Faith travel is an increasingly popular segment of group travel. Pilgrimages, visits to holy sites and mission and humanitarian trips all fall under this category of travel, requiring group leaders to consult an experienced tour operator when planning trips for their members.
Track Luther’s steps as you stroll through his cloisters and church in Geneva. Admire his desk, pulpit and academy where he taught students about Protestantism.
Italy
Faith-based travel is a growing segment of group travel that encompasses pilgrimages to holy sites and religious destinations as well as mission and humanitarian trips, pastor-led retreats and congregational leisure trips.
Italy, known for its long Catholic history, is one of the top choices for faith-focused tours. From visiting sacred art exhibits at Turin’s Holy Shroud Museum to exploring stunning works of architecture found throughout northern Italy, your group will leave this experience feeling inspired and revitalized.
Benedictine College students enrolled in Foundations of Christian Culture class took a trip to Italy this spring with their professor. This trip provided an intense version of their semester program and included visits to Rome, Florence, Assisi Subiaco and Montecasino as they explored Catholic intellectual tradition while connecting beauty in nature with art, religion, relationships and relationships.
Spain
Religion remains strong in Spain despite centuries of conflict between Catholicism and Islam, Judaism, and the Protestant Reformation. This can be seen through Spain’s varied architecture which blends Muslim building practices with northern Christian church-building techniques for church construction as well as some Al Andalus flair.
The exhibition’s 46 works, from the iconic Fuentiduena Apse to a diminutive ivory chess piece, showcase an era when cultural adaptation and appropriation were celebrated instead of seen as divisive. They also show how this period saw artistic ideas cross boundaries rapidly: Muslims embraced Romanesque and Gothic art while Christians adopted elements of Al Andalus into their pieces.
Portugal
Faith-based group travel can take many forms: pilgrimages, mission and humanitarian trips, pastor-led retreats or congregational leisure tours. Whatever the trip’s goal or intent may be, consulting an experienced tour operator with this type of planning experience is vital.
Personal space in American culture is less revered than it might be elsewhere; therefore it is commonplace for individuals to touch during conversations or interlock arms and kiss when greeting; however such displays of affection are generally inappropriate in business or formal settings.
Portugal was historically known for being a highly Catholic nation, and religion remains an integral component of Portuguese life today. RTP provides half an hour of religious programming every week on their state-run television channel, while Galveias Palace hosts an art exhibit dedicated to historical Jewish ties in Portugal. Additionally, numerous events and monuments commemorate Aristides de Sousa Mendes who helped rescue Jewish victims during World War II by acting as its ambassador in Nazi Germany.
France
Faith-based group travel tours represent an expanding segment of the tourism industry. These excursions may involve pilgrimages to holy sites, humanitarian missions, retreats led by pastors or congregational leisure tours.
Traveling with a faith-based group can be an enriching experience for many people, allowing you to see the world from fresh angles and uncover deeper meaning in life. But what exactly constitutes faith-based travel and how can you plan a meaningful trip for your community?
Planning a spiritual-oriented trip? For best results, work with an experienced tour operator that offers such tours on an ongoing basis. They can recommend cities, provide unique experiences, and ensure the tour runs smoothly for your group.
