930 Items Tagged

Religion

Ballymena, Northern Ireland

Slemish Mountain

A brisk climb up this solitary peak leads to the origin story of a towering figure in Irish history.

Scribes often penned dramatic curses at the beginning or end of books in the Middle Ages.

Protect Your Library the Medieval Way, With Horrifying Book Curses

Medieval scribes protected their work by threatening death—or worse.

Sarah Laskow November 9, 2016

Permanently Closed

Salt Lake City, Utah

Ralphael Plescia's "Christian School"

Incredible sculptures inspired by obscure passages from the Bible.

The ramparts and towers were restored in the 1850s.

Sintra, Portugal

Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors)

An ancient and majestic fortress that played an integral role in Portugal's road to independence.

El Campello, Spain

El Campello Moors and Christians Festival

In this coastal town, the time-honored tradition of reenacting the struggle between the Christians and Moors includes the arrival of the Moorish fleet.

The new tower, just like the old one

Zabytkowa Dzwonnica (Cloud Demon Repelling Tower)

This tower in a small Polish village uses the power of a sacred bell to ward off mischievous weather spirits.

<em> 3 Roads to Eternity</em> by François Georgin.

This Map Shows The Future of Your Immortal Soul

Just in case you needed a reminder that you are most likely on the road to damnation.

Mariana Zapata October 31, 2016

The Edicule.

Found: The Original Walls of the Cave Where Jesus Was Buried

The walls, enclosed in a marble structure, were thought to have fallen long ago.

Sarah Laskow October 28, 2016

Although there are two spigots, only red wine is provided

Villa Caldari, Italy

Cammino di San Tommaso Fountain of Wine

An Italian vineyard invites religious pilgrims to stop by 24/7 to get their drink on, for free.

A beguinage in Bruges, Belgium.

The Medieval Movement of Holy Women That Shaped Belgian Cities

The devout, wandering mystics were consigned to beguinages, which are now prime tourist spots.

Tom Cassauwers October 25, 2016

The shrine for the relics of the Apostle St. Thomas, Basilica in Ortona

Relics of the Apostle St. Thomas

The relics of one of Jesus' 12 apostles are enshrined in this Italian Basilica.

Voodoo artifacts at New Orleans' Historic Voodoo Museum.

9 Sacred and Superstitious Voodoo Sites You Can Visit Today

Where to pick up fetishes, voodoo dolls, animal bones, hexes, and curses.

Molly McBride Jacobson October 20, 2016

Shammar, Mongolia

The Mother Tree

This spiritual landmark for practicers of Shamanism is drenched in milk and vodka and covered in blue scarves.

Smith Wigglesworth in 1919.

The Unverifiable Legend of the Early 20th-Century Preacher Who Raised 14 People from the Dead

Meet Smith Wigglesworth.

Erik Shilling October 13, 2016

Permanently Closed

Washington, D.C.

Church of Two Worlds

A Spiritualist house of worship where believers communicate with the dead in the spirit world.

The 1848 woodblock print “Portrayal of Mount Fuji” (Fujisan no zu) by Utagawa Sadahide, featured in Cartographic Japan: A History in Maps published by the University of Chicago Press.

A Religious Cult Believed They Could Be Reborn Inside Mount Fuji's 'Womb Caves'

A 19th-century map describes a hidden network of lava caves.

Lauren Young October 10, 2016

The Quiet Comeback of Istanbul's Hidden Sufi Lodges

The banned dervish halls are scattered through the city.

Joshua Allen October 10, 2016

Selçuk, Turkey

Yedi Uyurlar Mağarası (Cave of the Seven Sleepers)

Seven early Christians were sealed into a cave where legend has it they slept unharmed for centuries.