In AD , Columba and his followers arrived here from Ireland to spread the gospel in Scotland and the north of England. The Isle of Iona also boasts sandy beaches, excellent walking opportunities and a variety of wildlife to look out for. Many shops sell locally sourced crafts and the golf course boasts beautiful beach views.
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Blog Shop Donate. History Iona is a holy isle and has been described as the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. A place of pilgrimage Iona has been an important place of pilgrimage throughout history and remains so today. To aid pilgrimage, the church and abbey: would have been harled — covered in thick white render — and thus easy to see from a distance were laid out to receive and direct around the site the many visiting Christians who hoped to gain the blessing of the saint The Benedictine abbey Somerled, ancestor of the MacDonald Lords of the Isles, became patron of Iona in the midth century.
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Performance Performance. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Analytics Analytics. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Just as in other cathedrals I have visited, I could feel the weight of the centuries in the air and in the very fabric of the building. Perhaps there were hidden passageways leading back into history.
Scenes from Umberto Eco's Name of the Rose came to mind, as I wondered if the monks had jealously guarded their store of written knowledge. Ancient knights carved on memorial stones leant against the walls like silent witnesses. Photo copyright The Internet Guide to Scotland In one of the corners came the inevitable reminder of the twentieth century. Bowing their heads in single-file, the tourists trampsed over well-worn slabs leading through a tiny passageway into the cramped giftshop.
In a Mecca-like swirl, we all spun around the central table of souvenir key-rings, pencil sharpeners and stickers. Lumps of polished green stone lay in a basket. This was Iona marble for which quarrying has now been stopped.
At the back of the room, there seemed to be a good selection of religious and history books, but the general over-crowding soon chased me back out to the relative harmony of the cloisters. It seemed a shame that most people, myself included, had only limited time to spend on Iona, consequently rushing to "do" the abbey and seeing little of the rest of the island.
With the majority on day-trips either from Mull or Oban, it must be difficult for them to appreciate any of the real tranquillity or timelessness of the place.
I felt there was much more here to which I hadn't been able to do justice. Slaves to our coach and ferry schedules, we latter-day pilgrims merely went through the motions like pre-programmed robots. Opening the heavy door, I found a time-switch for the lights and a room full of early Christian and Medieval stones. At one end stood the partly reconstituted form of Saint John's Cross, possibly the first ever Celtic ringed cross. Its position in front of the abbey is now occupied by a replica, whilst the shattered original is pieced together with perspex.
I returned to the front of the building and noticed the sign for Saint Columba's shrine. The cell was illuminated by a single candle next to an open bible. Nearby is Saint Oran's Chapel which sits in a burial ground containing the bones of 48 Scottish kings, including Macbeth and Duncan I, together with numerous other sovereigns from Ireland, France and Norway.
Legend has it that when the rest of the world sinks below the waves, Iona will remain. However, nothing very recognisable is left of the tombs today, but the chapel, dating from the eleventh century and probably the oldest building on the island, is intact. Iona of my heart, Iona of my love, Instead of monks' voices there shall be lowing of cattle: But before the world comes to an end Iona shall be as it was Thought to be the words of Saint Columba shortly before he died according to the Life of Saint Columba, the biography written by Saint Adamnan.
The Isle of Iona One of those beautiful books which is far more than a mere guide book, but something to really treasure, this is the latest in Alastair de Watteville's series and accompanies his book on The Isle of Mull which he wrote after living on the island.
His publication on Iona consists of over pages with 20, words of text illustrated by over colour photos and 20 drawings. Dimensions: approx. Published in March The island was also St Columba's choice for his spiritual base in This book tells the archaeological story of Iona, from Columba's monastery to the island's restoration and renewal in the lates, assessing the many excavations on the island itself within the wider context of Pictland and Northumbria.
Available from Amazon. Written by P. MacNab, it covers the local heritage and culture of the islands, wildlife and the landscape, history of habitation, the clearances, place names, places to visit, etc. Even if you don't get chance to buy it before you go, you will certainly want a copy for a souvenir when you have visited! Available to buy online via Amazon. Very nice addition to my bookshelf. Published as a Penguin Classics paperback. Excellent for discovering some off the beaten track places and historic sites not always mentioned in general Scottish guides.
Includes info on where to find standing stones and wildlife. Also contains details of the main tourist attractions. Recommended if you really want to explore the island and understand its history.
Published in June
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