Five Places in Europe That Stoke My Spirit

az110519xz-1059.jpgBasilica of Saint Francis of Assisi

As a Christian, I enjoy being open to spiritual experiences while on the road, and there’s no more spiritual experience than traveling to the developing world. To be with the world’s struggling and downtrodden is to be with Christ. My expertise as a writer and guide, however, is traveling through Europe, which also offers plenty of opportunities to get close to God. Here’s my guide to five places in Europe that stoke my spirit.

High in the Alps

As I walk high on a ridge in Switzerland, the Alps strike me as the greatest cathedral in Europe. Ride the rack-railway train from Wilderswil (near Interlaken) up to Schynige Platte, then hike along a ridge to Faulhorn, with its famous mountaintop hotel, and on to the perch called First. As you tightrope along the ridge, lakes stretch all the way to Germany on your left, and on your right is a row of cut-glass peaks — the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. The long, legato tones of an alphorn announce that the helicopter-stocked mountain hut is open, it’s just around the corner…and the coffee-schnapps is on. It’s enough to have even a staid Lutheran raising his hands in praise.

Spain’s Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Trail

There’s a reason pilgrims have hiked from France to the distant northwest of Spain for more than a thousand years. Trekking with people of all spiritual stripes — or none at all — across the vast expanses of Spain, it’s easy to be one with nature and get caught up in a private talk with your maker. Everyone’s heading for the same point: the Cathedral of St. James in the city of Santiago de Compostela. And to be there as well-worn and sunburned pilgrims step on the scallop-shell pavement stone in front of the towering cathedral, overwhelmed with jubilation to have reached their personal goal and succeeded in their quest, is a joy in itself.

Assisi, Italy

I have a personal ritual of sitting quietly on the rampart of a ruined castle high above Assisi, the town of St. Francis. I look down at the basilica dedicated to the saint, then into the valley — where a church stands strong in the hazy Italian plain that marks the place where Francis and his “Jugglers of God” started the Franciscan order, bringing the word of God to people in terms all could embrace. Hearing the same birdsong that inspired Francis, and tasting the same simple bread, cheese, and wine of Umbria that sustained him, I calm my 21st-century soul and ponder the message of a saint who made the spirit of God so accessible.

St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican

Worshiping upon the tomb of St. Peter under the towering dome of Michelangelo in the vast expanse of the greatest church in Christendom — where incense gives earthly substance to ethereal sunrays — I ponder the centuries of devotion and tradition that have gone into building both this magnificent church and the Catholic faith. Throwing out my Lutheran cynicism, I appreciate it all as a humble and noble quest by countless people through the ages to better understand and get close to our heavenly Father.

Taizé, France

In the wine country of Burgundy, just down the road from Cluny (where the greatest monastic order of the Middle Ages was born), a rough lane leads to the ecumenical monastic community of Taizé. It welcomes all to gather with no regard to culture, language, or denomination. With a perfectly ecumenical embrace, people come together at Taizé to celebrate diversity, tune in to God’s great creation and the family of humankind, and become comfortable with silence, praise, meditation, singing, and simple living. Taizé gets you close to God.

What tips do you have for getting closer to God in your travels?

Comments

91 Replies to “Five Places in Europe That Stoke My Spirit”

  1. Dear Rick, I’m a longtime fan. I would love to see you include more spiritual tours. I’ve been taking them all over Europe for the past ten years. Especially the Mary Magdalen and Black Madonna sites, and places like Montserrat outside Barcelona. I feel like that’s the only think conspicuous in its absence in your work. I’m so glad to see this blog post.

    Sandy
    M.A. Philosophy & Religion, CIIS, San Francisco

  2. I wholeheartedly agree with Ms. sandy! I just completed my Camino in May. I would add two to your list: Pisa Baptistery (and it’s twice hourly monk chant, and the House of the Virgin in Ephesus, Turkey.

  3. When in England, I do my best to attend several evensong services. The amazing music and architecture combine in a unique way. Durham Cathedral holds a special place for me. Out touring choir from Seattle performed a noon concert there several years back. I was granted access to the organ for several hours the prior evening. Alone in that vast space, playing the magnificent Willis/Harrison organ was my mountaintop experience.

  4. I truly appreciate this spiritual piece. Your articles are always interesting and most helpful….NOW THIS ADDED piece cause me to appreciate you even more. As well as the urge to travel to these & more spiritual places.

  5. I have hiked th Chemin de St. Jacques from Le Puy en Velay to Conques. The cathedral to St. Foy is among my favorites.

  6. Tibet. Particularly Lhasa. And if you go, I know the first westerner allowed to live in Tibet after the “peaceful revolution” and can get you where others cannot.

    It is an extraordinary place.

  7. Lourdes, France. Although the town itself has too many kitschy shops, once you get to the cathedral and watch from the church grounds above, the international parade of people on the grounds below saying the rosary in many different languages. After the 10 Hail Mary’s, they all same the same verse one language and continue along the walkway. Holding candles near dusk makes for a very beautiful scene.

  8. A couple of other places that moved me.

    – The Catacombs, Rome, Italy. Especially the catacombs of Priscilla, which I found a bit less touristy, were places I could imagine first century Christians gathering for worship (NOT to hide out – that is a misnomer.). If you have a minister with you, they let you do a communion service down there. Which is magical.
    – Iona, Scotland. Maybe because the Iona Community’s words and music are a significant part of my prayer life, this was a place that touched me deeply. I was only there a couple of hours (Mull-Iona tour) but cannot wait to return.
    – Concentration Camps, Germany and Poland. Might seem strange, but spirituality is not just about the good. It is about atonement. Particularly Flossenburg, where Bonhoeffer was executed, touched me, opened me up, and made me wrestle a bit with God.
    – Bonhoeffer House, Berlin. This is cheating, because this isn’t an open site – you have to make arrangements in advance and having connections helps (I’m a pastor with pastoral relationships in Berlin, so I was able to get an appointment.). Bonhoeffer is inspiring, and being in the home of his parents (but where he spent a lot of time) and learning even more about him was great.

    Some tips.

    Pray. This seems obvious, but when you go into these beautiful, great houses of prayer, don’t just follow the history, don’t just look at the Art, sit down and pray. Attend evensong, meditate, light a candle for someone you have lost, say the rosary, walk the labyrinth. Recognize the spirituality of the place and respond to it in a spiritual way.

    Journal. Keep a record of your spiritual journey as well as your physical one.

  9. I love attending church in places like Notre Dame in Paris where people have attended for hundreds of years!

  10. No sites from Lutherland? A bit surprising. I am so looking forward to visiting Wittenburg for the 500th Anniversary of the 95 these next year.

  11. Gotta say, I finally went to St. Peter’s Rome… And really it is fine if you’ve never seen the glory of anything other than size, but it needs to be downplayed, because the duomo of both Florence and Milan surpass it in every way but size. I recognize that St. Peter’s is awesome but really it doesn’t even stand up to the Vatican museums which are quite good, so it ends as a modicum of disappointment… I was one of the people that. Turned you on to milan’s wonderful cemetery.. I think st. Peters is a very specific thing, it is solidly Catholic, and well worthwhile in that context, but overall not that great in the Italian context.

  12. We found the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona because of its awesome interior, the Mamertine Prison where the Apostle Paul was held and the catacombs in Rome, and the amazing monasteries of Meteora in northern Greece to be inspirational. Meteora should be in your Greek guidebook.

  13. I’d like to mention Iona, the island in the Hebrides in Scotland where St. Columba brought Christianity to Scotland. The community was a center for study, arts, etc. The Book of Kells was probably illuminated there. Nowadays, there’s an international Christian community operating in the Abbey and two centers nearby. It’s possible to join the community for a week or so.

    The opulence of the Vatican left me cold, with the exception of the Pietà, which took my breath away.

  14. Thank you for this piece, Rick. My spiritual reawakening began when I visited St. Stephan’s Cathedral in Vienna. It was breathtaking to view the result of all the work, love and dedication of centuries ago. I felt very humble. As a Lutheran, I became more appreciative of our Catholic brothers and sisters in their devotion. Would love to see pilgrimage tours in your series!

  15. Our Episcopal Church choir goes every three years for two weeks as choir-in-residence at some of the great cathedrals of Britain. July/August 2017 will be the choir’s 5th trip — one week at Ely Cathedral and one week at Bristol Cathedral. In prior years, we have sung at Salisbury, Lincoln, Truro, Norwich, Wells, and one or two more I’ve forgotten.

    The experience of being part of the cathedral community for a week, singing Evensong every afternoon and 2-3 Sunday morning services, as well as the months of extra preparatory rehearsals in the months leading up to the tour, combine to make each tour a highly spiritual event for us.

    Also, my husband, adult daughter and I add 2-3 weeks of other travel to each trip. It’s our 4-5 week pilgrimage to the “mother church” and to other areas of Europe.

  16. In the mountains outside the Austrian villages in the Ziller Valley! There I feel the presense of God.

  17. Rick, after watching your programs for years – and after this lovely post, I am certain we would be the best of friends! Near those castle ruins in Assisi is Eremo delle Carceri on Mt. Subasio. In fact, that mountaintop itself in spring is rich with Francis’ “Little Flowers” – one of the most peaceful, meditative places I have ever experienced.

    Another truly meditative setting is the Cloister garden adjoining the Church at Santa Croce in Florence, especially if you love the humanist influence of the early Renaissance.

    Thank you for so many years of sharing your artistic, musical, and spiritual insights on film, online, and in your books.

  18. Another Ecumenical monastic center you should check out sometime is on Iona- St Columba’s Holy Isle – reachable by ferry from Oban in the Western Highlands to Mull to Iona in the Hebrides. Along with the Monastic center, there are the graves of centuries of Scottish kings, right up to MacBeth, who was not at all like the character in Shakespeare’s tragedy.

  19. I was fortunate enough to live in England recently and one of my favorite things to do was to go into any stone church in any village I was walking through. Most are several hundred years old, and some considerably older, most are open all day and you will most likely be the only one in there. The cathedrals are a must see, but these little out of the way churches provide a private, personal experience. And I agree with the poster above who says to attend evensong services, that is incredibly beautiful and you will experience the church the way it was meant to be. Also, any local tourist information center will have pamphlets and info on the oldest and most historic ones in the area.

  20. I have been to your first four places and agree with your feelings of spirituality. I would add Lisieux, the city of St. Therese. Israel…the Sea of Galilee, the small churches of Russia, during a service…but most of all , I felt God’s presence at Auschwitz.

  21. With the exception of the Alps, all your suggestions are connected to Christianity. A growing proportion of us find meaning in a life outside of organized religion so the whole of Mother Earth is our sanctuary and our peace. Namaste and blessed be.

  22. Love this post on your blog. Do you have any spots such as these in eastern Europe for those who are members of the Orthodox community?

  23. St.George’s church in Nördlingen. It’s now an ELC, but I’m grateful the beautiful artwork, including the original alter and Stations of the Cross were spared and gave me a glimpse of what it was like in previous times. Decorated for Christmas, it immediately put me in the spirit.

  24. My partner and I both had very spiritual experiences in Assisi. Neither of us are what you would call “religious” however I felt such a sensation of peace that I have never felt before when I was in the lower chamber of the church. I bought a St Francis medallion for my dog – since he is the patron saint of animals and I’d like to think that he will continue to keep my dog safe on his new journey.
    No matter what your faith, Assisi is an absolute gem if you are travelling to Italy.

  25. The Sinagoga del Transito in Toledo during a Purim play with children performing in ancient costume accompanied by tambourines and lute player.

    Joy, with a little bittersweet touch included.

  26. Emmaus in Turkey where Mary stayed after the death of Jesus has the house where she stayed and to just walk through there was unbelievable.
    We also went to Liseux ,France the home of the Little Flower and the church was just spactular and also very moving!!!

  27. Our Lady’s Church in Bruges Belgium where Michaelangelo’s Madonna and Child resides. You can sit and contemplate this wonderful work of art with no one else in the church You can’t do that in St. Peter’s.

  28. My personal list includes the Abbey at Iona, Notre Dame in Paris, St. Peter in Chains in Rome, St. Martin in the Fields in London, Trinity Church in Dublin, and a big vote for Mount St. Michelle. I’d have to include Basilica San Miniato al Monte in Florence. But, open as we are to other faiths, I have been overwhelmed by the small synagogue in the Ghetto in Venice.

  29. On a visit to Westminster, my wife and I were fortunate to be selected among about two dozen visitors to attend a confessional service at the tomb of Edward the Confessor. Very special

  30. I lead a pilgrimage to Assisi to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare and find each visit restores and enlivens my spirit. The stones of Assisi ring out with centuries of pilgrims’ prayers. The lush landscape, the rich artistic history, and the local wine and cuisine invite you into a deep sense of peace.

  31. I think stepping into just about any church in Europe (I’m mostly talking Italy here) is like stepping into God’s presence. Over there you must be respectful, quiet, and dressed appropriately when you enter…there’s an air of reverence and worship…..a sharp contrast to North America where we try to appeal to everyone by attending church in whatever we left the house in….bringing our coffee into the service, and chatting about last night’s hockey game. No blame, here, I’m a part of that too….but I must say there’s something very special about entering God’s house with humbleness and reverence. Thank you for this post, I appreciate your boldness in including it in your travel commentary!

  32. Gloucester Cathedral is a wonderful day trip from London, the church is beautiful, the docents brilliant, the history amazing and the Evensong Service with their choir makes you feel the presence of the Lord. We went there because our children picked it as a day trip to see where scenes from Harry Potter were filmed; they came away not thinking about HP but about the sacred space they visited.St, Martin in the Fields is another wonder, it is a little jewel, next to the National Gallery and easily overlooked, but it is a peaceful place for the soul. The same can be said of Christchurch in Dublin. The Abbey and St. Paul’s are wonderful but I think local churches tell the stories of the people the best.

  33. Hi Rick, Knock’s Shrine in Knock Ireland, County Mayo, was one of these “thin places”. A true miracle happened here, so inspiring it received a Papal visit. Very moving and a must see.

  34. Thanks for this post Rick. We have used your guides all over Europe. I have done the Camino twice, from France and Portugal. Attending the pilgrim mass in the cathedral in Santiago was overwhelming, both times. Also, along the Camino route one finds God in the incredible landscape and in fellow pilgrims.

  35. The silence at Nonnberg Abbey in Salzburg was profound. One could feel the generations of prayers.

  36. Several have mentioned Iona, and I had a life-changing week there. Some friends had gone the year before, and from their stories, my partner and I knew we should go. Iona is tiny, and when we arrived, we wondered what we would do for a whole week there. By the end of the week, we were wishing we had a month. The island and abbey are beautiful, but we were struck by the people who were literally put in our path. We had rich conversations at every turn. The lesson at first seemed to be that wonderful people would be drawn to such a place, and this is why we met them. Then we thought the wonderful interactions were possible because we took the time to have them, and finally what we came to was that wonderful opportunities to converse and connect with God and our fellow men were available all around us every day of our lives, if only we were awake to them. We have several friends who have walked the Camino, and we hope to do that next year.

  37. I agree with those that mention Iona, but want to add the Border Abbeys in Scotland and Rievaulx Abbey north of York. They can be marvelously peaceful and place for contemplation. I also thought that the Stones of Callanish were wonderful in the same way.

  38. Hi Rick, thanks for the article about the spiritual dimension of travel. I’m Catholic and We always add a side trip to religious sites, and somehow I feel that this makes at least part of my trip a pilgrimage as well. In the guided tours we have taken,( not your tour group), it would have been nice if the tour directors would have mentioned local pilgrimage sites we could have visited during the free time. Most of them seem uninformed about these.

  39. Lighting a candle and praying for my Mom in Notre Dame with my daughter was an experience that touched me deeply. I was afraid she would pass before I got home, and thankfully, she did not. I was able to bring her a croissant to enjoy when I returned.

  40. While I have been to many of the places mentioned, there is one place that is in a set of pilgrimage towns in Italy. The main town is Subiaco, and the church there is built over the cave that St. Benedict withdrew in for two years. He left to form the first Benedictine order. You travel down into thecave/chapel to see the scope of his experience. The church is literally hanging on the side of a cliff that has a breathtaking view. One of the other pilgrimage towns is Chevarra de Roma, a small town that has no roads. The inhabitants (a few hundred) are older. The food is locally prepared at tiny restaurants. The church is at the top of the town and very beautiful. A very spiritual thing to see these historic places in which God has been praised and prayed to for hundreds of years.

  41. Although it is packed with tourists and now a museum rather than a church, Hagia Sophia in Turkey is an amazing spiritual experience. For about 1000 years it was the largest building on the planet and it is an engineering marvel that it has withstood 1500 years of earthquakes, etc.

  42. We did the last 114km of the Camino last year, something we felt we needed to do ever since we heard about it. While I was frustrated with myself because of foot pain and heat intolerance I did learn that without a doubt your needs are met, large or small, you will always have what you need at the time. You don’t have to go out of country either. Visit Chimayo in NM, called the Lourdes of the SW.

  43. The Melk Abbey in Austria touched me greatly. It glows sitting high on a hill looking out over the Watchau Valley and Danube River. Unlike so many churches that are quite dark – this church is filled with light, white and pink stucco, magnificent library, herb and flower gardens and walking trails. Children pour out of the building after school – its very alive and well used by the community.

  44. Rick, you Re a spirtual leader. Your travel empire and you as it’s founder, have provided so many souls with spirituality, education, peace and understanding of the cultures of this world. And instead of taking it all to the bank and being a very rich man, you give back, to PBS and your charity, Bread for the world. I too have been moved by many religious sites I have visited in the world and I. This country, but travel is a religious experience in itself, and you sir, Are it’s prophet. Thank you and if I may humbly say, God bless you!!

  45. I recently toured Italy with our church group passing through the Holy Doors of Basilicas from Venice to Rome. When asked which city I enjoyed most I always answer Assisi. There was such a feeling of peace there, in that little town nestled in the beautiful countryside. I’d go there again and again.

  46. I have spent two holy weeks in Assisi and it is an amazing experience. The processions on Holy Thursday and Good Friday hearken back hundreds of years. Truly an awesome experience. I also spent Holy Week in Chartres, staying in the adjacent seminary/hotel. Gorgeous celebrations, lovely street markets and a truly inspiring time. I’ve seen the Black Madonna at Montserrat and stayed overnight there. SHE is magnificent. Rocamadour has another ancient Black Madonna who is very like Isis. Vezelay and its Basilica are inspiring, especially if one stays along the main road leading up to the Basilica with its relics of the Magdalene. An overnight on the island at Le Mont St Michel was powerful. The crowds leave and the early morning hours there before tourists arrive is inspiring.

  47. As many have mentioned, I search out evensong services. I also look for organ concerts. I love the peacefulness of the grand places of worship as well as the small stone town churches. I feel peacefulness in the contemplation there I don’t often find here in the US

  48. In Istanbul, the interior of the Sülimaniye Mosque communicates the majesty and perfection of the deity.

    But, for me, there is no place comparable to Delphi for imbuing the viewer with a sense of the wonder of creation.

  49. We took our oh-so-Catholic, 85-year-old Mom on a self-made church tour of Rome a couple of years ago. She, my brother, and I were awed by St. Peters and The Sistine Chapel — Mom got to see the Pope at his Wednesday audience. Other jaw-dropping churches we toured and heard Mass: St. John in Lateran the Pope’s parish as bishop — and the Scala Santi across the street in the old Papal Apartments; The Papal Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls, where you can view St. Paul’s tomb; The Pantheon; Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and the Reliquary of the Holy Crib containing wood from the manger that held Jesus; Santa Maria in Vittoria to see Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Theresa; and San Francesco a Ripa for Bernini’s Blessed Ludovica Albertoni. We made our necks sore craning at all the ceilings.

    The morning we toured the Vatican, Mom got a big laugh out of Vera, our personal guide, when she mentioned we were going to visit a big church the next day. Vera asked which church? Mom said, “I don’t know, Santa Maria Something.” Vera loved that, and later wished us all “a great day at Santa Maria Something tomorrow” when we parted ways.

  50. I’d like to see some mention and trips that focus on the many other paths of religion and spirituality ~
    Eastern mysticism, early jewish settlements and synagogues throughput parts of Europe , or the chalk drawings and boulders of Stonehenge and elsewhere. I love the tours but have found them a bit too subtly Christian in their choices.

  51. Thank you so much for this posting, Ric. Standing out in my memory is: The abbey church of Hildegard of Bingen, Germany, the little church in Michelsfeld, Germany where my husbands family worshiped; the Thomaskirche of J. S. Bach in Leipzig, choir and organ; the castle church of Martin Luther in Wittenburg, Germany; and the worship service in the cave church of our Mennonite ancestors in Switzerland

  52. Thank you so much for this posting, Ric. Standing out in my memory is: The abbey church of Hildegard of Bingen, Germany, the little church in Michelsfeld, Germany where my husbands family worshiped; the Thomaskirche of J. S. Bach in Leipzig, choir and organ; the castle church of Martin Luther in Wittenburg, Germany; and the worship service in the cave church of our Mennonite ancestors in Switzerland

  53. The large number of responses to this post shows that, even in this cold and indifferent world, people do long for a spiritual connection.

    For me, this connection was definitely at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. Not only is the structure absolutely gorgeous, being their evokes a sense of peace and serenity.

    The town is lovely, the people are warm, and it’s much more welcoming than Rome.

    I hope to see you again, Assisi, on my next visit to Italy!

  54. Of course, one can’t forget Israel. There is spirituality in that small nation wherever you go — be it Muslim, Jewish or Christian.

  55. The Medieval Hollola Church near Lahti, Finland. It was built by Vikings in the 12th century, and it has been restored to its medieval appearance. The vestibule is where the Vikings left their weapons, thus it is called the Weapons Room. The stone walls are 3 meters thick at the bottom. The church has Lutheran services every Sunday at 10 am and it is one of the most popular wedding churches in Finland.

  56. Someone was asking for an Orthodox Church, the Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki is very impressive. Highly recommend it. I had a guided tour there and the monk guiding liked us very much, so he said that if you happen to look in through this door when I open it, and he will not pretend to notice, we can see the jewel crusted table etc in there….and it was truly a magnificent sight!

  57. As a fellow American, you might be interested in New York’s St. Thomas Church with its choir of men and boys (only residential choir school in US) performing great works that are inspiring to all. The church is the Anglican rite and closely associated with Oxford and Cambridge in the UK. http://www.saintthomaschurch.org

  58. I have to include the call to prayer in Istanbul or Cairo at dawn, the incredible simplicity of walking into a Buddist temple when the chants are taken to heaven by the incense . My Episcopal faith encourages me to find God where I am and rejoice in His precense.

  59. I wish to list a few of the most spiritually-enriching places in Europe that I have visited. Some of the great sites like Assisi, Fatima, or Lourdes probably would make it on the list, but I have not visited those yet. Nonetheless, I think the following are more than worthwhile

    1) Rome: visit the whole city for a pilgrimage experience. There is a church around every corner you turn, and chances are that that church has the relics of a saint or some other holy relics in it. There are churches in Rome containing the relics of 7 out of all of the 12 apostles. I could make this whole list only on sites from Rome, so this paragraph will be slightly longer than the others. If I had to mention specific churches in Rome to visit as a pilgrim, these would be my top recommendations:
    St. John Lateran: is the cathedral of the capital of the Catholic Church. This, not St. Peter’s, is the Pope’s church, and it is definitely not as crowded as St. Peter’s. Mostly only pilgrims visit. Since this was the first legal church established in Rome, it was known as the mother church of Rome, and since Rome is the Catholic capital, Catholics around the world hail this as their mother church. In terms of hierarchy, this (but don’t quote me on this) the most important church in the world.
    St. Peter’s Basilica: It may be crowded with tourists, but because it is the largest church in the world and that most associated with the Catholic church it is a must-see. To greatly enrich your pilgrimage, I highly recommend the Scavi tour; I was within ten feet of St. Peter’s relics and was able to see the containers holding them. St. Peter’s basilica itself holds the relics of more saints than can be found in most cities in the world: 18 saints and blessed in all (but again, don’t quote me). My favorite relics other than those of St. Peter are those of the Apostles Sts. Simon and Jude. My father and I spent three hours in the Basilica, and that was the right decision. The basilica is so expansive that it requires this amount of time if you really want to see it. I highly, highly recommend the two other major basilicas, St. Mary Major and St. Paul outside the Walls, as well.
    The basilica of San Silvestro in Capite lays a claim to the relic of the head of St. John the Baptist. Again, really only locals and pilgrims visit here. The main relics that interested me inside the church was those of my Confirmation Saint, the martyr St. Tarcisius. We also were able to see the head of St. Sylvester inside the church, the Pope who founded St. John Lateran.
    The basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme probably holds a place in my heart separate from the rest of these basilicas mentioned above. It is special in its own unique way. I have a very strong personal devotion to the Passion of Jesus, and the church contains some very important relics pertaining to the Passion. Some might dismiss these relics as a legend, but I think that many times a legend derives from some truth, and there is probably more historical accuracy to the claims than most give credit. The relics contained are a piece of Jesus’ cross, the sign that hung above his head on the cross, a nail that pierced him, some thorns from the Crown of thorns, some pieces of the pillar where he was scourged, and some of the sponge soldiers used to offer him vinegar. It is a feeling that is hard to describe to know that all of these objects touched Jesus himself, and were the objects about which we read in the Bible that were directly involved with His death.

    2) Krakow, Poland: Even in Italy, it seems that many Christians in Europe today have lost their faith or become lukewarm; studies keep on reporting how few people go to church. Poland is an exception to this. It is refreshingly practicing. Krakow boasts that if there was no Rome, it would have the most relics in Europe, though I do not know how true this claim is. I was in Krakow to see Pope Francis at World Youth Day in 2016. For a long time I have loved and admired St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower. I was very blessed to stumble upon a church in Krakow where her remains had been moved temporarily for the event. If I had to recommend one holy site in Krakow to visit, I could recommend without thinking the Shrine of Divine Mercy on the outskirts. Pope Francis declared a Jubilee Year this year in honor of God’s Mercy, and Catholics understand this Mercy through a devotion called Divine Mercy. That devotion as it is known today started with a vision of Jesus to a Polish nun the convent in this shrine.

    3) Knock, Ireland: This is a miniature version of Fatima or Lourdes, built upon a sight where Mary appeared to a group of people. The shrine is well built up with many prayerful activities in which to take part. I think Knock best shows the soul of devoutly Catholic Ireland. The scenery is not necessary quaint and gothic (much of it is modern), but nonetheless, the soul of Ireland is most present here, and God and Mary are very present as well.

    4) Svata Hora, Czech Republic: This is another Marian shrine in Europe, built not on the sight of an apparition, but rather only housing a miraculous statue. The highlight for me was the heavenly beauty of the shrine: there are few churches I have encountered that are more beautiful. I could try to describe it, but I think it would be easier to understand if you looked up ‘Svata Hora’ on Google Images. I highly recommend doing this, and if you are planning on visiting anywhere near Prague, this is a must-see jewel.

    5) My final favorite pilgrim aspect of Europe is not a site itself; it is a time. I recommend traveling during a Jubilee Year, a holy year declared by the Pope. As I mentioned before, Pope Francis declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy this year, and I was blessed to travel during it. At the major Basilicas in Rome every Jubilee Year, a special Holy Door is opened, and pilgrims can receive graces (an indulgence, resulting in less time in purgatory; the doctrine of indulgences is complicated, and I will not address it here) simply by prayerfully walking through the door. This holy year, however, was historic. Pope Francis asked that Holy Doors become accessible to all the faithful, and that there be designated holy doors around the world. Thus, as I travelled around Europe, I was able to have my experience enriched by traveling through many holy doors of cathedrals and other churches, adding an extra highlight than just the relics or art or other highlights inside the church itself. Hopefully the tradition of worldwide Holy Doors will carry over into the next Jubilee Year.

  60. I always stop at the churches and cathedrals to pray for family back home. Whenever possible, we attend services. That has meant Palm Sunday at Notre Dame in Paris, Easter Sunday at St. Matthias in Budapest, in addition to many small chapels, baptisms, first communions. There is a communion there that binds people of many backgrounds and faiths.

  61. My tip is to attend a service. As a Catholic, I usually can find a place to go pretty easily. However, whatever your faith, find a service to attend. It is wonderful to see others from around the world with similar values, morals and religion. It is uplifting and will make you appreciate your hometown church that much more.

  62. get up early before anyone else and in the stillness listen to what God has to say. It’s the business of our lives…and travels that get us distracted…distracted from what only He can give us. Someday I hope to go to Norway where my grandparents came from but right now have to be content where God planted me and do traveling from my armchair. But the outdoors and solitude is always closeby no matter where a person lives….

  63. These aren’t in Europe, but the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral and Lands End in San Francisco are sites of powerful spiritual presence. I like this dimension of your journeying, Rick, thank you for including it in your blog. I plan to walk the Camino in September 2017.

  64. Hi Rick! I love all things Rick Steves! I had a miracle take place in Assisi. I ran into a former student in front of the Basilica. She literally lives only 40 minutes from me in North Carolina, but I had not seen her in four or five years. What are the odds? Truly a miracle! Thanks for all your travel inspiration!

  65. I have always stopped to watch your travels .. You bring a natural exuberance to everything you study. We can feel your friendship . I have always felt as though I were right there along side you.
    Friendship= Love = God .
    Thank you.

  66. We visited many churches in both Lucca and Venice, We especially liked visiting ST.JOHN’S church in Lucca where Puccini started out as a keyboard player. You can also go below the church and see evidence of Roman and Medieval times due to the Archeology going on there. The Duomo in Florence was very nice too…

  67. Rick, I hope you’re thinking about doing a piece in Germany next year on the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. Martin Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg supposedly occurred on 31 Oct 1517 – lots going on all over the country all year, but especially in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt.

  68. Rick,
    Thank you for sharing your spiritual insight. You painted beautiful pictures of your inspirational encounters.

  69. We were visiting Mennagio on Lake Como when we can across a small chapel in the middle of town. I never noticed a sign but we went inside to have a look my friends who are extremely talented singers remarked that the acoustics were wonderful. I encouraged them to sing something. So they sang “Jesus loves me”. I’ve never heard anything more beautiful. It was a memory I will never forget!

  70. When we are any where in Europe I light a candle in the churches we visit, to our family and our safety. It some how makes me feel good and it has always worked all these years.

  71. York Minster would be mine. Unfortunately we didn’t have a lot of time there but squeezed in as much as I could. Could hear evensong while I was wandering about. I loved that they had a book for all to leave prayer requests. There was such a peace there for me…

    St. Giles in Edinburgh is my other…Loved that location. Someone was practicing the organ while I was there…Quiet, worshipful, inspiring..and both made me want to return just to go back to those locations.

    Our faith travels with us. It’s not just a Sunday morning thing and then forgotten.

    I’m glad to hear you are a believer and fellow traveler. I would love to see more of those spiritual trips on your shows…

    Thanks for the travels…for now that’s the only way I can go…

  72. One of my favorite things to do in Paris is attend mass at Sacre Coeur. Listening to the nuns sing in French is divine even if you can’t understand what they are saying. The music moves your heart.

  73. Chartres Cathedral in France. As we sat in a pew meditating on the wonder of the stained glass windows and the mute testimony of the sculpture, a visiting acapella choir gathered behind us and sang hymns. It is a moment I hearken back to when I need to calm my heart.

  74. The Secret Church in the Attic in Amsterdam. It’s a museum now, and it’s small, but it’s beautiful and a testament to the Catholic faith of residents of Amsterdam during a time when Catholics were not allowed to worship openly.

  75. I’ve been in many churches and cathedrals, but one of the most beautiful is in Montalcino, Italy. This is the church of San’ Antimo and is wonderful in its simplicity. The inside is all white alabaster, has simple wooden pews, and Gregorian chants are always being piped in. I haven’t been there in years, but I continue to feel like I was in the presence of God when I went into the sanctuary.

  76. I had a very spiritual experience taking my Dad’s ashes to Dun Angus on the Aran Islands twelve years ago.

    I then traveled around Ireland for two weeks by myself, using your guidebook. I met and fell in love with my husband on that trip! I went to a pub that you suggested in order to hear music. I was just in his town for 1 day (2 nights). He tried to get me to stay longer, but your book said to only stay one day so I was off to Dingle the next day. I told him that he could meet up with me on the weekend. He said he needed to check work. I rang him the next day from Dingle and the phone went dead in the middle of convo. I left it at that. He ended up calling every hostel in Dingle to find me. We met up that weekend.

    He took me to the Cliffs of Moor. I sent him a photo of us there when I got back. He immediately renewed his passport and came to States six weeks later for Thanksgiving! We went back and forth for a year and then we married in Ireland. I live here now! He had not traveled much. His family said that he had never been past Belgooly (next town over), and here he was chasing me to America. Ha!

    Maybe there are others who fell in love when following your guidebooks? Might make a blog post? I wasn’t looking for this. I was on the trip to take my Dad’s ashes, but this happened. I moved here 11 years ago this month.

  77. Pray, Rick, pray! Talk to God as though your He is your best friend and next to you. The truth is He is. I watched your shows every day and why you sought out churches. I used to run marathons 15 in total and while running that is what I. Did was talk to God not to get me through the 26.2 miles but as if He were running with me. I talked about the worlds problems, my concerns the challenges that lay ahead, anything. I believe your talks will lead you where you need to go.
    Bonnie Lamb

  78. I like to attend worship services when I am in Europe on a Sunday. St. Sulpice Cathedral in Paris – High Mass with incense and 3 Bishops(?) performing the service in French and/or Latin. Very spiritual. I stayed after to hear the wonderful organ recital that takes place most Sundays as the organ has reputation as one of the best in Europe. I love the fact that thousands of worshipers have been in this space over the centuries.
    Bath Abbey in Bath, England – we were there on Remembrance Day weekend in 2013. Inside is a large book that has recorded the names, ages and addresses of the people who were killed by Nazi bombing raids in April, 1942, many of them women and children. The Abbey was a sacred place to me, remembering the somber past and being grateful that that war is over and I can appreciate life.
    Thanks for your good work, Rick!
    Blessings,
    Judy Bridges
    Atlanta

  79. I would add the La Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona. I truly felt joy and like the Holy Spirit was at work in the beautiful creation of Antoni Gaudi.

  80. I really enjoyed this blog and all the comments. My main spiritual moment was our group of ten’s communion service in “The Upper Room” in Jerusalem with an 11 year old experiencing his First Communion. The second would be a 5 hour commissioning service for 170 lay evangelists with amazing music in the Lutheran Cathedral in Dodoma Tanzania. On that trip we also worshipped under a tree in a Massai village. Visiting churches and temples while traveling is great but actually attending worship is even better, something I always try to do when possible.
    When a pastor was with us, we conducted our own worship in wonderful places: a farmyard outside Salzburg with the Alps for a dome, the salon of a 17th century chateau in France, a balcony of a guesthouse overlooking Lake Bled in Slovenia, and 5 times on cruiseships.
    As an organist (although not very good)I’ve started collecting churches where I got to play the organ such as the Rock Church in Helsinki,Bedok Lutheran Church in Singapore, the Rouen Cathedral, St. Jean Lutheran Church in Paris, and a village church in Zapel Germany with a pump organ.
    I have been so blessed in my travels to have walked where Jesus walked, sat where St.Paul sat (on the public toilets of Ephesus), and slept where Luther slept (in the hotel attached to Wartburg Castle). Amen

  81. I was please to visit the cathedral of St. Anne de Beaupre in Quebec for she is my patron saint. The beautiful stations of the cross outside as you walk up the hill was very moving.

  82. So glad to see you include Taize in the list, it does indeed get you close to God, I’ve been about 8 times now I think (I live in the UK). It was Taize that brought me back into Christianity.

    Great to see such a post!

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