Bibliography
Reading Resources for the World Traveller
Illume invites you to explore the world. Illume’s local expert guides make complex information accessible to participants in our programs. We encourage our world travelers to do some advance reading to inspire curiosity, stimulate questions and gain context for what you will see and experience. We have consulted scholars, pastoral leaders and group organizers for pre-reading suggestions. Here are some of the best books, films and articles to prepare you for your international travels.
The Illume bibliography is organized by destination. Enjoy!
All Roads Lead to Rome
Illume’s bibliography begins with the best books, articles and films about Rome, one of the most fascinating cities of the world. Its nearly 2800 years of history are etched in the archaeology, monuments, museums, art, urban layout and institutions and customs that make visiting here so rich and satisfying.
Illume Team Articles
The following articles about Rome prepare you for unique facets of the city and are written by members of the Illume team.
Doors of Mercy – A Brief History of the Holy Doors of Rome
Culinary and Wine Tour of Italy Just Outside Your Rome Hotel
Hidden Gems of Rome – The Borghese Gallery
The Basilica of San Clemente - Microcosm of Christian Life in Rome
Pilgrimage to Rome and Evangelization: Meeting the First Generation of Christians
Protestant Pilgrimages to Rome: Rome Belongs to You Too!
Multimedia About Rome
Here are some good multi-media resources and videos about ancient Rome and about Christian Rome.
360 Degree Virtual Tour of Saint Peter's Basilica from National Geographic
3D Views of Ancient and Modern Rome in Google Earth
Great multimedia site dedicated to Rome (in Italian)
General Introductions to Rome
These are recommend guidebooks and overviews of Rome.
To explore the vast arc of Roman history, Christopher Hibbert’s book, Rome: The Biography of a City is a great option. It reads well and offers a comprehensive account of the nearly 2800 years of Roman history.
For your free time in Rome, there is an engaging and accessible book on walks in Rome. John Fort and Rachel Piercey have put together a visual and narrative exploration of some of the more interesting neighborhoods of Rome in Rome Walks.
The DK Eyewitness Guide to Rome is a good visual introduction to Rome and includes important practical information about transportation, money, food, and other logistics of visiting Rome.
The Michelin Green Guide to Rome is a great resource for more in-depth information about select sites.
Historical Novels & Biographies About Rome
A great way to prepare for your visit is to read historical fiction. The following are suggested historical novels about Rome:
Galileo’s Daughter. By Dava Sobel. Walker and Company. Dava Sobel’s book on Galileo’s daughter is a fascinating account of the letters and relationship between Galileo and his daughter at the time of Galileo’s trial. It provides a dramatic window into the life and times of Rome and Florence during the 17th century.
Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling. By Ross King. Walker and Company. This is a well-acclaimed book about the relationship between Pope Julius and Michelangelo and the commission to paint the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. This is an excellent book for understanding Rome in the early 1500s and for gaining an appreciation for the background of the Sistine Chapel.
M: the Man Who Became Caravaggio. Peter Robb. This is a well-researched and well-written biography of Caravaggio. It is an engaging read and helps visitors learn more about Rome in the late 1500s and early 1600s. It helps us understand the intersection of art, religion and culture during a fascinating time in Roman history.
Augustus: The Life of Rome’s First Emperor. Anthony Everitt. Anthony Everitt’s book on Augustus is an engaging and informative biography. It provides a wonderful overview of ancient Rome and a window into the people, places and events that transformed Rome.
Other historical novels and biographies about Rome include:
The Pope and the Heretic: The True Story of Giordano Bruno. By Michael White.
Michelangelo: A Biography. By George Bull. St. Martin’s Griffin.
Benvenuto Cellini. Autobiography. Penguin Classics.
Lives of the Artists. By Vasari. Penguin Classics.
The Twelve Caesars. By Suetonius. Penguin Classics.
I am John. I am Paul. By Mark Tedesco.
Films About Rome
Rome has its own version of Hollywood with the studios of Cinecitta. Rome is a great setting for movies and has been popularized by such classics as Roman Holiday, Three Coins in the Fountain and, more recently, by Tom Hanks in Angels and Demons. The following are the best films about or set in Rome.
La Dolce Vita – 1960
Roman Holiday – 1953
Quo Vadis – 1951
Three Coins in the Fountain – 1954
Ben-Hur – 1959
Gladiator – 2000
I Claudius – 1976
Angels and Demons – 2009
Eat Pray Love – 2010
Under the Tuscan Sun – 2003
The Talented Mr. Ripley – 1999
Facing Windows – 2003
Saturn in Opposition – 2007
Books About Ancient Rome and Roman Archaeology
Rome is one of the most important archaeological destinations in the world. For centuries, Romans built lavish palaces, temples, and civic buildings to support their imperial profile and accommodate politicians, citizens and world visitors. The following are the best books for providing background information about Roman monuments, about contemporary Roman archaeological sites, and about the customs, beliefs and practices of life in ancient Rome.
Rome: Oxford Archeological Guides. Oxford Univ. Press. The Oxford Archaeological Guide to Rome is an excellent introduction to historical sites in Rome with maps and detailed historical information.
The Ancient City: Life in Classical Athens and Rome. By Peter Connolly. Oxford University Press. Peter Connolly’s book on the Ancient City is a visually stunning overview of the life, activities, customs and urban construction of ancient Roman cities.
Additional suggested books on ancient archaeological Rome include:
A Profile of Ancient Rome. By Flavio Conti. J. Paul Getty Museum.
Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome. By Chris Scarre.
Daily Life in Ancient Rome. By Jerome Carcopino. Yale Univ. Press.
As the Romans Did. By Jo-Ann Shelton. Oxford Univ. Press.
The World of Rome: An Introduction to Roman Culture. By Ed. Peter Jones and Keith Sidwell. Cambridge Univ. Press.
Ancient Rome: City Planning and Administration. By O. F. Robinson. Routledge.
Roman Architecture. By Frank Sear. Cornell Univ. Press.
Religions of Late Antiquity in Practice. Ed. Richard Valantasis. Princetown.
The Latin Inscriptions of Rome: A Walking Guide. By Tyler Lansford. Johns Hopkins U. Press.
Books on Early Christianity in Rome (for Early Christian Art - see separate heading below)
Rome preserves the greatest concentration of early Christian sites in the world. A visit to Rome provides an open window into early artistic expressions of Christian faith, access to the places where early Christians met, and the ability to explore the context of their life in adjacent Roman monuments. The people, places and events of the scriptures come to life in Rome as we follow in the footsteps of Peter and Paul and their compansions in ministry. These are some of the best books about early Christian Rome.
To understand the context of early Christianity in Rome and what distinguished it from ancient Roman religion, Rodney Stark’s book, The Rise of Christianity, Harper San Francisco, is one of the best and most accessible books.
If you are interested in exploring historical churches and excavations associated with them, Matilda Webb’s book, The Churches and Catacombs of Early Christian Rome: A Comprehensive Guide, Sussex Academic Press, is an excellent resource.
The following are additional suggested books exploring early Christianity and its relationship to Judaism and ancient Roman religion:
Judaism and Christianity in First Century Rome.By Ed. Karl Donfried and Peter Richardson. Eerdmans Publishing.
Pilgrimage: A Chronicle of Christianity Through the Churches of Rome. By June Hager. Cassell Paperbacks.
From Paul to Valentinus: Christians at Rome in the First Two Centuries. By Peter Lampe. Fortress Press.
Religious Experience in Earliest Christianity. By Luke Timothy Johnson. Fortress Press.
Rome in the Bible and the Early Church. By Ed. Peter Oakes. Baker Academic.
The Jews in Late Ancient Rome. By Leonard Victor Rutgers. Brill’s Scholars’ List.
The Jews of Ancient Rome. By Harry Leon. Hendrickson Press.
Among the Gentiles: Greco-Roman Religion and Christianity. Luke Timothy Johnson. Yale U. Press.
Reading Romans in Pompeii, Paul's Letter at Ground Level. Peter Oakes. Fortress Press.
The Roman Empire and the New Testament: An Essential Guide. By Warren Carter. Abingdon Press.
First Converts: Rich Pagan Women and the Rhetoric of Mission in Early Christianity. By Shelly Matthews. Stanford Univ. Press.
Rome: A Pilgrim's Guide to the Eternal City. By James L. Papandrea.
Papal Rome & Renaissance Rome
The 16th century was a watershed moment in the history of Rome. During ancient times, Rome boasted a population of over one million inhabitants. By the beginning of the 16th century, there may have been 50,000 people. In the 14th and 15th centuries, there were efforts to reclaim the grandeur of Rome, but it wasn’t until the early 1500s that the popes began to seriously invest in the rebuilding of Rome. These are recommended books about Renaissance Rome.
A good introduction to Renaissance Popes and their projects is Gerard Noel’s book, The Renaissance Popes, Carroll and Graf Publishers. This helps orient visitors to the various periods of time in Rome during the Renaissance and the Church leaders that influenced events, projects and perspectives.
A more academic overview of the Renaissance in Rome can be explored in Charles Stinger’s book, The Renaissance in Rome, Indiana University Press. This is a substantial overview of the philosophical, religious, artistic and cultural influences on Rome during the Renaissance.
A biography of Raphael provides a good insight into some of the personalities and themes of the Renaissance in Rome. Raphael, A Passionate Life, Antonio Forcellino, traces both Raphael’s origins and journey to Rome as well as the drama behind the artistic projects and personality clashes during the early 1500s.
For Ignatian and Jesuit heritage travel to Rome, John O’Malley’s book, The First Jesuits, is a good overview of the early years of the Order and the ministries the early Jesuits established during the Renaissance and Counter Reformation period of Rome.
Other recommended books on Renaissance and Papal Rome include the following:
Chronicles of the Popes. By P.G. Maxwell-Stuart. Thames and Hudson.
In the Footsteps of Popes: A Spirited Guide to the Treasures of the Vatican. By Enrico Bruschini. William Morro Pub.
Rome Reshaped: Jubilees 1300-2000. By Desmond O'Grady. Continuum.
Spanish Rome: 1500-1700. By Thomas James Dandelet. Yale Univ. Press.
Art of Italy (and Rome)
Italians have been blessed with some of the greatest artists of western civilization, and so much of this continues to be well-preserved and accessible to world travelers. Understanding the vast patrimony of Italian art is a daunting task. The following books help make sense of the different epochs of art in Italy. These are recommended books on art in Italy.
An excellent overview of Renaissance art in Italy is John Paoletti’s and Gary Radke’s book, Art in Reniassance Italy. Abrams Press.
For an introduction to the themes and examples of early Christian art, Robin Jensen’s book, Understanding Early Christian Art, is an accessible and informative option.
Other recommend books on art in Rome and Italy include:
Imperial Rome and Christian Triumph. By Jas Elsner. Oxford Univ. Press.
Baptismal Imagery in Early Christianity: Ritual, Visual and Theological Dimensions. By Robin Margaret Jensen.
Face to Face: Portraits of the Divine in Early Christianity. By Robin Margaret Jensen.
Picturing the Bible: The Earliest Christian Art. Edited by Jeffrey Spier.
Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture. By Richard Krautheimer.
Clash of the Gods: A Reinterpretation of Early Christian Art. By Thomas Matthews.
Unearthing the Past: Archeology and Aesthetics in the Making of Renaissance Culture. By Leonard Barkan. Yale Univ. Press.
Other Italian Cities/Regions
Illume Team Articles
Florence: Where Shopping Includes Historical and Cultural Opportunities
Meeting the Real Saint Francis and Saint Clare: Journeys to the Soul of Assisi
It's Not Just Ice Cream: Don't Forget to Try the Gelato
Assisi
Assisi is an enchanting medieval town that preserves the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare. It is the perfect place to spend time soaking in the serene Umbrian countryside, exploring artisan studios where colorful pottery is made, spending time in retreat, hiking to ancient hermitages, and seeing first hand some of the earliest art of Renaissance Italy.
These are recommended books to prepare for your travel to Assisi.
G.K. Chesterton’s biography of St. Francis, St. Francis of Assisi, is one of the classic books about his life.
Judith Dean’s book, Every Pilgrim’s Guide to Assisi, explores the history, destinations, festivals and practical information regarding a spiritual journey to Assisi.
For a visually stimulating introduction to the life and times of St. Francis, watch the movie: Brother Sun and Sister Moon (1972).
Florence
Florence is the most important center of art in the world. The patronage of the Medicis and other aristocratic families inspired a flourishing of painting, sculpture, and architecture in a city that continues to exude the sophistication and high Renaissance humanism for which it became so famous.
The following are the best books to prepare for your travel to Florence.
A good overview guidebook for Florence is the DK Eyewitness Guide to Florence. It includes information about all of the major sites, background information about the history of Florence, important people and events, and logistical information.
Christopher Hibbert’s book, The House of Medici: Its Rise and Fall, Harper Collins, is a fascinating account of the intrigue behind the rise of one of the most important families in Renaissance Europe. The book weaves together family stories and their relevance for the people, places, events and art of Florence.
Christopher Hibbert’s book, Florence, is also a great overview of the history of Florence.
Ross King’s book, Brunelleschi’s Dome, Bloomsbury, is an engaging story about how the iconic dome of Florence’s cathedral was built. It helps visitors appreciate how innovative it was and how it changed the course of architecture forever.
Susan Vreeland’s book, The Passion of Artemesia, Viking, tells the story of Artemesia Gentileschi, a female artist who fled Rome and settled in Florence, becoming the first woman to be elected to the Accademia dell’Arte.
Lauro Martines’ book, Fire in the City: Savonarola and the Struggle for the Soul of Florence, Oxford, provides in window into the religious politics of Florence. The true story underscores the tensions between Christian humanism and a more evangelical and conservative Christianity that some Dominicans sought to foster. The book provides another way of weaving together the stories of the Medici’s, the artists and the religious leaders of Renaissance Florence.
Films About Florence
Florence is a visually stunning city, and the Tuscan countryside is breathtaking. The following are best films that capture the people, stories and landscape of Florence and Tuscany.
Tea with Mussolini, 1999
Room with a View, 1986
Under the Tuscan Sun, 2003
Letters to Juiiet, 2010
Inferno, 2015
Venice
Venice is a romantic city that holds a deep fascination as modern visitors explore its canals, bridges, and quiet pedestrian areas winding from island to island. It is a city steeped in history, commanding an important presence in the Mediterranean over many centuries. The wealth is embodied in the golden mosaics of the Cathedral and in the sumptuous Doge’s Palace facing St. Mark’s Square. Here are a couple of books to prepare you for your visit to Venice.
DK’s Eyewitness Guide to Venice is visually helpful for making sense of the streets and canals. It includes practical information about riding the vaporetti (water buses) and information about museums, monuments and shops.
Julian Norwich’s book, A History of Venice, is an accessible and comprehensive history of Venice.
The Holy Land
Travel to the Holy Land is a vital part of the life of congregations, lay ministers, seminarians, students, scholars, and groups involved in interfaith and peace and justice dialogue. Given the broad spectrum of constituencies that travel to Israel and other Middle Eastern countries, illume suggests advance reading materials in three broad categories: pilgrim guides (spiritual preparation), archaeological guides (more scholarly preparation) and books that help travelers understand the political and cultural dynamics of Israelis and Palestinians.
Illume Team Articles
These are articles and essays authored by Illume team members about travel to the Holy Land.
Shopping in the Holy Land: Illume's Guide for Holy Souvenirs
Follow in the Footsteps of Jesus and Mary Magdalene to Magdala
In the Footsteps of Jesus: The Jesus Trail in Israel
A First Time Pilgrim in the Holy Land: Practical Preparations
Pilgrim Guides
A pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a very personal journey, and the journey outward is always a journey inward. Each of us begins in a unique place and travels with specific objectives. No guide book can unpack the significance of holy sites; only the individual pilgrim can do that. Illume recommends the following books to help prepare for your pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
An Illustrated Guide to the Holy Land for Tour Groups, Students and Pilgrims. Lamontte M. Luker. The guideis organized around various historical and religious sites, and each the author describes what is important to see and why, correlating this information with biblical references.
Jesus: A Pilgrimage. James Martin, SJ. A meditative exploration of sites in the Holy Land and their significance for accessing Jesus. It is lengthy and a good to bring along on your journey for evening reading, before or after visiting sites, and like having a great preacher in your pocket.
Excavating Jesus: Beneath the Stones, Behind the Texts. John Dominic Crossan and Jonathan Reed. A theological unpacking of archaeological sites with the idea of helping us understand the meaning of Jesus’ life, preaching and work, and underscores the contrast between Jesus and the Roman Empire.
Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of Jesus. Stephen Binz. A book and journal that couples important biblical passages with archaeological sites, and provides a nice structure for pilgrimage.
D.K. Eyewitness Travel: Jerusalem. A popular illustrated guide book as a useful reference and overview of sites and, as such, is indispensable.
The best archaeological guides to the Holy Land include:
Jesus and His World: An Archaeological and Cultural Dictionary. John Rousseau and Rami Arav. Combing archaeological information, stories about Jesus, and the cultural context of those stories. It is a reference book and includes helpful background information that is engaging.
The Holy Land. Oxford Archaeological Guide. Jerome Murphy-O’Connor. One of the standard archaeological introductions to the Holy Land, and includes important historical information, maps, and illustrations of the most important archaeological sites.
Political and Cultural Guides
The best reading for understanding the political and cultural dynamics of Israel and the Palestinian territories include the following:
The Palestine-Israel Conflict. Dan Cohn-Sherbok and Dawoud El-Alami. There is no easy way to make sense of the conflict between Israel and Palestinians. There are many perspectives and many truths that make an objective overview next to impossible. This book is helpful in that it is written from a Jewish perspective and a Palestinian perspective. You get both sides. It is a helpful introduction to understanding the political situation on-the-ground.
Israel: A History. Martin Gilbert. This is a long and detailed account of the formation of the State of Israel by a well-respected historian. As a book about Israel, it does not necessarily seek to fully explicate the Palestinian side, but neither does it seek to cover it over. A great historical overview.
Some other recommended books about travel to the Holy Land are:
Daily Life at the Time of Jesus. By Miriam Fenberg Vamosh. Concordia Publishing.
Exploring the New Testament World: An Illustrated Guide to the World Of Jesus and The First Christians. By Albert A. Bell, Jr. Nelson Press.
Women of Bible Lands: A Pilgrimage to Compassion and Wisdom. By Martha Ann Kirk. Liturgical Press.
Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths. By Karen Armstrong. Ballentine Books.
Blood Brothers. By Elias Chacour (with David Hazard). Chosen Books, 2003. This is the story of a Palestianian Christian from the Galilee region who recounts stories of his childhood after the establishment of the State of Israel. He is now a Melkite Archbishop who continues to work for peace, justice and reconciliation between Muslims, Jews and Christians particularly through educational institutions he has established in the Galilee region.)
Spain
Illume coordinates travel programs to Spain around different themes including Ignatian heritage in northeast Spain, the convivencia or heritage of three faiths in southern Spain, historic towns along the Camino de Santiago and Santiago de Compostela, programs that explore the historical and artistic heritage of Barcelona and Catalonia, and programs that bring people to Madrid, Avila, Segovia and Salamanca, exploring the heritage of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. Illume recommends the following books to prepare for your travel to Spain.
Illume Team Articles
The following articles are of special interest for travel to Spain, written by the Illume team.
Montserrat: Mountain, Madonna and Monks
Interfaith Lessons From Southern Spain
The Sagrada Familia: The Crown of Barcelona
Books About Spain
The following books are good introductions to some of the regions of Spain and important moments in its history.
The DK Eyewitness Guide to Spain is a good visually stimulating overview of sites in Spain with informative information about practicalities of visiting Spain including information about the unique schedule of Spaniards for work, sleep and eating. There are also DK guides to various cities in Spain if you want more detailed information.
Colm Toibin’s Homage to Barcelona, is an engaging chronicle of Barcelona – from its founding to contemporary life. For programs that spend significant time in Barcelona, this is a wonderful narrative to prepare you for your visit.
Ana Fabiano’s book, The Wine Region of Rioja, The Wine Region of Rioja, is a visually rich introduction to the Rioja region of Spain – with its beautiful scenery, history and wine. For those exploring the north central region of Spain, this is a good overview.
Three Faiths in Spain
From 711 when Tariq Ibn-Ziyad landed on the Iberian Peninsula until the fall of the Kingdom of Granada in 1492, Muslims, Christians and Jews lived together. The relationship between Muslims, Christians and Jews took different forms over those seven centuries. Some scholars speak of a convivencia or living together that was positive and respectful. People of different faith backgrounds created unique forms of art, architecture, language and culture. Some of the greatest libraries of medieval Europe existed in Spain under Muslim rule. Medicine, science and other academic disciplines flourished. But, in addition to respect, there was much antipathy, war and persecution. The following are the best books about the heritage of three faiths in Spain:
A Vanished World: Medieval Spain’s Golden Age of Enlightenment. By Chirs Lowney. is a very readable and enjoyable overview of the relationship between Jews, Christians and Muslims in Medieval Spain. It explores this world through illustrative stories of individuals.
The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain. By Maria Rosa Menocal. is one of the classic essays on the relationship between Jews, Christians and Muslims in Medieval Spain. It highlights the creative relationships that existed and that produced some of the great institutions (libraries) and monuments (the Mezquita, for example) in Spain.
The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise: Muslims, Christians and Jews under Islamic Rule in Medieval Spain. By Dario Fernandez-Morera. underscores more of the antipathy and problems that existed between Jews, Christians and Muslims in Spain. Much of the scholarship in recent years has tried to emphasize evidence that these three great religions have the capacity to get along and do so in a way that creates great culture. This book highlights problems with that model and evidence that things were not as good as they may have looked on the surface.
Other recommended books on the intersection of three faiths in Spain include:
Convivencia: Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Medieval Spain. By Ed. Vivian Mann et al. Braziller Publisher.
The Jews of Spain: A History of the Sephardic Experience. By Jane S. Gerber. Free Press.
God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe - 570-1215. David Levering Lewis. W.W.Norton.
A History of Medieval Spain, Joseph O’Callaghan, Cornell U. 1975.
Ignatian Heritage Programs
The following books are recommended for Ignatian (Jesuit) heritage pilgrimages and programs to Loyola, Javier, Montserrat, Manresa and Barcelona.
(include link here to this PDF file) Article by President Philip Boroughs, SJ, College of the Holy Cross: “Exploring an Institution’s Roots.”
A Pilgrim’s Journey: The Autobiography of Ignatius of Loyola. Translation and Commentary by Joseph N. Tylenda, SJ. Ignatius Press. 2001. This is a classic work written by St. Ignatius himself. It offers a window into the life, transformation and ministry of this visionary man.
An Ignatian Spirituality Reader. George W. Traub, SJ. (editor). Loyola Press. 2008. This is a collection of essays about Ignatian spirituality and the life of St. Ignatius. It is a good overview of the importance and impact of St. Ignatius on Christian spirituality.
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius: With Commentary. Joseph Tetlow, SJ. Crossroads. 2009. One of the great teachers of Ignatian spirituality has written this important commentary on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
Pedro de Ribadeneira, SJ, was one of the early companions of St. Ignatius and wrote this important contemporary account of his life. This is a new translation into English and helpful window into St. Ignatius’ life and times.
Biographies and Novels
Some recommended biographies and novels about Spain include the following:
The Life of St. Teresa of Avila. Autobiography. Penguin Classics. 1988. St. Teresa of Avila was one of the great mystics of Christianity and a woman who captured the spirit of the 16th century desire for renewal and reform. This autobiography is a rich window into the life, times and thought of St. Teresa.
Maria Duenas’s book, The Time In Between, is both a novel and movie. It is set during the Spanish Civil War and follows the life of a seamstress who travels with her fiance’ to Morocco, gets stuck, and eventually gets involved in a spy operation during WWII.
Carlos Luis Zafon wrote a series of thrillers and mysteries about Barcelona in the 1950’s including Shadow of the Wind, The Angel’s Game, and Prisoner of Heaven.
Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, is a classic tale of the running of the bulls in Pamplona and people and personalities from Europe who gather there.
A.B. Yehhosha has written an interesting novel about medieval Spain, A Journey to the End of the Millenium: A Novel of the Middle Ages.
Camino de Santiago
The revival of interest in walking the Camino de Santiago underscores the value of walking meditation, the spirituality of pilgrimage, and the transformation that occurs as we leave the familiar. The following are a couple of titles to help prepare you for the Camino.
The Pilgrims Guide to Santiago de Compostela, John Brierley. This is a good overview of the French route to Santiago with information about villages, accommodations and other logistics.
Camino de Santiago – Maps. John Brierley. This is a good practical map for pilgrims along the traditional French route of the Camino.
Ireland, England and Scotland
Illume hosts groups in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. These lands are rich with history going back to the Neolithic period, early Celtic communities, Roman colonies, early Christian monastic settlements, Viking structures, medieval villages and castles, and modern cities. Many of Illume’s programs explore religious heritage – so the following are recommended books for religious travel to Ireland, England and Scotland.
Illume Team Articles
The following are articles about travel to Ireland, England and Scotland written by the Illume team:
Guinness and a Show: The Live Music Scene in Dublin
The Other Side of Edinburgh: Dean Village and Stockbridge
Archaeological Guides and General Guide Books
Ireland: Oxford Archaeological Guide. The Oxford Archaeological Guide to Ireland is a great resource for understanding detailed history behind historical sites. The Guide includes maps, historical background and information about what there is to see at each site.
England: Oxford Archaeological Guide. The Oxford Archaeological Guide to England is a great resource for understanding detailed history behind historical sites. The Guide includes maps, historical background and information about what there is to see at each site.
DK Eyewitness Guide to Ireland. The DK Eyewitness Guide is Ireland is visually stimulating and provides useful overview information about major sites throughout each country.
DK Eyewitness Guide to England. The DK Eyewitness Guide to England is visually stimulating and provide useful overview information about major sites throughout each country.
Books on Celtic Christianity
Pre-Christian Celts did not leave much evidence of their spirituality or theology but, as Christianity emerged in Ireland and England, evidence of a unique tradition within Christianity emerged. The early monastic settlements were influential in both evangelizing this region of Europe and in shaping the future culture and civilization of Ireland, Scotland and England. Eventually Roman Christian traditions took hold, but the influence and heritage of Celtic Christianity remains strong and has gained appeal amongst pilgrims.
Christianity and the Celts. Ted Olsen. Intervarsity Press, explores the earliest contact and exchange between early Christianity and Celtic culture. The book includes a lot of important images that help illustrate and underscore spirituality and theology.
Celtic Christianity: Deep Roots for a Modern Faith. Ray Simpson, is a great overview both for the history of early Christianity in Ireland, Scotland and England and offers analysis of the rich traditions that are influencing contemporary Christianity. This helps pilgrims understand the fascination and appeal of travel to Ireland, Scotland and England to tap into this rich heritage.
How the Irish Saved Civilization, Thomas Cahill, Anchor, explores the role of Irish monks in preserving important books and manuscripts that Europe would have otherwise lost during the Middle Ages and how they contributed to important institutions and perspectives in Europe.
Other recommended books on Ireland and Celtic-Christianity in Ireland:
An Essential Guide to Celtic Sites and Their Saints. By Elizabeth Rees. Continuum.
Christianity and the Celts. By Ted Olsen. Intervarsity Press.
Ireland: A Novel. By Frank Delaney.
Irish Jesus: Roman Jesus: The Formation of Early Irish Christianity. By Graydon Snyder. Trinity Press International.
Malachy McCourt’s History of Ireland. By Malachy McCourt.
History and Culture of England and Scotland
King and Queens of England and Scotland by DK Publishing and written by Plantagenet Somerset Fry is an excellent overview of the history of royal families in the UK.
The Story of Britain from the Romans to the Present, by Rebecca Frasier, W.W.Nortan, is an engaging overview and narrative of the history of the British Isles.
London, The Biography, by Peter Ackroyd, Anchor, is a great story and overview of the city of London from its earliest times to modern.
Walking London, Andrew Duncan, IMM Lifestyle Books, provides 30 unique walking excursions through the city of London.
The Making of Scotland: Picts, Romans, Gaels and Vikings, by Tim Clarkson, Birlinn, is an informative exploration of the various peoples who helps shape and form Scotland.
The Spiritual Traveler: England, Scotland, Wales. By Martin Palmer and Nigel Palmer. Hidden Spring, is an excellent resource for organizing and leading pilgrimages to England, Scotland and Wales.
Other Recommended Books on England and Scotland
An Essential Guide to Celtic Sites and Their Saints. By Elizabeth Rees. Continuum.
Ecclesiastical History of the English People. By The Venerable Bede.
The Celtic Way of Prayer. By Esther de Waal.
Vision of God: Four Medieval Mystics and Their Writings. By Karen Armstrong.
Walking London: Thirty Original Walks In and Around London. By Andrew Duncan.
Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction. By David Macauly.
Films on England and Scotland and Ireland
Outlander is a TV/film series based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon about Claire Randall who travels back in time to the 1700’s and the Highland rebellions.
A Man for All Seasons, 1966, about Thomas More and Henry VIII.
The King’s Speech, 2010, about King George VI and the beginning of World War II.
Elizabeth, 1998, a captivating story about Queen Elizabeth I in her earlier years.
Elizabeth, The Golden Age, 2007, about the later reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
The Young Victoria, 2009, about the early years of Queen Victoria’s reign and her relationship with Prince Albert.
The Other Boleyn Girl, 2008, about two sisters who compete for the affection of King Henry VIII.
Turkey and Greece
Greece and Turkey once formed part of a vast region of Greek civilization. In addition to classic Greek sites such as the Acropolis in Athens, Apollo’s sanctuary in Delphi, and Olympia, some of the most important archaeological parks of Greek heritage are found in modern Turkey – including Ephesus, Aphrodisias, and Pergamon. Istanbul was once the great Eastern Roman capital of Constantinople and center of Byzantine art, learning and commerce. Under the Ottomans, Turkey became a great empire and wielded influence throughout the Middle East. It was to this region of the Roman Empire that St. Paul traveled and founded many of the most important early Christian communities. Travel to Greece and Turkey brings to life the people, places, events and institutions that formed the ancient Roman and Greek world of early Christianity, fosters greater interfaith understanding with visits to great Muslim monuments, and dazzles the senses with the food, spices, art and traditions that emerged in this crossroads of the world. Illume recommends the following books to prepare you for your travel to Turkey and Greece.
Illume Team Articles
These are recommended articles to prepare for your travel to Turkey and Greece written by members of the Illume team:
The Art of Meeting People and Negotiating Purchases at the Grand Bazaar
Meteora: The Monasteries in the Sky
The Greek Diet: Greek Food and Wine in Athens
Books About St. Paul and Early Christianity
A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey. By Clyde E. Fant and Mitchell G. Reddish. Oxford Univ. Press, is by far one of the most useful books for leaders of “Footsteps of Paul” programs to Turkey and Greece. It provides a good overview of what sites are important, their connection to biblical passages and events, and what monuments there are to see at each archaeological park.
In Search of Paul: How Jesus’s Apostle Opposed Rome’s Empire with God’s Kingdom. By John Dominic Crossan and Jonathan L. Reed. Harper SanFrancisco, is a book that draws a stark contrast between Paul and the Roman Empire and underscores the role he played in giving shape and form to the Gospel message in a cosmopolitan world. You will never read the scriptures the same way again – and, once you’ve visited these sites – Paul will come to life in a dramatic way. Excellent book.
Oxford Archaeological Guide to Greece. Oxford University Press is, like all of the Oxford Archaeological Guides, a great text for gaining detailed information into the historical sites such as Athens, Corinth, Delphi and other places in your itinerary through Greece.
Books on Istanbul
Istanbul: The Imperial City. By John Freely. Penguin Books. is a beautiful overview of Istanbul from Roman times to modern day.
Istanbul, by Orhan Pamuk, Vintage, is an evocative portrait of the enchanting city of Istanbul by one of the star authors of books about Turkey. The book explores both history, culture and the tensions in this complex metropolis.
Recommended Books on Early Christian Turkey and Greece
Theodora: Empress of Byzantium. Paolo Cesaretti. Vendome Press.
Ephesos: Metropolis of Asia: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Its Archeology, Religion and Culture. By Ed. Helmut Koester. Trinity Press.
Pergamon: Citadel of the Gods. By Ed. Helmut Koester. Trinity Press.
Philippi at the Time of Paul and After His Death. By Ed. Charalambos Bakirtzis and Helmut Koester. Trinity Press.
St. Paul’s Corinth. By Jerome Murphy O’Connor. Liturgical Press.
The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting. By Colin J. Hemer.Eerdmans.
Urban Religion in Roman Corinth: Interdisciplinary Approaches. By Daniel Schowalter and Steven J. Friesen. Harvard Univ. Press.
Imperial Cults and the Apocalypse of John: Reading Revelation in the Ruins. By Steven J. Friesen. Oxford Univ. Press.
Exploring the New Testament World: An Illustrated Guide to the World Of Jesus and The First Christians. By Albert A. Bell, Jr. Nelson Press.
Religions of Late Antiquity in Practice. Ed. Richard Valantasis. Princetown.
Becoming Christian: The Conversion of Roman Cappadocia. Raymond Van Dam, Univ. of Penn. Press.
Among the Gentiles: Greco-Roman Religion and Christianity. Luke Timothy Johnson. Yale U. Press
Biblical Turkey: A Guide to the Jewish and Christian Sites of Asia Minor. Mark Wilson.
Galatians Re-Imagined. Brigitte Kahl. Fortress Press.
Galatians and the Imperial Cult. Mohr Siebeck.
Reading Paul. Michael J. Gorman. Cascade Books.
