- Barcelona in the 16th century
On February 18, 1523, Ignatius left Manresa for Barcelona to find passage to the Italian coast. While waiting some 20 days, Ignatius was eager to find persons to converse on spiritual topics, to visit local convents and monasteries, and to befriend people along the streets. In front of the Church of San Justo, a lady by the name of Isabel Roser was so impressed by his teaching with students that she and her husband invited him to stay in their home. She later became his greatest lifelong benefactress in Barcelona, Paris and Venice.
- St. Peter's in Rome during the 1520's
When Ignatius arrived in the city of Rome, the new St. Peter's was still under construction. Part of the old Constantine church could still be seen within the new walls and the open cupola. During Easter week, it was customary for pilgrims to ask the pope's permission for their Holy Land pilgrimage. The present pope, Adrian VI (perhaps even recognizing Ignatius) granted the apostolic blessing and permission to make the journey to Jerusalem.
- The City of Venice
We know nothing of the itinerary of Ignatius to Venice except that he arrived there about the middle of May. And in the manner of the past, during the day, he begged for alms to provide himself with food, at night he slept under the porticoes of the piazza around St. Mark's Cathedral.
- Ignatius discovered by Marcantonio Trevisano
Marcantonio Trevisano, a distinguished senator of Spanish origin, responding to an inspiration during the night, discovered the pilgrim under the arches of the piazza and found lodging for him at the home of a wealthy Basque and a former benefactor of the Teutonic Knights. In the following days the host then took him to the palace of the Doge of Venice where he obtained entrance and an audience with the great leader of the Venetian empire.
- Andrea Gritti, Doge of Venice
When the Doge of Venice, Andrea Gritti, heard of the pilgrim's intention to go to the Holy Land and of their mutual military backgrounds, Andrea Gritti saw to it that Ignatius would be allowed free passage on the official state ship, the Negrona, which was to take government officials to Cyprus including the governor of the island and then on to the final destination.
- Corpus Christi procession in Venice
The magnificent annual Corpus Christi procession at Venice usually took five hours with the Doge leading off, escorted by ambassadors city officials, clergy, monks and artistic guilds with their banners and accompanying music. Each pilgrim to the Holy Land was given a candle by the Doge and the pilgrims generally departed on the earliest ship available flag of Holy Land alerted departure - a tradition that had gone back for generations.
- Map of Cyprus - 16th century
The government ship weighed anchor July 14, 1523 with Ignatius and seven other pilgrims, including three Spaniards, one Italian and three Swiss one of which was Peter Fussli, a bell-maker from Zurich who left to posterity a vivid and detailed diary of the journey which allows us to know exactly the places that were frequented by the pilgrims. They sailed for four weeks down the Dalmatian coast stopping along the way for water and supplies including the island of Crete and arrived at Famagusta ...... , Cyprus.
- Port of Jaffa
From Cyprus (August 19) they journeyed on to the ancient town and port of Jaffa where they arrived August 31st and disembarked the ship with the required Turkish guides as escorts on the final segment of their trip to Jerusalem.
- Jaffa Gate and David's Tower in Jerusalem
It was recorded that they entered the Jaffa Gate in silent prayer on September 4, the Holy City of Jerusalem. That earlier dream of Ignatius which had dominated the previous year, "to kiss the earth where our Lord himself had walked" somehow seemed fulfilled.
- Jerusalem of Gold at sunset from Mt. Olives
In later years Ignatius related to his friend and companion Peter Favre that a "consuming fire of love had seized upon him as the mysteries of Christ's life and passion were renewed before his living gaze and how, as a result, his resolve was strengthened to remain there his whole life."
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
Each day the moving program of pilgrimage brought Ignatius new joy. The pilgrims held a vigil at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The sites visited were the same sites visited by a modern tourist: the Garden of Gethsemane, Mt. Olives, the tombs of the Valley of Kidron, the Pool of Bethsaida and the Via Dolorosa among others.
- Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
On September 8 they walked to Bethlehem to the ancient Church of the Nativity, built by St. Helen in the fourth century, where they had Mass in the ancient cave, the traditional sight of the birth of Jesus Christ.
- Cave of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
- Typical Turkish camp at the Dead Sea
Later they rode down to Jericho, with a large mixed group of pilgrims, Turks and pagans, perhaps 200 including 30 guides and along the road they were robbed of their money, food and drink. Undeterred they continued on toward the ancient town of Jericho and to visit the Dead Sea.
- Jordan River at traditional crossing
Nearby they visited the traditional site where John the Baptist had baptized Christ along the Jordan River. According to the diary entry "some bathed; some washed hands and face, some swam to the other side. . . some Turks on horseback made free of our clothes, robbing our pockets."
- Church of the Ascension in Jerusalem
On return to Jerusalem, Ignatius broke from the group, to visit Mt. Olives again and to see the Church of the Ascension ...... to view the footprint of Jesus, which was imprinted upon the earth as he ascended, and could be seen inside the Church, bribing the Turkish guard with his pen knife as an entrance fee. Later, visiting the Franciscan monastery, he made his pious wish to remain in the Holy Land but it was bluntly refused, considered too dangerous by the Franciscan provincial, Angelo Ferrara, who quoted the full powers conferred on him by the Pope in such matters. That was sufficient for Ignatius.
- Holy Sepulchre inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
During the final hours in Jerusalem, Ignatius and the pilgrims spent an all-night vigil before the Holy Sepulchre where three of their numbers were to receive knighthood. The Franciscan friars finished the ceremony after midnight by singing the Te Deum and in the morning Mass was celebrated.
- Map of route to and from the Holy Land of Ignatius
Journeying back to the ship at the port of Jaffa, the group was held hostage for seven days largely without food or fresh drinking water at the town of Ramlah ...... , where the pilgrims nearly perished had not the captain of the ship come to rescue them with payment. Ignatius made his return journey along this route.
