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ROCK OF GIBRALTAR & JEBEL MUSA

June 26, 2016 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Gibraltar and Morocco (426 m, 842 m) – Sites of the Pillars of Hercules The Rock of Gibraltar on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula and Jebel Musa on the northern tip of the Maghreb region of Africa have long been associated with each other.  Flanking the highly strategic Straits of Gibraltar, these two mountains marked the end of the known world in ancient times.  … [Read more...]

MONTE D’ANETO & MONTE PERDIDO

June 26, 2016 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Spain/France (3,404 m, 3,355 m) – Highest Peaks in the Pyrenees Monte D’Aneto and Monte Perdido are two of the largest mountains that form the backbone of the Central Pyrenees on the border of France and Spain.  The former is the tallest mountain of the Pyreness, and the latter is the centerpiece of Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park.  Monte D’Aneto is named for the nearby … [Read more...]

BATTLE OF LAS NAVAS DE TOLOSA (LAS NAVAS DE TOLOSA BATTLEFIELD)

December 8, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Las Navas de Tolosa, Spain (1212 AD) The Battle of Las Navas De Tolosa was the greatest Christian victory against the Moors in Spain and one of the most decisive engagements of the Reconquista.  It ended the Almohad campaign to retake Iberia and ultimately set the stage for their loss of the entire peninsula and their toehold in Western Europe.  It also reinvigorated the … [Read more...]

ALHAMBRA PALACE

April 14, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Granada, Spain When the monarchs of medieval Europe still dwelt in dim, brooding castles, the Moors of Spain were building light and airy pleasure palaces the likes of which hadn’t been seen in Europe since Roman times.  After most of the Moorish kingdoms fell to the Reconquista, the Alhambra survived well into the 1400s.  For centuries the Alhambra was the greatest royal … [Read more...]

CATHEDRAL OF ST. MARY OF THE SEE

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer 1 Comment

Seville, Spain During the late Middle Ages and Renaissance eras, the Spanish monarchs endeavored to make their country a bastion of the Church, both religiously and politically.  During this era, no other major power was as closely tied to Rome as Spain.  In recognition of this, the Iberian Peninsula was adorned with countless new churches.  The greatest of these, without … [Read more...]

BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Zaragoza, Spain St. Mary Major in Rome may be the most important of all Marian shrines, and Lourdes may be the most famous; but it is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza that can boast being the oldest church in the world devoted to the Virgin Mary.  Dating as far back as the 1st century AD, it commemorates Mary’s miraculous appearance to James the Greater … [Read more...]

CONVENT OF THE ANNUNCIATION

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer 2 Comments

Alba de Tormes, Spain The relatively unassuming Convent of the Annunciation in the picturesque town of Alba de Tormes in Central Spain is the site of the tomb of Teresa of Avila, one of only a handful of woman to be designated a Doctor of the Church and perhaps the greatest female theologian in Christian history.  The convent, one of a score that she founded, unexpectedly … [Read more...]

WALLED CITY OF AVILA

December 20, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Avila, Spain When it comes to walled cities, Avila in Spain is about as impressive as it gets.  Although it may lack the fairy-tale aesthetics of Carcassone or Rothenburg, few other surviving walled cities in Europe convey the true military importance of defensive fortifications as well as Avila does.  Absolutely dominating the surrounding hills and cityscape, from certain … [Read more...]

ST. GEORGE CASTLE

December 19, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Lisbon, Portugal The Castelo de Sao Jorge is the largest and arguably the most magnificent castle in Portugal.  Of all the urban castles in capital cities in Western Europe, Sao Jorge is probably second only to the Tower of London in England.  Standing in the very heart of Lisbon, the castle and its predecessors have guarded the city since Roman times and perhaps earlier.  One … [Read more...]

SEGOVIA CASTLE

December 18, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Segovia, Spain The Alcazar of Segovia is considered by many to be the definitive castle of Spain.  Partially dating as far back as Roman times, Segovia Castle has served as a military base for both Arab occupiers and Christian crusaders, a royal residence and a military school.  It has since been restored to its former royal splendor for tourism.  Its postcard-perfect design … [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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