Holy Places: How Pilgrimage Changed the World

by Kathryn Hurlock

'One simply cannot do justice to Kathryn Hurlock's vivid and remarkably wide-ranging page-turner' Country Life

This year, as they have for millennia, many people around the world will set out on pilgrimages. But these are not only journeys of personal and spiritual devotion - they are also political acts, affirmations of identity and engagements with deep-rooted historical narratives.

Kathryn Hurlock follows the trail of pilgrimage through nineteen sacred sites - from the temples of Jerusalem to the banks of the Ganges, by way of Iona, Lourdes, Amritsar and Buenos Aires - revealing the many ways in which this ancient practice has shaped our religions and our world. Pilgrimages have transformed the fates of cities, anointed dynasties, provided guidance in hard times and driven progress in good. Filled with fascinating insights, Holy Places unveils the complex histories and contemporary endurance of one of our most fundamental human urges.

462 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 6, 2025

Reviews

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. It has the usual places of pilgrimage but also some lesser known ones. A really good diverse selection in terms of faiths, geography and ethnic groups.

[Julie Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating journey through the history of pilgrimage. We follow the trails of nineteen sacred sites and how they have changed over the years. So interesting.