 19 Western Wall, Jerusalem

Annual Visitors: 5 million

One of the holiest sites in Judaism is a 187-foot-long stone-block bulwark, the last remaining section of the retaining wall surrounding the courtyard of the Temple Mount begun by King Herod in 20 B.C. and destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. Women and men have separate areas of worship along the wall (also called the Wailing Wall and the Kotel), and they must wear particular modest clothing. The adjoining Western Wall Plaza, built in 1967, holds thousands of worshippers. english.thekotel.org

Source: Israel Ministry of Tourism (taken from monthly statistics in newspaper articles)

No. 20 Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), Istanbul

Intricately patterned blue and white Iznik ceramic tiles depicting cypress trees, fruit, tulips, and calligraphy from the Koran adorn the interior walls, columns, arches, and domes of this early 17th-century house of worship. Built by Sultan Ahmet with the goal of exceeding the beauty of the nearby Hagia Sophia (which was originally a Byzantine church), the Blue Mosque remains one of the few sacred sites in the world with six minarets. kultur.gov.tr

Source: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism

No. 21 Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion Temple), Kyoto, Japan

Like the Golden Pavilion less than five miles west, this Zen Buddhist temple was originally built in the late 15th century as a shogun's retirement villa. But unlike its golden counterpart, Ginkaku-ji isn't covered with any precious metals. The grounds' carefully raked white-sand gardens cast their own sparkle in the moonlight and are known as the Sea of Silver Sand; under gray winter skies with thick white snow blanketing the surrounding rocks and trees, the temple's name seems to fit. japan-guide.com

No. 21 Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine, Saitama, Japan

Legend has it that the fifth emperor, Kosho, established this Shinto shrine more than 2,400 years ago to honor gods called Myogin, who were believed capable of performing miracles. At least five deities are now worshipped here: Susano-o mikoto; his wife, Kushinada-Hime; her parents; and the couple's son. scvb.or.jp

No. 23 Lotus Temple, New Delhi

Annual Visitors: 4.5 million

The white lotus-flower-shaped Baha'i temple uses three layers of nine "petals" each to represent the world's nine major religions and to accentuate the faith's principles of peace, purity, and unity of all religions. At the base of the eye-catching structure, nine curved reflecting pools create the illusion of lotus leaves lying flat on a pond's surface. bahai.uga.edu

Source: Baha'i Temple

No. 24 Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Rome

Annual Visitors: 4 million

Michelangelo painted his famous Creation of Adam (replicated on countless souvenirs and college-dorm posters) and more than 300 figures with sculptural precision on this 8,600-square-foot ceiling in the early 1500s. Two decades later, at age 60, the artist graced the altar wall with The Last Judgment , reflecting a grimmer style, even for the saved. Other Renaissance masters like Botticelli, Perugino, and Rosselli contributed biblical scenes to the chapel's side walls. As a result, the room feels like an art gallery—often crowded with visitors craning their necks—but it is still used for papal conclaves. vaticanstate.va

Source: Italian National Tourism Office (ENIT)

No. 25 Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

Considered the holiest Christian site, this church was built above what many believe to be the locations of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Now visitors see walls built before the Third Crusade, 12th-century mosaics, and numerous chapels representing various sects. But the site has fluctuated throughout the centuries, having been a quarry, a temple to Venus, and a church in various states of desecration and neglect brought on by earthquakes, invaders, and clumsy crusaders. goisrael.com

Source: Israel Ministry of Tourism

No. 26 Ikutsushima Shrine, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Bay, Japan

Annual Visitors: 3.4 million

This dramatic 50-foot-tall vermilion torii gate stands a tenth of a mile out to sea from 37 overwater buildings that, at high tide, appear to float on the water. The first Shinto shrine here—dating from the sixth century—may have been designed to honor the goddess of the sea or to help souls sail to paradise. The current complex, built in 1571, shows off curved lines typical of the Shinden architectural style, and almost all of it is designated a National Treasure. miyajima.or.jp

No. 27 Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha, Hong Kong

Annual Visitors: 3,242,730

The 85-foot-tall seated "Giant Buddha" on the Ngong Ping plateau of Lantau Island serenely surveys the surrounding lush mountains and raises his right hand in blessing to the visitors who climb more than 200 steps to reach the statue's base. Cast in bronze, the statue took 12 years to make and was unveiled in 1993. The nearby Buddhist monastery, decked out in vivid reds, oranges, and yellows with icons to various gods, serves vegetarian lunches. discoverhongkong.com

Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board

No. 28 Trinity Wall Street, New York City

Annual Visitors: 3 million (1.7 million for St. Paul's Chapel and 1.3 million for Trinity Church)

Downtown Manhattan fixtures since colonial times, the Gothic Revival St. Paul's Chapel and Trinity Church—both belonging to the same Episcopal parish—stand out against the backdrop of modern high-rises now found in the surrounding financial district. Pay your respects at the historic cemetery (the final resting place of Alexander Hamilton) and within St. Paul's, where caregivers tended to victims of the nearby 9/11 attacks. — Joshua Pramis

Source: Trinity Wall Street

No. 29 Aya Sofya (Hagia Sofia), Istanbul

Annual Visitors: 2,952,768

The Byzantine mosaics within this cavernous space are so refined and subtle they practically look like paintings. Emperor Justinian completed construction of the then-named Church of the Holy Wisdom in the year 537. Minarets were added in 1453 after it was changed to a mosque. In 1935, Atatürk officially converted it into a museum, but it still retains an East-meets-West spiritual aura. The 102-foot-diameter dome appears even more commanding because two semi-domes on the north and south sides create a large space unencumbered by pillars.

Source: Hagia Sofia Museum

No. 30 Al-Haram Mosque, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Annual Visitors: more than 2,927,717

The Black Stone, Islam's holiest relic and a venerated icon long before Muhammad's time, is enshrined in the Kaaba (or Ka'ba or al-Ka'bah), the five-story-tall, cube-shaped granite building in the mosque's plaza. It is toward the Kaaba that Muslims pray five times a day, and Muslims are supposed to pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives. A total of 2,927,717 pilgrims arrived during the 2011 hajj; if visitor numbers were available for the entire year, this site would likely rank higher on our list. saudiembassy.net

Source: Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia

No. 31 Basilica de Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

Annual Visitors: 2,317,349

A true work in progress, this expiatory church was begun in 1882 and is slated to be completed in 2026. Its gloriously fussy design bows to the vision of Antoni Gaudí, who infused the structure with elements of Catholicism. The intricate white interior illuminated through stained-glass windows denotes a heavenly Jerusalem with "Christian cities and continents" symbolized on columns standing for the apostles. The 18 bell towers represent Jesus, Mary, the four evangelists, and the 12 apostles. sagradafamilia.cat

Source: Basilica de Sagrada Familia

No. 32 Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth, Israel

Annual Visitors: 2.25 million

Traditionally revered as the location where the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to Jesus, this site has hosted wave after wave of churches, including a fourth- or fifth-century Byzantine one, another built by crusaders, and a Franciscan church torn down in 1955 to make way for the current, much larger basilica. The Grotto of the Annunciation and remnants of the Byzantine and crusaders' churches are visible under the main church. goisrael.com

No. 32 Mount of Beatitudes, Galilee, Israel

Jesus is said to have delivered his inspirational Sermon on the Mount (including the "Blessed are" litany) on this very spot. Whether or not that's historically accurate, the peaceful gardens, cooler air, and panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee make it a fine stop for quiet contemplation. The octagonal design of the Byzantine-style Catholic church on the top of the hill symbolizes the eight Beatitudes. goisrael.com — Lyndsey Matthews

No. 34 Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Paris

Annual Visitors: 2 million

Novice Sister Catherine said the Virgin Mary told her in 1830 to create medals for believers. Two years later a cholera epidemic killed 20,000 Parisians, but some who bought medals claimed they'd been protected or cured by them. The church sold 10 million in the first five years and a billion by the time Sister Catherine died in 1876. Visitors can pray at the chapel's altar, see her well-preserved body, and, no doubt, buy a medal. chapellenotredamedelamedaillemiraculeuse.com

Source: Office of Tourism and Congress of Paris

No. 35 St. Paul's Cathedral, London

Annual Visitors: 1,892,467

Prince Charles and Lady Diana wed under the heavily decorated golden ceiling of the grand Neoclassical dome designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Unmistakable among the more sedate financial edifices in the City of London district, St. Paul's dome served as a model for the U.S. Capitol. Built between 1675 and 1710 on land that was sacred even in pre-Christian times, the cathedral is still used for significant state functions, weddings, and funerals. stpauls.co.uk

Source: Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Britain)

No. 36 Temple Mount, Jerusalem

Annual Visitors: 1.5 million

Sacred to followers of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, the hilltop Temple Mount includes the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. It's the original site of the Temple of Jerusalem and said to be where Abraham bound Isaac. Jews typically choose not to enter due to its sacredness, worshipping instead at the surrounding Western Wall (No. 19)—which accounts for the lower number of visitors to the mount itself. goisrael.com

No. 37 Westminster Abbey, London

Annual Visitors: 1,394,427

Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Rudyard Kipling, Charles Dickens, the Unknown Warrior, and generations of royals were laid to rest at Westminster. But don't just look down at the graves or you'll miss the Gothic abbey's magnificent vaulted ceiling, golden High Altar, and intricately patterned mosaic Cosmati pavement floor. This stunning thousand-year-old medieval cathedral also celebrates royal weddings, most recently that of Prince William and Kate Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. westminster-abbey.org

No. 38 Baha'i Shrine and Gardens, Haifa, Israel

Annual Visitors: 1.25 million

In keeping with its faith's tenets of religious unity and harmony, the 13-story gold-domed shrine features architectural elements from both East and West as well as nine sides representing the world's nine major religions. Nineteen tiers of immaculate gardens surround the shrine and flow up and down the north side of Mount Carmel, creating the sense of waves emanating from the shrine. goisrael.com

No. 39 Mariazell Shrine, Mariazell, Austria

Annual Visitors: 1-plus million

In 1157, a Benedictine monk strolling through the Alps searching for a place to build a monastery claims his path was blocked by a gigantic rock, so he laid a small wooden statue of Mary on the boulder, prayed, heard rumbling, and the rock broke in two. Locals built a chapel there, and a Gothic church with pink Baroque touches was added three centuries later. Now the pilgrimage site has been designated a minor basilica. basilika-mariazell.at

Source: Mariazell Shrine

No. 40 Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City

Annual Visitors: 1 million

Even though the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York draws about a million people a year for services and various events and concerts, it never gets too crowded. As the world's biggest Gothic cathedral, St. John is larger than Notre Dame and Chartres combined, and its interior stretches the length of two football fields. You get a sense of its magnitude before even entering: the 3-ton bronze doors depict 60 bas-relief scenes from the Old and New Testament. stjohndivine.org — Lyndsey Matthews

Source: Cathedral of St. John the Divine

No. 41 Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet

Annual Visitors: 700,000

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Potala Palace, this holiest of Tibetan Buddhist temples draws pilgrims who prostrate themselves in front and spin golden prayer wheels inside. Built in 647 by King Songtsen Gampo, who unified Tibet, the four-story temple houses a myriad of chapels to gods and bodhisattvas, yak-butter votive candles, incense, and an ancient, jewel-covered, gilded statue of the Buddha called the Jowo Rinpoche. chinaodysseytours.com

Source: China Odyssey Tours, Lhasa

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Sacred Places: A Virtual Tour Through Four National Trust Historic Sites

• More: Historic Sites
• By: Dennis Hockman

National Trust Historic Sites are open! We encourage you to check directly with each site for up-to-date information on available activities, ticketing, and guidelines if you are planning a visit.

In this, the first of a seven-part “virtual tour” of our historic sites , I’ll be taking you on a journey to the sacred and religious sites among the portfolio—four places that represent the history of southwestern Pueblos ( Acoma Sky City ), post-colonial-era Black Americans ( two sites of the Museum of African American History) , and early Jewish residents of Newport, Rhode Island ( Touro Synagogue ).

As a nation, our defining characteristics include religious tolerance, and at a time when people are shut out from their houses of worship, instead streaming religious ceremonies online, we hope this virtual tour is a reminder not only that we live in a country with rich history and diverse faiths, but that we share collective values.

photo by: Douglas Merriam

Atop a sandstone bluff in a valley studded with sacred, towering monoliths, the traditions and culture of the Acoma people remain untouched. The Pueblo, located about 60 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was established in the 11th century, with buildings as old as 1144.

The village, comprised of earth-toned mud homes with white ladders for entrance, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States. Mission San Esteban Rey (opening photograph) was built c. 1641.

The Museum of African American History in New England comprises Boston's Abiel Smith School (shown here) as well as two historic African Meeting Houses, one in Boston and one on the island of Nantucket. Together they form New England's largest museum dedicated to preserving, conserving, and interpreting the contributions of Black Americans, detailing the story of organized Black communities from the Colonial Period through the 19th century.

The African Meeting House in Boston was built in 1806 to house the first African Baptist Church of Boston (First Independent Baptist Church), and it is now the oldest extant Black church building in America.

photo by: Joseph Ferraro

The Nantucket Museum of African American History locations include the the Florence Higginbotham House, which sits next door to the restored African Meeting House, the second-oldest oldest extant Black church building in America.

The interior of the African Meeting House in 2018, where a tour group stopped in to view a film about the property's past and to hear an oral history of the grounds, given by Charity-Grace Mofsen, when she was Associate Director of Nantucket Operations.

photo by: Lew Keen

Located in Newport, Rhode Island, Touro Synagogue is the oldest synagogue building in the United States. Dedicated in 1763, the structure is one of exquisite beauty and design. Steeped in history and ideals, the synagogue is considered one of the ten most architecturally distinguished buildings of 18th-century America and the most historically significant Jewish building in the United States.

photo by: Stanley Goldberg

Touro Synagogue's congregation was founded in 1658 by the descendants of Jewish families who had fled the Inquisitions in Spain and Portugal and who themselves left the Caribbean seeking the greater religious tolerance that Rhode Island offered. The interior architecture of the synagogue building is believed to have been influenced directly by the members of the congregation, especially, the Hazzan [prayer leader], Isaac Touro, who had only recently arrived from Amsterdam.

Check out the rest of our virtual tours of National Trust Historic Sites, exploring places related to Commerce and Industry , Garden Glory , Architectural Traditions , Presidential Retreats , Modernism , and Southern History .

Looking for an opportunity to take direct action on behalf of a sacred place? The National Fund for Sacred Places , a program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust, helps ensure that America’s sacred spaces continue to serve their communities’ materials and spiritual needs. This mission becomes even more significant during crises like the one we currently face. If you know of a congregation in need of support, learn more and apply for a chance to help the community steward its house of worship.

Donate Today to Help Save the Places Where Our History Happened.

Donate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation today and you'll help preserve places that tell our stories, reflect our culture, and shape our shared American experience.

Dennis Hockman is editor in chief of Preservation magazine. He’s lived in historic apartments and houses all over the United States and knows that all old buildings have stories to tell if you care to find them.

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Discover the enchanting allure of Khecheopalri Lake, a hidden gem nestled amidst the breathtaking landscape of Sikkim, India. Revered as a sacred site, this 'wishing lake' holds deep spiritual significance for both Buddhists and Hindus. Its pristine waters and surrounding lush forests create a serene sanctuary for visitors seeking tranquility and connection with nature.Legend has it that the lake fulfills the sincere wishes of those who visit with pure intentions. The rich biodiversity surrounding the lake adds to its charm, attracting nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers.Embark on a spiritual and natural journey as you explore the cultural beliefs and ecological wonders of Khecheopalri Lake. Whether you seek introspection, photography opportunities, or simply a moment of peace, this mystical destination promises an unforgettable and rejuvenating experience amidst the splendor of the Himalayan foothills.

Nestled in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, Bhangarh Fort stands as a captivating relic of the 17th century. It is an attraction covered in mystery and allure. Surrounded by the scenic Aravalli Range and close to the Sariska Tiger Reserve, its location is as intriguing as its history. This architectural marvel was built by Madho Singh, named after his grandfather Bhan Singh. Today, it draws visitors not just for its historical significance but for the legends that echo among its ruins. Discover the enchanting beauty of Rajasthan with our Rajasthan packages, offering a blend of history, culture, and adventure.The fort is famed for its majestic gates, temples, palaces, and a unique blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture. Its strategic design showcases the genius of ancient craftsmanship. The royal palace here is located at the fort's highest point and offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Bhangarh Fort is infamous as India's "most haunted" location. This name comes from tales of curses and paranormal activity, yet these stories only add to its mystique. Despite its eerie reputation, the fort remains a symbol of Rajasthan's rich history, captivating all who walk its ancient pathways. The fort's ambience is set against the backdrop of natural beauty and architectural splendour. This makes it a must-visit for anyone fascinated by history, architecture, and the supernatural.

Laitlum Canyon, located near Shillong, Meghalaya, is a hidden gem and a nature lover's paradise. The name "Laitlum" translates to "end of hills," and the canyon lives up to its name with its breathtaking landscapes and mesmerizing views. This scenic destination offers a stunning panorama of deep gorges, lush green valleys, and mist-covered hills that stretch as far as the eye can see.Laitlum Canyon is a relatively lesser-known tourist spot, which adds to its charm as it remains unspoiled and serene. Trekking enthusiasts can indulge in exciting trails that lead to the canyon, allowing them to witness the natural beauty up close. The experience of standing atop the cliffs, surrounded by the serene ambiance and awe-inspiring vistas, is truly unforgettable.Visitors can also soak in the local Khasi culture as they interact with the friendly villagers who reside in the nearby villages. Laitlum Canyon is a perfect escape from the bustling city life, offering a chance to reconnect with nature and experience tranquility in the lap of Meghalaya's pristine landscapes.

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