Whether embarking on a Hold Land Tour of Jerusalem, following the famous and sacred network of ancient pilgrim routes of the Way of Saint James, exploring the Chapel of the Apparitions with throngs of pilgrims in Fatima, or venerating the Virgin Mary by visitng the Chapel of Grace and Black Madonna in Altötting Germany, be prepared for a unique and unforgettable religious pilgrimage experience handcrafted by Keytours that is unique to your group.
Delve into Keytours Top 10 Religious Pilgrimages and Christian Tours in Europe & the Mediterranean to get inspired and ready to plan your next group religious pilgrimage. Expore the best Christian pilgrimage tours and Christian pilgrimage sites.
1. Jerusalem, Israel
Journey to Jerusalem and the Holy Land and visit popular sites including The Western Wall, also referred to as the Wailing Wall, the site of the original Jewish Temple. Along your pilgrimage tour the The Temple Mount, considered the third holiest Islamic site after Mecca and Medina where two mosques are located: Al-Aqsa and Dome of the Rock. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is a church built on the spot where some Christians believed Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected, now one of the most sacred places of the Christian faith.
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2. Rome, Italy
Take in the beauty of this historic city with visits to the many religious and sacred sites of Rome. Begin with Saint Peter's Basilica, the great cathedral of the Vatican and one of the seven ancient pilgrimage churches of Rome. Continue on to the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls, one of Rome's four major basilicas. Another site to visit is the Abbey of the Three Fountains, the site of the martyrdom of Saint Paul.
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3. Way of Saint James, Spain
Follow the path to spiritual growth on The Way of Saint James, aka the Camino de Santiago. There are dozens of pilgrimage routes to choose from on the way to Santiago de Compostela. Visit the many cathedrals on the way including the Santa María de León Cathedral, a masterpiece of the Gothic style and the Cathedral museum which houses a large collection of sacred art. Other notable religious sites include: the Cathedral of Astorga, the Episcopal Palace of Astorga (designed by Antoni Gaudí), the Cruz de Ferro (a cross on the Camino de Santiago, located between Foncebadón and Manjarín), and the Royal Monastery of San Xulián de Samos.
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4. Lourdes, France
A popular destination for pilgrims, the Grotto at Massabielle & the surrounding Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is a site where an apparition of the Immaculate Conception is claimed to have been seen and where pilgrims are reputed to be healed by the Lourdes water. Lourdes is also the site of a number of churches including the Crypt, the Upper Basilica, the Rosary Basilica, the Church of Saint Bernadette, and Saint Joseph's Chapel.
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5. Fátima, Portugal
Fátima is home to the Sanctuary of Fátima, a Catholic pilgrimage site and a group of Catholic religious buildings. The Chapel of the Apparitions marks the spot of famous apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Other sacred sites include the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the church of Igreja da Santíssima Trindade and the Museu de Arte Sacra e Etnologia which exhibits religious artifacts.
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6. Seven Churches of the Revelation, Turkey
The Seven Churches of Revelation in Turkey are also known as the churches of Asia which were cited in the Book of Revelation: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Ephesus is one of the top visited touristic attractions in Turkey and home to the Library of Celsus as well as many other monumental buildings. Smyrna is the site of an Ancient Greek city known today known as Izmir, Turkey where visitors can explore the Columns of the Western Stoa. In Pergamum visitors come to see the Hellenistic theatre, acropolis, and Roman baths complex.
Interested in traveling to Turkey? Check out our Turkey Travel Packages
7. Canterbury, England
Follow the "Pilgrim's Way" taken by pilgrims from Winchester in Hampshire England to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury in Kent. Although much of the traditional route is now park of a modern road network, the North Downs Way National Trail parallels the old Pilgrim's Way. The Canterbury Cathedral, one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England, is both a holy place and part of a World Heritage Site.
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8. Assisi, Italy
Assisi is the home town and burial place of Saint Francis and an important Franciscan pilgrimage destination. One of the highlights of Assisi is the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprised of two churches known as the Upper and Lower church including a crypt.
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9. Altötting, Germany
Altötting, in the heart of Bavaria, is called the "Lourdes of Germany" as many pilgrims journey to the Shrine of the Black Madonna in search of healing. The Chapel of Grace is the national shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Another notable site is the Basilica of St. Ann, the largest church built in Germany in the twentieth century.
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10. San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
An important site in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy is the Church of Our Lady of Grace (Santa Maria delle Grazie) and the Shrine of Padre Pio, the second most visited shrine in the world, centering on the tomb of Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. Saint Padre Pio is known to have supernatural abilities including miraculous healings, the readings of souls, and personal visits from Jesus and Mary.
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