A pilgrimage tour is both spiritual and educational. What better to way to learn the teachings of your religion than by visiting the sites where the religion began and was nurtured? Medieval religious monuments were built to glorify the greatness of God but were also educational in nature. The architecture, sculpture and windows of the medieval churches, basilicas and cathedrals are indeed lessons in scriptures and religious history. But a pilgrimage is also most assuredly a deeply spiritual experience providing the opportunity to reflect upon the immensity, beauty, and glory of the Creator. It is very often a humbling experience: visiting sites of the first Christian congregations, or cathedrals that required centuries of religious dedication and devotion for completion, sites of Christian matyrdom, tombs of the original Apostles, or contemplating the acts of sacrifice and penance performed by the medieval pilgrim. Very often a particular site visited during the tour will leave the individual with a sense of otherworldliness or absolute awe.

Each individual will have personal reasons for undertaking a pilgrimage tour, ranging from simple curiosity to a search for inspiration to a call from God. Almost all return home with a more profound understanding of their religion and a stronger bond with fellow church members. Many are more fervent in the practice of their faith following a pilgrimage. And, of course, we hope all feel a renewed closeness to their God.

Church Choir Concert Tours
Pilgrimage tours organized by Ambassador Tours may also be performance tours for church choirs, adding yet another dimension to the religious experience. Ambassador Tours can arrange for your church choir to sing to the glory of God in great Cathedrals, basilicas, and small village churches across Europe.

Our most popular pilgrimage tours include:

Rome and Vatican City
Since Emperor Constantine recognized the Christian religion, pilgrims have made their way to Rome to pray at the tombs of Peter and Paul. The spiritual capital for one billion Roman Catholics around the world, Rome remains the number one pilgrimage destination for Christians.

The great apostle Peter was matyred on Vatican Hill where Constantine would later construct the original St. Peter’s Basilica in 337. In the 16th century, Pope Julius II commissioned the new St. Peter’s Basilica, calling upon the premier artists and architects of the Renaissance and Baroque periods: Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, Barigioni and others. From this location have resided and reigned the popes, shaping the destiny of Europe for hundreds of years and guiding the world’s Roman Catholic congregation to this day. The Lateran Treaty of 1929 instituted the Vatican’s status as a state within a state. In addition to St. Peter’s Basilica in The Vatican, the surrounding city of Rome is the site of numerous churches and basilicas many of which house saints’ bodies or major relics and/or were the site of Church-approved apparitions or miraculous events.

Most pilgrimage tours include other cities in Italy in addition to Rome. Located in the region of Umbria in the town of Assisi, St. Francis Basilica is a world-famous pilgrimage site for people of all faiths. Despite the millions of tourists, the town maintains an unspoiled quality where one continues to feel the presence of St. Francis and his teachings. After his conversion, he led a life of absolute poverty and good works. The Basilica of St. Francis is the burial place of the saint. Construction was begun only two years after his death in 1226. Decorated by the foremost artists of their day -most notably the frescoes by Giotto – St. Francis Basilica maintains an ambiance of simplicity and serenity. Also in Assisi is the Basilica of St. Clare. Clare founded the Order of Poor Clares, a group of women who followed the teachings of St. Francis. Her tomb is located in the Basilica of St. Clare.

Other religious sites which may be included in a pilgrimage tour to Italy: the Church of Corpus Domini in Bologna where the body of St. Catherine of Bologna remains incorrupt; the Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel located on the eastern coast of Central Italy; the Cathedral of Orvieto, site of the eucharistic miracle that occasioned the proclamation of the Feast of Corpus Christi; and Siena, birthplace of St. Catherine, home to St. Bernardine and site of one of the longest ongoing eucharistic miracles in the world.

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The Road to Santiago Pilgrimage Tour
Tradition tells us the apostle, James, journeyed to Spain from Judea to spread the Christian word in 40 A.D. When he returned to Judea, he was martyred by Herod. His remains were taken to Spain by boat and lay hidden for 800 years. The name Santiago de Compostela is believed to have originated from Campus stellae or “field of stars” in Latin. Strange stars were said to have hovered over a field where in 814 St. James’ remains were uncovered. The original cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was built over the tomb of St. James. Throughout the Middle Ages millions of Christians traveled to Santiago de Compostela in Spain to pay homage to the shrine of St. James (Santiago), most traveling hundreds of miles through France and across the Pyrénée Mountains, following one of the four official pilgrimage routes. Only Jerusalem and Rome were more popular as pilgrimage sites during the Middle Ages. These pilgrims went in hope of redemption and often traveled for years. In recent years, Santiago has experienced an upsurge in the number of pilgrims visiting the site. Modern pilgrims include people of all faiths seeking healing and renewal while following a time-honored tradition. It is now the third-largest holy city of the Christian world. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is one of the finest in all of Europe: a magnificent collection of apostles, prophets, and angels. Around the Cathedral is an ensemble of historic buildings with few equals in Europe.

To add depth and retrospection, your Santiago Pilgrimage Tour can follow one of the four medieval pilgrimage routes through France and Spain. Along these official routes were built glorious religious buildings in Romanesque style and many of them remain. Starting points of the original pilgrimage routes were Paris, Vézelay (Burgundy), Le Puy (Auvergne), and Arles (Provence). Each of these cities offers spectacular historic religious sites: Notre Dame de Paris, the Basilica of Vézelay, the Statue of the Virgin Mary perched upon one of the volcanic pinnacles in Le Puy, and St. Trophime Church in Arles. En route to Santiago, you will visit diverse regions each with its own tradition, dialect, cuisine, and culture. One or more stays in monasteries may be included in the tour to enhance the spiritual experience. A stop at the shrine of Lourdes in southwest France can also be incorporated into a Road to Santiago Tour.

Following in the Footsteps of Paul and John through Greece and Turkey
Jesus sent his apostles outside the Holy Land to spread his message to other parts of the world. Peter, Paul, and John were most influential in this endeavor. Paul especially succeeded in translating Jesus’ message in a way which would hold meaning for people from other cultures and backgrounds. Most of the New Testament, including all the letters of Paul, most of Acts, and the book of Revelation, are set in either Turkey or Greece. In a 7-14 day tour through Greece and Turkey, it is possible to visit sites from Paul’s second and third journey’s: Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, and Rhodes.

A short cruise of 3-5 days includes a stop on the Greek island of Patmos to visit the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse where John wrote the book of Revelations. The tour can also include stops at the Seven Churches of Asia mentioned in Revelations: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

In addition to the religious sites, the tour includes incredible ancient and Roman archaeological sites and the natural wonder of Pamukkale in Turkey. A perfect way to end the tour is with a stay in the magnificent city of Istanbul. Those interested in the Bible and biblical history cannot miss this city, so important (as Byzantium or Constantinople) in the history of the Christian Church. It is also a fascinating site for comparative religious study in a secular society where most inhabitants are Muslim.

Other possible Pilgrimage Tours include: Fatima in Portugal, Santo Domingo de Silos Monastery in Spain, Our Lady of Knock in Ireland, and the major Cathedral towns of France.

Contact us to arrange this tour for your group.

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