Independent Travel in Europe
Europe....Your Way!
Tips and resources for independent travellers
Spiritual travel
St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, Italy
Assisi, Umbria, Italy
Wall mural in Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany
The most popular Christian pilgrimage route is Spain's Camino de Santiago, a route stretching from the French border and across northwestern Spain to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela; but there are other European destinations that are popular amongst those who travel for spiritual purposes.
St. Peter's Basilica Vatican City, Italy. The Vatican is home to the Holy See and a tour of its museums includes the Sistine Chapel.
La Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi, Italy (Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi). The Basilica is the mother church of the Franciscan Order (Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor). Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis and is also home to "la Basilica di Santa Chiara" (Basilica of Saint Clare).
Oberammergau, Germany. The Passion Play is performed in this small Bavarian town every ten years as a symbol of the townspeople's gratitude for having been mostly spared during a bubonic plague epidemic during the 17th century. The Passion Play has been performed here since 1634, involves over 2000 performers, and is performed over the course of five months from May to October of the last year of each decade. In 2010, the play ran from May 15 to October 3.
Facade of Basilique du Sacré- Coeur, Paris, France
La basilique du Sacré-Coeur (The Sacred Heart Basilica of Jesus of Paris, commonly known as Sacré-Coeur Basilica), is a popular religious centre for both locals and tourists. In addition to religious celebrations, the Basilica offers spiritual training and organizes retreats. Sacré-Coeur Basilica is located on Montmarte, a hill in the north of Paris, France.
Other spiritual destinations include Àvila, Spain, a medieval city founded in the 11th century and located northwest of Madrid in the province of Castile-Léon in western Spain. Àvila is associated with St. Teresa de Jesus (St. Teresa of Àvila), the female patron saint of Spain.
Copyright 2010 europeindependenttravel.com
Featured Museum
The Zosim Oancea Museum of Icons on Glass at Sibiel, Romania, houses the largest exhibit of icons on glass in Transylvania, Romania. These religious icons are the creations of peasant Romanian artists who were inspired by the Orthodox Christian tradition. The site also includes information on the book "The Icons on Glass at Sibiel", by Giovanni Ruggeri, and on several destinations in Transylvania.
