Spain

Construction on the cathedral first began in the 12th century and continued up until the 17th century. As part of the Old Town of Avila, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. More Information Official site

This basilica is built on traditional burial site of Saint Vincent, a young deacon martyred for his faith in the 4th century under the reign of Diocletian. The church houses his relics and those of fellow martyrs Sts. Sabina and Cristeta. More Information Official site

According to ancient Christian tradition, Mary appeared to the apostle James the Greater as he was preaching in Spain. In 40 AD, while facing severe discouragement, St. James was praying on the banks of the Ebro River when the Blessed Mother appeared to him on a column, encouraging him to persevere in his missionary efforts. This apparition is unique because Mary would have bilocated while still alive in Jerusalem or Ephesus....

This 17th-century church, run by the Discalced Carmelites, marks the spot where St Teresa of Avila is believed to have been born. The church houses a museum dedicated to her life and works. More Information Official site

Church in the town of St. John of the Cross’s birth More Information Castila y Leon tourism site

The fifteenth of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1581. More Information Soria tourism site Author’s Note It’s unclear which church is associated with the original convent - the one pinpointed on this article, or the nearby Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor (as noted, possibly incorrectly, on Soria’s tourism site). Regardless, the convent is still actively functioning. -JMM

St. John of the Cross founded the convent in 1588 and led the community as prior until 1591. His head and body are located in a side chapel. Although no longer an active monastery, the site serves as a sanctuary for spiritual exercises. Pope St. John Paul II visited the site in 1982. More Information Official site

The eigth of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1571, and also the place of her death in 1582. Today the main altarpiece houses St. Teresa’s incorrupt heart and arm. More Information Official site Information in English

The eleventh of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1575. This convent does not appear open to the public. More Information Seville tourism site

The last of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1582. More Information Burgos tourism site - Note: website not active at time of writing Author’s Note Many of the websites associated with this site were not working at time of writing. -JMM

The first of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1562. Visitors can explore the church, cloister, and St. Teresa’s cell, now a chapel dedicated to prayer. More Information Official site - Note: website not active at time of writing Avila tourism site

The twelvth of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1576. More Information Caravaca tourism site Article from Murcia Today

The sixteenth of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1582. Co-founded with St. John of the Cross. More Information Official site - Note: website not active at time of writing Information from the Federacion Virgen del Carmen

The third of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1568.

The second of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1567, and also where she met and influenced St. John of the Cross. Now houses a museum. More Information Castila y Leon tourism site Medina del Campo tourism site - Note: website not active at time of writing

The ninth of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1574.

The fifth of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1569.

The thirteenth of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1580. More Information Villanueva de la Jara offical site

The fourth of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1568.

The sixth of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1569. St. John of the Cross may have written his Dark Night of the Soul and Ascent of Mount Carmel here. In 1836 the convent was confiscated by the Spanish government, but in 1855 was reoccupied by Conceptionist Franciscan nuns. Today it serves as a Conceptionist convent and Teresan museum. More Information Pastrana tourism site

This cathedral is the reputed burial place of Saint James the Great, one of the twelve apostles. According to tradition, his tomb was rediscovered in 814 AD by St. Pelagius the Hermit. One of the most famous pilgrimage destinations in the world, it lies at the end of the Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James. Today the church is the centerpiece of the larger Santiago de Compostela UNESCO World Heritage Site....

The seventh of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila in 1578. Its secluded setting reflects her desire for a life dedicated to prayer and contemplation. As noted on the official site - the Carmelite Desert, more than a geographical place, is an interior experience of solitude and contemplation. The monastery accepts pilgrims looking for a contemplative retreat. Guests are invited to participate in community prayers. More Information Official site

The tenth of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1575. More Information Sierra de Segura tourism site Wikipedia - Significant amounts of information of the associated Wikipedia page

The first monastery established by St. John of the Cross and Fr. Antonio of Jesus in 1568, using a small farmhouse which had been donated to St. Teresa of Avila. Soon the community outgrew the building, and moved to Mancera de Abajo in 1570, then Avila in 1600. Author’s Note Additional history of the current monastery in Mancera de Abaio can be found here, though it should be noted there is not a contiguous lineage back to the community founded by St....

Founded in 1478, this Carmelite convent in Avila was where Saint Teresa entered as a young woman and lived for 27 years. She took her vows here and began her journey as a mystic and reformer. The monastery features her cell, the Chapel of Transverberation and a museum dedicated to her life. St. John of the Cross spent notable amounts of time here as well, and during one session of prayer, received a vision of Christ on the Cross from “above....

In 1591, St. John of the Cross died here, the site of a former monastery. Today, there is a chapel housing his relics (a hand and leg) and a museum related to his life. More Information Official site

The fourteenth of 17 communities founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1580. It is likely the original convent is no longer in existence, though a church remains. More Information Palencia tourism site