History Main / HolyCity

Some cities are just places where a lot of people live and work. Some are seats of worldly authorities, elevating them above others. And then there is the Holy City, a site so intrinsically tied to a [[TheChurch particular religion]] that it became a symbol of faith all by itself. In peacetime, it will result in thousands to millions of devoted [[{{Pilgrimage}} pilgrims]] visiting it every day. In wartime, [[HoldTheLine expect it to be defended to the last breath]], even more so than a national capital (unless it ''is'' the [[UsefulNotes/{{Rome}} national capital]]), and the consequences if it is ever sacked by an invader are either [[DespairEventHorizon a lot graver]] or [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge a lot worse for the other side]]. It's likely to be TheTheocracy, although it doesn't necessarily ''have'' to be.

* The middle third of ''Literature/AWolfInTheSoul'' takes place in Jerusalem. The protagonist moves there deliberately under the belief/hope that it will help him fight off his [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent lycanthropy]].

* UsefulNotes/{{Jerusalem}} is probably the UrExample. It's ''the'' Holy City of three world religions (in chronological order): UsefulNotes/{{Judaism}}, UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}}, and UsefulNotes/{{Islam}}. The Temple Mount is the direction that all Jews face towards during prayer and it used to be the same thing with Muslims until a Qur'anic verse was written (or handed down by God, if you're a faithful) requiring them to switch the direction to the Kaaba in Mecca.

* In addition to Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed, and Tiberias are holy cities in Judaism.

* New Norcia is Australia's holy city.

Some cities are just places where a lot of people live and work. Some are seats of worldly authorities, elevating them above others. And then there is the Holy City, a site so intrinsically tied to a [[TheChurch particular religion]] that it became a symbol of faith all by itself. In peacetime, it will result in thousands to millions of devoted pilgrims visiting it every day. In wartime, [[HoldTheLine expect it to be defended to the last breath]], even more so than a national capital (unless it ''is'' the [[UsefulNotes/{{Rome}} national capital]]), and the consequences if it is ever sacked by an invader are either [[DespairEventHorizon a lot graver]] or [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge a lot worse for the other side]]. It's likely to be TheTheocracy, although it doesn't necessarily ''have'' to be.

* [[UsefulNotes/{{Mormonism}} The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the centerpiece of the city is a large complex featuring the iconic Salt Lake Temple, a skyscraper housing the church's administrative division, the church's extensive genealogical library, and several meeting halls. Some other important church history sites are scattered throughout the city. However, the real sacred city of Mormonism is Independence, Missouri, which was identified by religion founder Joseph Smith as the site of the future New Jerusalem, with a particular parcel of land (called the Temple Lot) dedicated as the location of a temple by Smith. Nothing has been built on the lot, but the second-largest Mormon sect (Community of Christ) and some smaller churches are based in the area. Palmyra, New York (where Smith founded the religion) and Nauvoo, Illinois (a city founded by Smith) also count.

* ''VideoGame/FearAndHunger'': Ma'habre, the city of the gods. [[spoiler:It is the home of the New Gods, who took it over as the influence of the Old Gods waned. The player's party is able to enter it after journeying down to level 7 of the dungeons with the Cube of the Depths in their inventory.]]

* ''VideoGame/CrusaderKings'': Every religion in the game has 5 Holy Sites. Each holy site held by a ruler of that religion increases the religion's moral authority by 10%, which aids in conversion and preventing heresy. In addition, in both this game and [[VideoGame/CrusaderKingsIII its sequel]], holding at least 3 holy sites is required to reform a pagan faith.

* St. Heim Papal State for the Church of Granas in ''VideoGame/GrandiaII''.

* Yet another Vatican-style location is the city-state of Nirvath in ''VideoGame/VandalHearts II'', particularly its greatest landmark Nigran Cathedral. [[spoiler: It's also the location of the final battle, and it collapses after defeating the last boss.]]

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'':
** ''High Charity'', a colossal, mobile planetoid that serves as the capital of [[ScaryDogmaticAliens the Covenant]] and the Prophets' Holy City.
** ''VideoGame/Halo5Guardians'' introduces Sunaion, a temple city on the Elite homeworld built right over a sea.
* At the time of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'', the eponymous province has three clear Holy Cities, one for each of the three Tribunal gods. Almalexia and Vivec are clear Vatican-style cities, as they not only house the deities they're named after but also high-ranking Temple officials (the head of the Temple in Vvardenfell in Vivec and the head of the Temple on the mainland in Almalexia). Sotha Sil... is a bit more complex, as the inhabiting god stays away from mortal affairs, and the city's location is unknown to mortals (and, as such, has no mortal inhabitants). The city of Necrom is described in terms suggesting it has holy significance (it is specifically called out as a necropolis in a religion with elements of ancestor worship), although unlike the Triune cities it isn't visited in ''Morrowind''[[note]]outside [[VideoGame/TamrielRebuilt mods]][[/note]].
* Daath, where the [[CrystalDragonJesus Order of Lorelei]] is based in ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' is a Vatican-style Holy City. "The Watchers' Home", Yulia City, is something of a hybrid of the Vatican-style and Jerusalem-style, being linked with the Order and historically significant to it, though only high-ranking members and residents of the city even know of its existence.

* The City of the Sun God in ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld''. Essentially a purpose-built Vatican-style capital city for Atenism, it was constructed in the last of Pharaoh Akhenaten's reign and features a ridiculous amount of monuments - most prominently the Black Pyramid in which Akhenaten was buried following his defeat.
* ''VideoGame/TrialsOfMana'': The Holy City of Wendel acts as the center of the religion that worships the Goddess of Mana and is led by the Priest of Light from the Temple of Light. Pilgrims come to seek blessings and sage wisdom from the Priest himself.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', [[PlanetTerra Holy Terra]], besides serving as capital for [[TheEmpire the Imperium]], is also the seat for the [[GodEmperor Imperial Cult]] and [[ChurchMilitant Ecclesiarchy]]. There's literally a galaxy's worth of other holy worlds, of course, including Cardinal Worlds ruled directly by the Ecclesiarchy, and Shrine Worlds dedicated to an Imperial Saint. And in a weird example, the Imperial fortress-planet of Cadia is a holy site to the heretical Word Bearers legion, since it's where their primarch converted to worship the [[GodOfEvil Chaos Gods]] before the Literature/HorusHeresy.

** Karbala, Iraq, is probably the holiest place in Shia Islam after Mecca and Medina. It was the place where Husayn, Muhammad's second grandson and the third Imam, was martyred by the forces of Yazid I, the second Umayyad caliph. The commemoration is known as the Day of Ashura, and during that time, millions of the faithful descend into the area around the shrines of Husayn and Abbas (Muhammad's fourth grandson who was also martyred during Ashura) for a massive mourning procession. 40 days after Ashura, the place is host to an even larger gathering, Arba'een, which is comparatively more cheerful. It is interesting to note that Arba'een attracts more people annually than Hajj does, even though, unlike the Hajj, it is not religiously sanctioned.

** Vaes Dothraki is the only permanent settlement for the Dothraki and regarded as holy ground for them; spilling blood is forbidden - [[LoopholeAbuse killing without drawing blood]] is still permitted.
** Oldtown is this for Westeros, due to being the (former) seat of power for the Faith of the Seven, the most important religion in Westeros besides the Old Gods of the North. Though the Faith has since moved to Westeros' capital in King's Landing during Baelor the Blessed's reign, Oldtown still has significance as the ruling noble family House Hightower has close ties with the Faith.

* UsefulNotes/{{Mecca}} and Medina for UsefulNotes/{{Islam}}, Mecca being the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the location of the ''very'' sacred Kaaba, and Medina being the city that housed the Prophet during his flight from Mecca and is the site of the all-important Prophet's mosque. As noted above, the Kaaba is the direction that all Muslims face towards during prayer and the mosque that surrounds the structure, the Masjid al-Haram, was designed to be circling it so the faithful will face the same direction everywhere they pray. See also the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiest_sites_in_Islam list of holy sites in Islam]] on Wiki/TheOtherWiki.

* ''[[VideoGaMe/RomacningSaga3 Romancing [=SaGa=] 3]]'': Lance. Dubbed the "Holy City", it's the birthplace of the Matriach, the heroine who valiantly fought and defeated the demons form the [[EldritchLocation Abyss]] some centuries prior the events of the game. A mausoleum dedicated to her is the main attraction of the place.

** Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur and Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib are considered just as holy as the Golden Temple in Amritsar (the former was personally built by the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, while the latter was located near his birthplace). The problem is that these two are located in Pakistan, which [[ArchEnemy does not get along with India]], where 90% of Sikhs live. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartarpur_Corridor It took several decades of diplomacy]] before Pakistan agreed to grant Indian Sikhs an easy, visa-free access to the gurdwaras (previously, everyone had to go through a lengthy detour that is not only 125 km longer but also requires a visa).

** Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartapur and Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib are considered just as holy as the Golden Temple in Amritsar (the former was personally built by the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, while the latter was located near his birthplace). The problem is that these two are located in Pakistan, which [[ArchEnemy does not get along with India]], where 90% of Sikhs live. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartarpur_Corridor It took several decades of diplomacy]] before Pakistan agreed to grant Indian Sikhs an easy, visa-free access to the gurdwaras (previously, everyone had to go through a lengthy detour that is not only 125 km longer but also requires a visa).

* Amritsar to some Sikhs, as it was considered to have been built by the fourth Sikh guru. The Golden Temple was seized by Sikh militants; Indira Gandhi ordered its storming and was later assassinated because of it. Sikh politicians demanded it be recognised by the government as a holy city; the government replied that following the principles of non-sectarianism it did not recognize any holy cities in India.[[/folder]]