PONTIFICAL INSTITUTE NOTRE DAME OF JERUSALEM CENTER

In the following lines we would like to offer you some practical advice that might help you as you plan your pilgrimage. We are available to help you personally and you can contact us any time.

1. The need of a good planning

For a good benefit of your pilgrimage it is indispensable that all practical elements are well organized and well foreseen, in order to avoid investing your energy on them as you arrive to the Holy Land. In this way you can pay you full attention to enjoying the pilgrimage. There are some facts that should be clear from the beginning: number of people, precise dates (or as approximate as possible), duration of the pilgrimage (In order to enjoy a pilgrimage that will give you the opportunity to get to know the main sites of the Holy Land without rushing, we would advice not to plan for the trip less than 7-8 days)

2. Visas

Citizens of most western nations do not need a visa to enter as tourists to Israel. At their entrance into the country they are usually given a tourist visa for 90 days. In any case it is advisable to check with the Israeli embassy or consulate nearest to your home, in order to prevent any problem. It is not possible to travel from Israel to Lebanon or Syria or vice versa.

3. Language

The official languages in Israel are Hebrew and Arabic, but everyone involved in tourism speaks English reasonably well. In some cases they speak Italian and French. In general Spanish and German are the least spoken languages. If you speak some English you will be able to get around most places.

4. Weather and Clothing

It is advisable to consider carefully the time of the year in which your pilgrimage will take place.
The general climate could be described as follows: Springtime (April-May): pleasant and soft temperatures; Summer (May-September): very hot; Fall: soft temperatures, Winter: not excessively cold (it doesn't reach below -2°, -3°C in the coldest days of winter, between December and February; it snows very rarely )
It is important also to consider the type of shoes that you will bring, as there is a lot of walking to do and they must be very comfortable.
When you are thinking what clothing to bring, do not forget that the culture and customs at the Holy Places are rather traditional. It is a gesture of respect to dress properly and modestly. One must be respectful of the local mentality and customs.
When you are thinking what clothing to bring, do not forget that the culture and customs at the Holy Places are rather traditional. It is a gesture of respect to dress properly and modestly. One must be respectful of the local mentality and customs.

5. Guides

We would like to suggest two books: the first one has been translated into several languages and is called: Jerusalem and the Holy Land, Eyewitness Travel Guides, Doring Kindersley Limited, London 2000. The second one is an excellent guide in Italian, produced by the ‘Opera Romani Pellegrinaggi’.

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