Iona is an island in the inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. One of the thing it's known for is its historic abbey. Iona Abbey is one of the oldest and most scared Christian pilgrim sites in Western Europe. It is often called the "cradle of Scottish Christianity." The abbey was founded in 563 AD. It survived multiple brutal Viking attacks before being rebuilt around 1200. After falling into ruin after the Scottish Reformation, the abbey was extensively restored in the 20th century.
Iona Abbey, c. ~1200
The St. Martin's cross that stands in front of the abbey is an 8th century Celtic high cross that has stood undisturbed in its original location for over 1200 years. It is 16.4 feet tall, including its base, and was carved from a single piece of granite.
St. Martin's Cross
Simple alter
Courtyard
St. Oran's Chapel is the oldest intact structure on Iona. Located close to the abbey, it may have served as a mortuary structure. Many of the grave slabs from the cemetery are in the abbey museum. The chapel was in ruins by the early 17th century and was restored in 1957.
St. Oran's Chapel, c. 1100's
Chapel and abbey
St. Columbia's Well
Built around the year 1200, the Iona Nunnery is celebrated as one of the best-preserved medieval nunneries in the British Isles. The nuns who lived there were often called "Black Nuns" because of the dark robes they wore. The nunnery fell into ruins after the Scottish Reformation, but unlike the nearby abbey, the nunnery was never fully restored.
Welcome to Iona Nunnery
Ruins of nunnery
Doorway