Island Of Iona On Visit To Inner Hebrides Of Scotland

Tour Scotland travel video, with Scottish music, of the Isle of Iona, Scottish Gaelic: Ì Chaluim Chille, on ancestry, history visit to the Inner Hebrides. The island, off the Ross of Mull, is one of the oldest and most important religious centres in Western Europe. It is best known for the abbey which was a focal point for the spread of Christianity throughout Scotland and marks the foundation of a monastic community by St Columba. Many early Scottish kings and chiefs, as well as kings from Ireland, Norway and France are buried in the Abbey graveyard. There are thought to be 48 kings there. These include Duncan, the victim of Macbeth. The Abbey, whose earliest parts date back to the 11th century, produced some of the most beautiful and intricately carved Celtic crosses in Scotland. Only 3 early free standing High Crosses remain on Iona out of over 1,000 that existed here in the middle ages. Such crosses were very popular in North Britain, Scotland, and Ireland during the 8th Century and often displayed remarkable artistic skill. The surviving crosses are St. John's Cross, St. Martin's Cross and St. Matthew's Cross, all of which are found west of the Abbey. The Celtic cross is a form of Christian cross featuring a nimbus or ring that emerged in Ireland, France and Britain in the Early Middle Ages. A type of ringed cross, it became widespread through its use in the stone high crosses erected across the islands, especially in regions evangelized by Irish missionaries, from the 9th through the 12th centuries. All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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