Top 10 Christian Sites to Visit around the World

The Appian Way is an ancient highway, built between 312 - 264 B.C., located approximately 5 miles outside of Rome. It reaches from Rome to Brindisi, Italy, about 430 miles, and served the ancient world as a military and trade route. The road was a marvel of Roman engineering as proven by the fact that it is still used today.

And what's truly incredible is that the Apostle Paul from the Bible walked the Appian Way as he was forced to march to Rome to be imprisoned for his faith in Christ. As he walked bravely toward his fate in Rome, other Christ followers discovered Paul's route and went to meet him along the way, some walking more than 40 miles to find him. This is documented in the book of Acts.

"And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage."

– Acts 28:15

In addition to walking on the same road as Paul, the Appian Way is also home to two Christian catacombs, where visitors can take underground tours to see early Christian burial sites.

A 10-mile portion of the Appian Way is now part of the Parco dell'Appia Antica, an Italian park that works to preserve the road. The park is open to visitors and even has a visitor center which provides information about the park.

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It was on Patmos, a Greek island located in the Aegean Sea, where the Apostle John was exiled by Emperor Domitian sometime around 95 A.D. During his exile on the island, John experienced the apocalyptic visions recorded in the book of Revelation. 

"I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."

– Revelation 1:9-11

Tourists can visit Patmos via a ferry that departs from Piraeus, Greece, and carries visitors to the island. On the island, you will find the Cave of the Apocalypse, the area where John is said to have dictated the book of Revelation, a monastery, as well as cafés and restaurants. Parts of the island are UNESCO World Heritage protected sites.

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The Apostle Paul spent approximately three years preaching in Ephesus. One location of his teachings was at the hall of Tyrannus, likely some sort of school. Some believe the structure may have been near the Library of Celsus, which was built around 125 - 135 A.D., about 60 - 70 years after Paul's death in approximately 64 A.D. While the hall is no longer standing, the Library of Celsus remains and is a major tourist attraction. There are also guides who will take you on biblical tours of the city.

"And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There, he found some disciples."

– Acts 19:1

"And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks."

– Acts 19:8-9

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Most scholars agree that this is the well where Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman. It's located in Nablus, which is about 37 miles north of Jerusalem. A church, called The Church of Jacob's Well has been built around the well, as have others over the preceding decades, likely to protect the site. The church welcomes visitors who, after descending the stairs to the crypt, are able to see the well, which is roughly 41 meters deep.

"So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."

– John 4:5-7

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John Bunyan, author of the immensely popular Christian novel The Pilgrim's Progress, was born in Bedfordshire, England, and near there is where you can begin a day trip peering into his life. If you'd like, you could stop over at a famous bed and breakfast and make it a two-day voyage.

In Bedford, you'll find the John Bunyan Museum, which holds displays depicting his life, and a library filled with writings by him and his peers. According to the library's website, "Alongside writings by John Bunyan and his contemporaries, the library houses biographies of Bunyan and other historical figures." The space is small, but there is room enough for researchers to study Bunyan's works. Please note that this is done by appointment only. There's also a space for church services, which are held on Sundays at 11 AM and 6:30 PM.

After the museum, you could drive south, about 27 miles, to Bedfordshire and visit Harlington Manor, a modern-day bed and breakfast. It's also the place where Bunyan is believed to have been interrogated by Justice of the Peace, Sir Francis Wingate, for preaching the Bible without a license. Bunyan is said to have been held for one night in the building before being transferred to Bedford County Geol, where he spent the next 12 years in prison. 

According to Breakpoint Colson Center, "initially sentenced to three months, under the condition that he would stop preaching, Bunyan famously replied that he was willing to suffer 'till the moss shall grow on mine eyebrows, rather than thus to violate my faith and principles.'"

From Harlington Manor, you could drive further south to London, a distance of about 42 miles, and visit Bunyan's final resting place at Bunhill Fields Burial Ground.

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This massive Catholic cathedral provides a breathtaking look at master architecture, human engineering, and sheer beauty. Construction began in 1163 A.D. and continued over the following two centuries to 1345. The church holds mass several times a day, seven days a week, and is renowned for its artwork, sculptures, and stained glass. There is no charge to enter the cathedral. However, it's worth noting that you can reserve a time for admittance at no charge in order to streamline the process and reduce time spent waiting in line.

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Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Billy Graham Library sits on 20 acres of land that offers 40,000 square feet featuring displays of the various works and life experiences of the beloved Christian pastor, Billy Graham. There's also a bookstore, a café, and a memorial garden where guests can visit the graves of Billy Graham and his wife, Ruth Bell Graham. The library is open Monday through Saturday, and admission is free. 

Graham tirelessly conducted evangelical outreach, known as crusades, from 1947 to 2005, where he touched millions of lives by spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. According to Lifeway Research, Graham preached to approximately 215 million people during live events, and roughly 2.2 billion people heard him preach in total, including live events, the radio, magazine articles, etc. It's estimated that 2.2 million people turned to Christ after hearing him preach.

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The Museum of the Bible, located in Washington, D.C., is a six-story museum displaying exhibits and immersive experiences that delve into the Bible and explore the beauty of God's Word. There are artifacts, including early copies of the New Testament, coins from antiquity, and Bibles that are of rare print. Visitors can also experience an immersive recreation of first-century Nazareth and walk through streets as they looked in Jesus's time. Additionally, there are interactive games for children, displays on the Bible's impact on America, and rotating special exhibits. Admission for members and children up to four years old is free. Beyond that, tickets for admission range from $19.99 to $29.99, depending on age and military, first responder, or student status.

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The Charles Spurgeon Center, located in Kansas City, Missouri, holds roughly 6,000 texts from Spurgeon's personal library and contains exhibits showcasing major life events of this major league Christian preacher. Although scheduled tours are encouraged, brief tours are given upon request. It's important to note that those who wish to perform research or examine texts from Spurgeon's library must make an appointment and apply for scholar's access to study these resources.

Charles Spurgeon, who is said to have read The Pilgrim's Progress at six years old, preached thousands of sermons throughout his life. According to the Christian History Institute, "Today, there is…more material written by Spurgeon than by any other Christian author, living or dead."

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Located in Williamstown, Kentucky, the Ark Encounter brings the Old Testament story of Noah to life. The encounter features a life-size ark, true to the dimensions laid out in the Bible, at 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high. There are also three decks filled with exhibits to immerse visitors in what life may have been like for Noah aboard the ship, featuring possible living quarters, lessons on animal life, a storage area, and a display from the Museum of the Bible.

Interestingly, recent reporting stated that the actual remains of Noah's ark may be close to being discovered in Turkey. A boat-shaped formation found in the ground in eastern Turkey at the Durupinar site has led scientists to investigate the area. The site was originally discovered in the 1950s, but soil samples taken recently suggest ancient wood is beneath the surface.

A Fox News report stated that the soil results show "significantly higher levels of organic matter and potassium compared to surrounding areas," according to a recent statement from the organization Noah's Ark Scans, which has been researching the area. Additionally, the boat-shaped formation is 515 feet long, which is in line with the biblical account of the ark. Moreover, according to Noah's Ark Scans, previous 3-D ground scans "struck subsurface features." They also "show a 234-foot central corridor and angular structures, potentially rooms or corridors, extending up to 20 feet deep. These right-angled formations, uncommon in natural geological processes, suggest intentional design."

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