History Main / HolyCity

* ''Manga/OnePiece'': Holy Land Mary Geoise, capital of the World Government (often translated as Marijoa or Mariejois). Said to be at the center of all the world's seas, it lies 10 kilometers above the surface atop the Red Line, a massive rock wall of a continent that circles the globe. The only permanent residents are the world nobles, their servants and slaves, and high-ranking government employees and leaders. The walled-off world noble district, known as the "Domain of the Gods" takes up most city space. Ascending to the city and crossing through it is the only safe way to travel between the Paradise and New World halves of the Grand Line, if not the only safe and two-way route between the entire eastern and western hemispheres. The only other conventional routes are going ''under'' the Red Line through Fishman Island or over it at Reverse Mountain. The former is extremely perilous, while the latter is dangerous and a one-way trip into Paradise.

* ''[[TabletopGame/Warhammer Warhammer Fantasy Battles]]'': The imperial city-state of Middenheim is the hub of the Cult of Ulric, a god of war, winter and wolves worshipped by man since before the founding of the Empire. The flat-topped mountain upon which it sits, called the Ulricsberg or Fauschlag ("Fist-strike"), is said to have been rendered such by a single blow from the god. The city's most prominent landmark is the Great Temple of Ulric, which is built around the White Flame of Ulric -- a magical, everlasting bonfire and the cult's most sacred site.

* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasyBattles'': The imperial city-state of Middenheim is the hub of the Cult of Ulric, a god of war, winter and wolves worshipped by man since before the founding of the Empire. The flat-topped mountain upon which it sits, called the Ulricsberg or Fauschlag ("Fist-strike"), is said to have been rendered such by a single blow from the god. The city's most prominent landmark is the Great Temple of Ulric, which is built around the White Flame of Ulric -- a magical, everlasting bonfire and the cult's most sacred site.

* [[UsefulNotes/{{Mormonism}} The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the centerpiece of the city is a large complex featuring the iconic Salt Lake Temple, a skyscraper housing the church's administrative division, the church's extensive genealogical library, and several meeting halls. Some other important church history sites are scattered throughout the city. However, the real sacred city of Mormonism is Independence, Missouri, which was identified by religion founder Joseph Smith as the site of the future New Jerusalem, with a particular parcel of land (called the Temple Lot) dedicated as the location of a temple by Smith. Nothing has been built on the lot, but the second-largest Mormon sect (Community of Christ) and some smaller churches are based in the area. The town of Palmyra, New York, where Smith founded the religion, also counts.

* [[UsefulNotes/{{Mormonism}} The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the centerpiece of the city is a large complex featuring the iconic Salt Lake Temple, a skyscraper housing the church's administrative division, and several meeting halls. Some other important church history sites are scattered throughout the city. However, the real sacred city of Mormonism is Independence, Missouri, which was identified by religion founder Joseph Smith as the site of the future New Jerusalem, with a particular parcel of land (called the Temple Lot) dedicated as the location of a temple by Smith. Nothing has been built on the lot, but the second-largest Mormon sect (Community of Christ) and some smaller churches are based in the area. The town of Palmyra, New York, where Smith founded the religion, also counts.

* Northen District of Mid-Childa in ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'', governed by the Saint Church.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'': Holy Land Mary Geoise, capital of the World Government (often translated as Marijoa or Mariejois). Said to be at the center of all the world's seas, it lies 10 kilometers above the surface atop the Red Line, a massive rock wall of a continent that circles the globe. The only permanent residents are the world nobles, their servants and slaves, and high ranking government employees and leaders. The walled off world noble district, known as the "Domain of the Gods" takes up most city space. Ascending to the city and crossing through it is the only safe way to travel between the Paradise and New World halves of the Grand Line, if not the only safe and two-way route between the entire eastern and western hemispheres. The only other conventional routes are going ''under'' the Red Line through Fishman Island or over it at Reverse Mountain. The former is extremely perilous, while the latter is dangerous and a one-way trip into Paradise.

* ''Film/RogueOne'': Jedha City, capital of the moon Jedha, is a sacred site to those who believe that the Jedi will one day return. Pilgrims come from across the galaxy to pray, and the non-Force Sensitive (possibly) guardians of the temple still walk the city's streets, teaching of the Force. The Empire has control of the city, and excavates the Kyber crystals (which the Jedi used to focus their lightsabers) as a key component of the Death Star's superlaser. [[spoiler:When Krennic destroys the city using a partially powered blast from that same superlaser, he claims that he destroyed the last reminder of the Jedi in the galaxy]].

** Oldtown is this for Westeros, due to being the (former) seat of power for the Faith of the Seven, the most important religion in Westeros besides the Old Gods of the North. Though the Faith has since moved to Westeros' capital in King's Landing during Baelor the Blessed's reign, Oldtown still has significance as the rulling noble family House Hightower has close ties with the Faith.
** Inverted with Asshai by the Shadow, which is about as ''un''holy as it can get in this setting: it's an dark and sinister city populated almost exclusively by shadowbinders and dark wizards and where no dark practice is forbidden, no matter how depraved. Traders do visit to export food since no plants grow and every animal gets sick and die upon setting foot in the city, and everyone is wary of them. [[spoiler:There is also [[ChildlessDystopia no children in sight]]]].

* ''Series/StargateSG1'' has Celestis, a holy city populated entirely by the Priors of the Ori, and located on a vast, flat plain of very shallow water. The Ori themselves manifest a sacred eternal fire there that they use to communicate with the Doci, their head priest.

* In TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms many people consider cities visited during Time of Troubles by deities they venerate to be especially blessed, worthy of pilgrimage or something like this.

** Mullonde in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' is where the Church of Glabados is based out of. It wasn't always an island; the CataclysmBackstory tells us that a powerful earthquake destroyed much of the original Mullonde region after St. Ajora Glabados was executed by the Holy Ydoran Empire.

* Constantinople, AKA UsefulNotes/{{Istanbul}}, has some aspects of this for the Eastern Orthodox Churches, because it is the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the first among equals of the Eastern Orthodoxy.[[note]]Roughly the equivalent of the Pope of the Catholic Church. Orthodoxy doesn't believe in having a central leader (that's why the Schism of 1054 happened in the first place) but does believe that one patriarch is honored over others.[[/note]] There is an ongoing dispute over whether the successor of the resident Patriarch will need to get a Turkish passport.

* [[UsefulNotes/{{Mormonism}} The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the centerpiece of the city is a large complex featuring the iconic Salt Lake Temple, a skyscraper housing the the church's administrative division, and several meeting halls. Some other important church history sites are scattered throughout the city. However, the real sacred city of Mormonism is Independence, Missouri, which was identified by religion founder Joseph Smith as the site of the future New Jerusalem, with a particular parcel of land (called the Temple Lot) dedicated as the location of a temple by Smith. Nothing has been built on the lot, but the second-largest Mormon sect (Community of Christ) and some smaller churches are based in the area. The town of Palmyra, New York, where Smith founded the religion, also counts.
* To a lesser extent, Canterbury in England. It was a very common destination for [[Literature/TheCanterburyTales pilgrimages]] on account of its beautiful cathedral and it being the site of the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket. It is the principal see of the Church of England, and has been ever since it was still a part of the Catholic Church. Also the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury -- the ''de facto'' head of the Church of England -- although he lives in Lambeth Palace in London.

* In addition to Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed and Tiberias are holy cities in Judaism.

* Shia Islam has a quite a few of these in UsefulNotes/{{Iraq}} and UsefulNotes/{{Iran}}.
** Karbala, Iraq, is probably the holiest place in Shia Islam after Mecca and Medina. It was the place where Husayn, Muhammad's second grandson and the third Imam, was martyred by the forces of Yazid I, the second Umayyad caliph. The commemoration is known as the Day of Ashura, and during that time, millions of the faithful descend into the area around the shrines of Husayn and Abbas (Muhammad's fourth grandson who was also martyred during Ashura) for a massive mourning procession. 40 days after Ashura, the place is host to an even larger gathering, Arba'een, which is comparatively more cheerful. It is interesting to note that Arba'een attracts more people annually than Hajj does, even though unlike the Hajj, it is not religiously sanctioned.

** Mashhad is the holiest city in Iran, because it hosts the burial place of Ali al-Ridha (or ''Alireza'' in Iran), the only Imam who was martyred in Iran. His sister, Fatimah, was buried in Qom, a city to the south of Tehran, but Qom today is considered holy for a different reason: it is the largest scholarship center of Shia Islam and produces hundreds of clerics annually.

* Amritsar to some Sikhs, as it was considered to have been built by the fourth Sikh guru. The Golden Temple was seized by Sikh militants; Indira Gandhi ordered its storming, and was later assassinated because of it. Sikh politicians demanded it be recognised by the government as a holy city; the government replied that following the principles of non-sectarianism it did not recognize any holy cities in India.[[/folder]]

* [[UsefulNotes/{{Mormonism}} The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the centerpiece of the city is a large complex featuring the iconic Salt Lake Temple, a skyscraper housing the the church's administrative division, and several meeting halls. Some other important church history sites are scattered throughout the city. However, the real sacred city of Mormonism is Independence, Missouri, which was identified by religion founder Joseph Smith as the site of the future New Jerusalem, with a particular parcel of land (called the Temple Lot) dedicated as the location of a temple by Smith. Nothing has been built on the lot, but the second-largest Mormon sect (Community of Christ) and some smaller churches are based in the area. The town of Palmyra, New York, where Smith founded the religion, also counts.

* Salt Lake City is this for the [[UsefulNotes/{{Mormonism}} Latter-Day Saints]] [[note]]although Independence, Missouri is regarded as the prophesied New Jerusalem and is the center-place of several other churches in the movement[[/note]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}} IV'' introduced religions to the series, and when you found a religion by researching the requisite technology, one of your cities will become its holy city. Not only will a holy city help spread the religion further, but a Great Prophet can build a religious wonder in it that brings in extra income based on how widespread the religion is. Capturing holy cities can thus be very lucrative even if you don't share the religion in question... and if you burn a holy city to the ground, you can expect severe diplomatic consequences.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': The Dothraki view their only city, Vaes Dothrak, this way. It lies in the shadow of a single, vast peak known by the Dothraki as the Mother of Mountains, which is considered sacred. Dothraki holy women, known as ''dosh khaleen'', live in the city and are respected by all Dothraki.

** Inverted with Asshai by the Shadow, which is about as ''un''holy as it can get in this setting: it's an dark and sinister city populated almost exclusively by shadowbinders and dark wizards and where no dark practice is forbidden, no matter how depraved. Traders do visit to export food since no plants grow and every animal gets sick and die upon setting foot in the city, and everyone is wary of them. [[spoiler:There is also [[ChidlessDystopia no children in sight]]]].

* Varanasi is considered as such by most Hindus, and also Buddhists (as the place where the Buddha lectured after receiving enlightenment.
* Amritsr to some Sikhs, as it was considered to have been built by the fourth Sikh guru. The Golden Temple was seized by Sikh militants; Indira Gandhi ordered its storming, and was later assassinated because of it. Sikh politicians demanded it be recognised by the government as a holy city; the government replied that there were no holy cities in India.[[/folder]]

[[/folder]]

** Downplayed in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' with the Garrech Mach Monastery, which serves as the Vatican-style headquarters of the Church of Seiros, the residency of the [[HighPriest Archbishop]], and a major pilgrimage destination in its own right, thanks to hosting the tombs of Saint Seiros herself and of many other early Saints. The downplayed part comes from the fact that as a ''population center'', Garrech Mach is minuscule compared to other continental capitals like Derdriu, Fhirdidad, and especially Enbarr[[note]]the capital of the Adrestian Empire that is a Jerusalem-style holy city in its own right thanks to it being the alleged birthplace of Saint Seiros[[/note]]: beyond the monastery fortress itself, the [[ChurchMilitant Church Knights']] barracks, and the MilitaryAcademy for nobles under its auspices, Garrech Mach is surrounded by handful of villages providing it with necessary supplies.

!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film]]

* ''Film/RogueOne'': Jedha City, capital of the moon Jedha, is a sacred site to those who believe that the Jedi will one day return. Pilgrims come from across the galaxy to pray, and the non-Force Sensitive (possibly) guardians of the temple still walk the city's streets, teaching of the Force. The Empire has control of the city, and excavates the Kyber crystals (which the Jedi used to focus their lightsabers) as a key component of the Death Star's superlaser. [[spoiler:When Krennic destroys the city using a partially-powered blast from that same superlaser, he claims that he destroyed the last reminder of the Jedi in the galaxy]].

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* The four holy cities of UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} are Lumbini where Gautama Buddha was born, Bodh Gaya where he achieved Enlightment, Sarnath where Buddha preached for the first time thus starting the Wheel of Dharma (founding Buddhism) and Kushinagar where Buddha dies. The first is in Nepal the other four are in India.

* UsefulNotes/{{Jerusalem}} is probably the UrExample. It's ''the'' Holy City of three world religions (in chronological order): UsefulNotes/{{Judaism}}, UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}}, and UsefulNotes/{{Islam}}.

* UsefulNotes/{{Mecca}} and Medina for UsefulNotes/{{Islam}}, Mecca being the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the location of the ''very'' sacred Kaaba, and Medina being the city that housed the Prophet during his flight from Mecca and is the site of the all-important Prophet's mosque. See also the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiest_sites_in_Islam list of holy sites in Islam]] on Wiki/TheOtherWiki.

* Mecca and Medina for UsefulNotes/{{Islam}}, Mecca being the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the location of the ''very'' sacred Kaaba, and Medina being the city that housed the Prophet during his flight from Mecca and is the site of the all-important Prophet's mosque. See also the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiest_sites_in_Islam list of holy sites in Islam]] on Wiki/TheOtherWiki.

* Sienne in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', home of the Tower of Guidance, Mainal Cathedral, and the Holy Apostle, Empress of Begnion.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' has Bevelle, the main base of the Yevon clergy, and effectively the capital of Spira.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' has Mt. Bur-Omisance, the spiritual center of the Church of Kiltia, which is followed by most Ivalicians to a certain extent (judging by the opening movie, it has spread to places like Dalmasca).
* Luxerion in ''VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII'' is the capital of Nova Chrysalia and the headquarters of the Order of Salvation.
* Mullonde in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' is where the Church of Glabados is based out of. It wasn't always an island; the CataclysmBackstory tells us that a powerful earthquake destroyed much of the original Mullonde region after St. Ajora Glabados was executed by the Holy Ydoran Empire.

** Karbala, Iraq, is probably the holiest place in Shia Islam after Mecca and Medina. It was the place where Husayn, Muhammad's second grandson and the third Imam, was martyred by the forces of Yazid I, the second Umayyad caliph. The commemoration is known as the Day of Ashura, and during that time, millions of the faithful descend into the area around the shrines of Husayn and Abbas (Muhammad's third grandson who was also martyred during Ashura) for a massive mourning procession. 40 days after Ashura, the place is host to an even larger gathering, Arba'een, which is comparatively more cheerful. It is interesting to note that Arba'een attracts more people annually than Hajj does, even though unlike the Hajj, it is not religiously sanctioned.

* Constantinople, AKA UsefulNotes/{{Istanbul}}, has some aspects of this for the Eastern Orthodox Churches[[note]](there is an ongoing dispute over whether the successor of the resident Patriarch will need to get a Turkish passport)[[/note]].

* Creator/IsaacAsimov's "Literature/TheMayors": In the past few decades, Terminus has become the center of a religion practised throughout the Four Kingdoms. When the King of Anacreon (influenced by his ambitious uncle) tries to send their navy to conquer Terminus, the military and civilian populations revolt in defense of the Holy City.