Terra Sancta Museum – Art and History
Terra Sancta Museum · Art & History
The Franciscans
in the Holy Land
Eight hundred years of dynamic history
The Franciscan story in the Holy Land begins at the dawn of the 13th century – when St. Francis himself journeyed across the frontlines of the Crusades seeking peace, meeting face to face with the Sultan of Egypt.
| 800+Years of presence | 1342Papal recognition | 1347Mameluke acknowledgement |
Ever since, the ‘friars of the cord’ have ceaselessly aided pilgrims and watched over the Holy Places – a continuous and courageous testimony up to the present day.
The Exhibition
Three Centuries of Royal Devotion
The Historical Section unfolds through rare treasures donated by royalty and republics across 16th and 17th-century Europe. Each gift was a declaration of faith – proof of a continent’s enduring bond with the Holy Places.
| Sculptures | Illuminated Manuscripts |
| Goldsmith Work | Liturgical Vestments |
| Archival Documents | Armours |
| Rare Pharmacy Jars | Paintings |
Organised Around
The Three Missions
The exhibition is structured around the three defining roles that have shaped Franciscan life in the Holy Land for centuries.
|
I Guardianship Protecting the Holy Places in the name of the Universal Church |
II Pilgrimage Welcoming pilgrims from every nation across eight centuries |
III Community Sustaining and supporting the local Christian community |
Scientific Committee
An international scientific committee presided by Béatrix Saule – director emeritus of the Museum of Versailles – is overseeing both the fundraising and the academic definition of this section, ensuring the highest standards of historical rigour and curatorial excellence.
