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BATTLE OF HERACLEA (HERACLEA BATTLEFIELD)

December 7, 2015 By Howard Kramer 2 Comments

Policoro, Italy (280 BC) The Battle of Heraclea was arguably the first truly large scale military engagement between the Romans and a comparable opponent, the Greek colony of Tarentum in Southern Italy.  Fought at a time when various Greek powers still ruled most of the Mediterranean region, it was an effort to contain the growing menace of the Romans, who were in a position … [Read more...]

BATTLES OF SYRACUSE (SYRACUSE BATTLEFIELD)

December 7, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Syracuse, Italy (415-413 BC) The civilization of Greek city-states reached its height in the period after the defeat of the Persian invasions of Europe and before the rise of Alexander the Great.  During this period the Greeks found ample opportunities to turn their armies against each other, most notably during the Peloponnesian War.  Fought primarily on the Peloponnesian … [Read more...]

BASILICA OF THE HOLY CROSS IN JERUSALEM

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Rome, Italy The Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem is one of the great churches of Rome.  Home to an assortment of relics related to the Crucifixion of Jesus, it was historically and ironically the least important of the city’s traditional pilgrimage churches.  Nevertheless it is one of the seven recognized pilgrimage churches of Rome, despite the fact that it is neither … [Read more...]

APOSTOLIC PALACE

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Vatican City Although the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican is just one of three official residences of the Pope, it is the one which most pilgrims to Rome are familiar with.  Adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica, it is one of Europe’s most magnificent residences, on par with Buckingham Palace in London or the Royal Palace of Madrid.  It is also the world’s single greatest … [Read more...]

ANCIENT CHRISTIAN MONUMENTS OF RAVENNA

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Ravenna, Italy The city of Ravenna in Northern Italy is famous for its place in Christian history, not for its association with any great Catholic saints.  But this unlikely former capital of Roman Empire is home to over half a dozen essentially intact churches and other Christian sites which date back to the 5th and 6th centuries.  This amazing collection of churches from the … [Read more...]

BASILICAS OF ST. MARY MAJOR & OUR LADY OF DIVINE LOVE

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Rome, Italy Rome is home to a number of churches which are classified as Marian shrines; two of these, the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love, are among the most important Catholic churches in the world.  Although ranked after St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s and St. John’s Basilicas, both of the churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary are among the … [Read more...]

CHURCH OF ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Rome, Italy As if Rome did not already boast enough world class churches filled with the tombs of the Church’s honored dead, the Eternal City is home also to the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola at Campus Martin.  Ironically, St. Ignatius is not buried here, but at the Mother Church of the Jesuits, also in Rome.  However, Robert Bellarmine, one of his most important successors … [Read more...]

MOTHER CHURCH OF THE JESUITS

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Rome, Italy As if Rome did not already boast enough world class churches filled with the tombs of the Catholicism’s honored dead, the Eternal City is home also to the Church of the Gesu, or the Mother Church of the Jesuits.  The Jesuits, the most famous post-medieval Catholic order, was the brainchild of Ignatius of Loyala.  Despite his Spanish heritage, he established the … [Read more...]

BASILICA OF SAN DOMENICO

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Siena, Italy Siena, one of the oldest cities in Italy, was the home town of Catherine, one of the towering female Christian figures of the Middle Ages and one of only three women to be designated as a Doctor of the Church.  During her years as a Dominican disciple, she used Siena as a base for her travels throughout Italy and France, where she worked diligently to achieve … [Read more...]

BASILICA OF ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Padua, Italy Italy has produced more than its share of great saints.  But few have risen to the popularity of Anthony of Padua, considered to be among the greatest theologians and speakers of his age.  An important disciple of Francis of Assisi in the early days of the Franciscan Order, he distinguished himself by surpassing Francis in church honors and, despite all humility, … [Read more...]

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THE COMPLETE AMERICAN PILGRIM – NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

THE COMPLETE PILGRIM

Welcome to The Complete Pilgrim(TM)! This site, created by Howard Kramer, is a combination travel blog and online guide to the world's greatest sites of religious interest (with some historic and recreational places thrown in for good measure). All written content has been originally researched and produced and is provided free for public research and enjoyment. Thank you for visiting!

Site of the Week

WITTENBERG CASTLE CHURCH

WITTENBERG CASTLE CHURCH

Wittenberg, Germany The … [Read More...]

Friends of TCP Spotlight

5 PLACES TO VISIT IN HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA – MUSLIM TRAVEL ROCKS

5 PLACES TO VISIT IN HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA – MUSLIM TRAVEL ROCKS

by Glory Ali The City of Brotherly Love offers tons to see and do and get this, it’s FREE. That’s right you heard it right it’s FREE. Click here for complete article  

MOVING THE U.S. EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM – FAITH IN FAITHS

MOVING THE U.S. EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM – FAITH IN FAITHS

by Mary Neuhauser President Trump recently announced his intentions to move the United States Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, thereby recognizing Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel. The purpose of this article is to give you a brief overview of what this decision means and why it matters. Click here for […]

Photo of the Week

BASILICA OF ST. DENIS

Last month, I visited one of the most fascinating churches I have ever been to, the almost completely ignored Basilica of St. Denis in the northern suburbs of Paris.  Almost every French monarch is buried here, and almost nobody goes here.  Here are some pics I took:

Basilica of St. Denis

Tomb of Clovis

Tomb of Clovis

Tombs of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Tombs of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Tomb of Louis XIV The Sun King

Tomb of Louis XIV The Sun King

Royal Tombs

Royal Tombs

The Crypt

The Crypt

 

 

 

 

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Contact Us

Have a comment, a great photo or a religious site you'd like to nominate for the weekly spotlight? We would love to hear from you. Email us at hkramer@thecompletepilgrim.com.

About the Author

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is the culmination of years of his work and passion.

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