List of holy cities
This is a list of cities that various groups regard as holy. Cities may be either considered holy in themselves (as Mecca for Muslims), important sites for worship or study (Fatima for Catholics), or the high seat of particular religions (Moscow for Russian Orthodox). Within each section the cities are ordered by their importance to the group. Groups are listed alphabetically.
Akko Site of the tomb of Bahá'u'lláhHaifa Second most holy site to Bahá'í, administrative headquarters of the churchShiraz House of the Báb
Bodh Gaya where Gautama Buddha's attained EnlightenmentSarnath where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha was foundedKushinagar where Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana, and was crematedLumbini commonly recognized as the birth site of Gautama Buddha
Lhasa
Bethlehem Birthplace of JesusJerusalem Site of Jesus's crucifixion as well as other biblical eventsNazareth Site of many of Jesus's acts and miraclesAntioch Once the center of Christianity In addition, various Christian denominations have seperate holy cities:
EchmiadzinJerusalem
JerusalemVatican City Center of the Catholic ChurchSantiago de Compostela Site of the tomb of St. James the GreaterSanto Toribio de Liébana Marian shrinesMexico City Popular pilgrimage site after a 16th century appearance of Our Lady of GuadalupeKnock Popular pilgrimage site after a 19th century appearance of the Virgin MaryLourdes Popular pilgrimage site after a 19th century appearance of the Virgin MaryFatima Popular pilgrimage site after a 20th century appearance of the Virgin Mary
Constantinople Once the center of the Catholic ChurchMount Athos Site of 20 monasteries
AxumLalibela
Moscow The center of the Russian Orthodox Church
Canterbury, Kent The center of the Anglican Church
Wittenberg Martin Luther posted his 95 ThesesGeneva earliest center of Calvinism London location of John Wesley's conversion & earliest HQ of Methodism
Independence, MissouriNauvoo, IllinoisSalt Lake City, UtahPalmyra, New York
BenaresMathuraUjjainAllahabadMaduraiDwarkaAyodhyaGayaKanchipuramSomnath
Mecca Holiest city in Islam. Location of the Ka'aba, focus of the Hajj.Medina Second holiest city in Islam, site of Masjid al-Nabawi, where Muhammad is buried.Jerusalem Location of The Dome of the Rock where Muhammad ascended through the heavens to God
In addition to the cities listed above under IslamNajaf Site of the tomb of Imam Ali in Imam Ali Mosque, who the Shi'a consider to be their founder. Also site of Wadi-us-Salaam cemetery.Karbala tomb of Husayn bin Ali in the Mashad al-HusainMashhad -site of burial of Imam RezaQom -site of the shrine of Fatima Masoumeh, sister of Imam Reza
- Mount Abu, site of the Dilwara Temples
- Shravanabelagola
Jerusalem has for several thousand years been the main holy city of the Jews. There are also three other "holy cities" of less importance to the Jewish people. These cities -- Tiberias, Safed, and Hebron -- have played important roles in Jewish history, and were (along with Jerusalem) the main centers of Jewish population in Palestine between the Roman conquest of Jerusalem and the 19th century. - Jerusalem - Ancient capital of the Kingdom of Israel, mentioned repeatedly in the Torah, site of First and Second Temples and the remaining Western Wall
- Hebron -site of Cave of the Patriarchs, traditional tomb of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah and Leah. Capital of Ancient Israel before King David moved it to Jerusalem. Also revered in Islam.
- Safed -site of another important tomb, as well as a center of Kabbalah mysticism as practiced by Isaac Luria. Much of the Jerusalem Talmud was written near Safed.
- Tiberias, last meeting place of the Sanhedrin, site of a number of important tombs.
- Ise Site of Grand Shrine of Ise
- Nagoya Site of Atsuta Shrine
- Izumo Site of Grand Shrine of Izumo
- Kyoto Site of other important shrines, such as Yasaka Shrine, Fushimi Inari Shrine and Iwashimizu Shrine. This was also the old capital where the Emperors once resided.
- Amritsar Site of the most holy location in Sikhism, the Golden Temple
- Nankana Sahib The Birth place of Guru Nanak. the founder of Sikh religion.
See also - Pilgrimage
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