Sacred Summer: Vacation Destinations with a Holy Twist

Make like Pope Francis this summer and go to a sacred place to find your spirituality!

You may have heard about Pope Francis’s recent trip to Israel and Palestine, where he made quite the impression among locals and attempted to bring accord between the two nations by arranging peace talks at the Vatican. And with the arrival of summer, you might want to take a page out of Pope Francis’s book and travel to a destination that has some spiritual or religious significance. It’s always a great idea to take a vacation during summer, and what better way to strengthen your faith and spirituality during this season than to visit a place that is considered sacred ground for many people? In fact, here are some amazing locations around the world that you might want to check out so you can hopefully find your inner peace.

Uluru (Australia)

A sacred sanctuary right smack in the middle of the Australian Outback.

Australia is known for many things such as their beautiful shores and cosmopolitan coastal cities, but there’s more to this nation than meets the eye. Deep in the arid heart of Australia lies a popular tourist destination considered sacred ground by the Aborigines: Uluru. Formerly known as Ayers Rock, this majestic stone formation with its distinct rust-colored palette has been hailed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and still continues to be the site where Aboriginal societies living near the area perform their holy rituals.

Mahabodhi Tree (India)

Perhaps you might achieve enlightenment when you stop by this majestic tree!

In Buddhism, the Bodhi Tree is known as the place where Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment. And it just so happens that there is a temple in India where a direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree is proudly standing and serving as an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists. The Mahabodhi Tree is located within the grounds of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India, and is known for sheltering a beautiful statue of Buddha underneath its verdant foliage.

Mount Sinai (Egypt)

A mountain so famous in many religious texts, hospitals are named after it!

Anyone who has ever read the Bible or seen films or TV shows based on biblical stories would be familiar with Mount Sinai. As one of the most well-known locations mentioned in Christian, Jewish and Islamic texts, this place served as the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. Because the mountain is mentioned in various religious faiths, it’s not unusual for visitors to see chapels and a mosque located in the general area of Mount Sinai.

Glastonbury Tor (England)

A mountain so famous in many religious texts, hospitals are named after it!

England has a rich history that extends to places with deep religious or spiritual significance and Glastonbury Tor, located in the pastoral landscape of Somerset, is a great example. With its ancient Celtic roots and eventual role a site for Christian settlers during the early medieval period, Glastonbury Tor serves as an important landmark for the English--it even has ties to myths related to King Arthur!

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