Neoclassical Basilica of Bom Jesus do Monte surrounded by gardens on a sunny day, a popular landmark and pilgrimage site, Tenoes, Braga, Minho, Portugal, Europe

The famous pilgrimage site of Santuario de Chimayo, New Mexico, United States of America, North America

Dhauligiri Shanti Stupa (Dhauli Peace Pagoda), completed in 1972 with the collaboration of Nippon Buddha Sangha, atop Dhauli Hills on site of ancient temple, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, Asia

Architectural detail of the ceiling of Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the papal enclave in Rome, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Mont-Saint-Michel bay and Abbey, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manche department, Normandy region, France, Europe

Basilica della Santa Casa, Piazza della Madonna, pilgrimage town of Loreto, Le Marche, Italy, Europe

Architectural detail of the ceiling of Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the papal enclave in Rome, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Pilgrims at Golden Rock Stupa (Kyaiktiyo Pagoda) at sunset, Mon State, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Wallfahrtskirche Kappele Wurzburg, built by Balthasar Neumann, Wurzburg, Franconia, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Stone of the Unction, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Zelena Hora, Czech Republic, Europe

Lit candles placed by devotees at sunset at the Shwesagon Pagoda, a 2500 year old Buddhist pilgrimage site, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Aerial of the Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Zelena Hora, Czech Republic, Europe

The Baháʼí Terraces (or the Hanging Gardens of Haifa) Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel

Aerial of the Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Zelena Hora, Czech Republic, Europe

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Candles placed by devotees at sunset in front of the golden Shwesagon Pagoda, a 2500 year old Buddhist pilgrimage site, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Balanced rock covered in gold leaf, major Buddhist stupa and pilgrim site, Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Tympanum above west door of abbey church of Ste. Foy (on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela) of Christ and the Last Judgement, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Conques, Midi-Pyrenees, France, Europe

Nave of Romanesque abbey church of Ste. Foy, on pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Conques, north of Rodez, Midi-Pyrenees, France, Europe

Pilgrims on Daimon-zaka Nachi tokaido pilgrimage route, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wakayama Prefecture, Honshu, Japan, Asia

Pilgrims at Umayyad Mosque, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Damascus, Syria, Middle East

Pilgrims wearing traditonal gabi (white shawl) at festival at rock-hewn monolithic church of Bet Giyorgis (St. George's), roof shaped like a Greek cross, Lalibela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrims wearing traditonal gabi (white shawl) at festival at rock-hewn monolithic church of Bet Giyorgis (St. George's), roof shaped like a Greek cross, Lalibela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrims wearing traditonal gabi (white shawl) at festival at rock-hewn monolithic church of Bet Giyorgis (St. George's), roof shaped like a Greek cross, Lalibela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ethiopia, Africa

Buddhist monks visiting the Atadage building in The Quadrangle, ancient city of Polonnaruwa, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Buddha figures inside Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Barletta Cathedral, Barletta, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Barletta Cathedral, Barletta, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, Barletta, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, Barletta, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Basilica of St. Nicholas, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Crypt, Lecce Cathedral (Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and Sant'Oronzo), Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Cathedral of San Salvatore, Aix-en-Provence, Bouches du Rhone, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral Basilica of Santa Tecla (Tarragona Cathedral), Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain

Our Lady of Constantinople, Co-cathedral of Ruvo di Puglia, Ruvo di Puglia, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Cathedral of S. Maria Assunta of Gravina in Puglia, Gravina, Bari, Alta Murgia, Apulia, Italy

Crypt, Cathedral, Trani, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Church of the Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Igreja da Ordem Terceira de Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo), Faro, Algarve, Portugal

Bom Jesus do Monte church interior, Braga, Minho Province, Portugal

Lecce Cathedral (Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and Sant'Oronzo), Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Lecce Cathedral (Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and Sant'Oronzo), Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Altamura, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral Basilica of Santa Tecla (Tarragona Cathedral), Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain

Cathedral, Trani, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Cathedral, Trani, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Crypt, Cathedral, Trani, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, San Pietro monumental complex, Monte Sant'Angelo, UNESCO, Foggia, Apulia, Italy

Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel, Monte Sant'Angelo, UNESCO, Foggia, Apulia, Italy

Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel, Monte Sant'Angelo, UNESCO, Foggia, Apulia, Italy

Chiesa di San Carlo al Corso interior, Noto, UNESCO, Noto Valley, Sicily, Italy

Capela Nossa Senhora da Agonia (Chapel of Our Lady of Agony), Viana do Castelo, Minho-Lima, Portugal

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Altamura, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Basilica of St. Nicholas, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Bust of Saint Nicholas of Myra blessing, 18th century, Basilica of St. Nicholas, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Lecce Cathedral, Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and Sant'Oronzo, Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Crypt, Lecce Cathedral, Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and Sant'Oronzo, Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Church of Santa Chiara, Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Basilica of St. Nicholas, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Crypt, Basilica of St. Nicholas, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Lecce Cathedral (Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and Sant'Oronzo), Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Lecce Cathedral (Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and Sant'Oronzo), Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Altamura, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Cathedral of San Salvatore, Aix-en-Provence, Bouches du Rhone, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral Basilica of Santa Tecla (Tarragona Cathedral), Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain

Capela Nossa Senhora da Agonia (Chapel of Our Lady of Agony), Viana do Castelo, Minho-Lima, Portugal

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Cathedral of Saint James of Compostela), UNESCO, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Cathedral of Saint James of Compostela), UNESCO, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Cathedral, Trani, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

San Nicolo Cathedral, Noto, UNESCO, Noto Valley, Sicily, Italy

Pilgrims at Umayyad Mosque, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Damascus, Syria, Middle East

Pilgrims at Umayyad Mosque, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Damascus, Syria, Middle East

Tympanum above west door of abbey church of Ste. Foy (on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela) of Christ and the Last Judgement, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Conques, Midi-Pyrenees, France, Europe

Sadhu (Holy Man) at Hindu pilgrimage site, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Balanced rock covered in gold leaf, major Buddhist stupa and pilgrim site, Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Sadhu (Holy Man) at Hindu pilgrimage site, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Exterior facade dating from 1750, of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Christian pilgrimage destination, Santiago de Compostela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Galicia, Spain, Europe

The Pak Ou caves, a well known Buddhist site and place of pilgrimage, 25km from Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Retablos, Ex Votos, Parish of the Immaculate Conception, Catholic pilgrimage site, Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosi state, Mexico, North America

Balanced rock covered in gold leaf, major Buddhist stupa and pilgrim site, Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

The Pak Ou caves, a well known Buddhist site and place of pilgrimage, 25km from Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Sadhu (Holy Man) at Hindu pilgrimage site, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

The Pak Ou caves, a well known Buddhist site and place of pilgrimage, 25km from Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monks offer butter lamps. Bodgaya, india. Monks offer butter lamps in front of mahabodhi temple marks site of buddha’s enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Monks offer butter lamps. Kalachakra initiation, bodhgaya. India. Monks attending kalachakra initiation at mahaboudhi temple in bodhgaya, india. mahabodhi temple marks site of buddhas enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Monks offer butter lamps. Bodgaya, india. Monks offer butter lamps in front of mahabodhi temple marks site of buddhas enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Budhist lamas in prayer, bodhgaya, india. Monks attending kalachakra initiation at mahaboudhi temple in bodhgaya, india. mahabodhi temple marks site of buddha’s enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Monks offer butter lamps prayer, kalachakra initiation, bodhgaya. India. Monks attending kalachakra initiation at mahaboudhi temple in bodhgaya, india. mahabodhi temple marks site of buddha’s enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Montserrat is a mountain near Barcelona, in Catalonia. It is the site of a Benedictine abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat, which hosts the Virgin of Montserrat sanctuary. Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain range near Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. It is part of the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range. The main peaks are Sant Jeroni (1,236 m), Montgrós (1,120 m) and Miranda de les Agulles (903 m). It is well known as the site of the Benedictine abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat, which hosts the Virgin of Montserrat sanctuary. Montserrat literally means "saw (serrated, like the common handsaw) mountain" in Catalan. It describes its peculiar aspect with multitude of rock formations which are visible from a great distance. The mountain is composed of strikingly pink conglomerate, a form of sedimentary rock. Montserrat was designated as a National Park in 1987. On this mountain we will have access to the Monastery of Montserrat which houses the virgin that gives its name to the monastery, although it is also known as La Moreneta

Inside Basílica de Santa María la Real de Covadonga catholic church in Cangas de Onis, Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain, Europe. In 1777 a fire destroyed the old temple, which stood adjacent to the Holy Cave where Our Lady of Covadonga is revered. It was then decided to raise a new church as a monumental sanctuary, raising donations from all of Spain; the plan was opposed by the local council, as the canons wanted to rebuild the temple of the Holy Cave and build an ambitious sanctuary that had once been designed by Ventura Rodríguez, but never completed. One century later, the project was resumed by King Alfonso XII of Spain, who was interested in completing this work. The classic design of Ventura Rodríguez was very difficult and expensive and was replaced by a new neo-Medieval design.

Our Lady of Covadonga. The Blessed Virgin Mary, and a Marian shrine devoted to her at Basílica de Santa María la Real de Covadonga catholic church in Cangas de Onis, Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain, Europe. In 1777 a fire destroyed the old temple, which stood adjacent to the Holy Cave where Our Lady of Covadonga is revered. It was then decided to raise a new church as a monumental sanctuary, raising donations from all of Spain; the plan was opposed by the local council, as the canons wanted to rebuild the temple of the Holy Cave and build an ambitious sanctuary that had once been designed by Ventura Rodríguez, but never completed. One century later, the project was resumed by King Alfonso XII of Spain, who was interested in completing this work. The classic design of Ventura Rodríguez was very difficult and expensive and was replaced by a new neo-Medieval design.

Zaouia (tomb) of Moulay Idriss II, medina Fez. Morocco

Detail, Door of Zaouia Sidi Ahmed Tijani, medina, Fez.Morocco

Courtyard, Zaouia (tomb) of Moulay Idriss II, medina, Fez. Morocco

Facade of Zaouia Sidi Ahmed Tijani, medina, Fez.Morocco

Zaouia Sidi Ahmed Tijani, medina, Fez.Morocco

Women praying, Courtyard, Zaouia (tomb) of Moulay Idriss II, medina, Fez. Morocco

Rock hewn monolithic church of Bet Giyorgis (Church of St. George) in Lalibela, Ethiopia

A young girl sitting against the walls of Bet Medhane Alem (Church of the World Savior) in Lalibela, Ethiopia

Rock hewn monolithic church of Bet Golgotha (House of Golgotha Mikael), known for its arts and said to contain the tomb of King Lalibela) in Lalibela, Ethiopia