The desire to embark on a journey for religious purposes inspires Greeks and foreigners to make their way to religious sites throughout Greece. These places are special, authentic and timeless. Thousands of tourists annually visit these sacred places, monasteries and churches to admire the magnificent Byzantine and post Byzantine works of art, the mosaics, murals and icons. Among the most important religious sites in the country are the Holy Mountain Athos; the impressive monasteries of Meteora; Patmos, the island of the Apocalypse of John the Apostle; the areas where Paul the Apostle travelled to; the monastic center on Papikion mountain in Thrace; the sacred places dedicated to the Virgin Mary such as the Churches of Panagia on Tinos island etc.