pilgrimage: Quick Facts

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The Kaaba in Mecca during the hajj

The Western Wall in Jerusalem

Map of the Iberian Peninsula highlighting the main pilgrimage routes of the Camino de Santiago across Spain, Portugal, and a portion of southern France. Color-coded lines trace the Finisterre, Frances, Ingles, Norte, Portugues Central, Portugues Coastal, and Via de la Plata routes, all converging toward Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. Major cities along the routes, such as Lisbon, Porto, Burgos, Leon, and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, are labeled.

Santiago de Compostela

Bodh Gaya, India

Haridwar: pilgrims along the Ganges River

Witness the annual hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca, Saudi Arabi

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Topics

pilgrimage travel worship ritual faith healing Fire walking monasticism mysticism prophecy religious experience asceticism heresy

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Key People

Detail from the 1375 Catalan Atlas by Abraham Cresques showing Mansa Musa, king of Mali, seated on a throne holding a gold coin, with a Tuareg on camelback approaching.

Mūsā I of Mali

emperor of Mali

Peter Bartholomew

Peter Bartholomew

French pilgrim

Cima da Conegliano, Giovanni Battista: Saint Helena

St. Helena

Roman empress