Every church has a story.
What's yours?
Some places change us. A quiet chapel in the hills. A cathedral that took your breath away. Sacred Steps helps you remember, discover, and share the sacred places that shape your journey.
Trusted by pilgrims around the world
Born on a trail in Italy,
built before the vacation ended.
It started with a hike down from Madonna della Corona—a sanctuary so breathtaking it seems carved from the mountain itself. The three of us had just experienced something profound, and as we walked the trail back, conversation turned to all the churches we'd visited over the years.
How many had we forgotten? Names lost, locations buried in camera rolls, the stories we'd heard from local parishioners fading with time. We wished there was a way to hold onto these places—not just as photos, but as meaningful stops on a longer journey.
By that evening, one of us had already started coding. Ideas flowed over dinner, sketches filled napkins, and by the time we flew home, Sacred Steps had its first prototype.
What began as a conversation on a mountain trail became a mission: help others remember the sacred places that shape their faith.
Our mission: Help 100,000 pilgrims rediscover the sacred in their travels.
— The Sacred Steps Founders
Continuing the work of
Saint Carlo Acutis
Before smartphones, before apps, a 15-year-old Italian boy named Carlo Acutis had a vision: document the Eucharistic miracles of the world so that everyone could encounter them. He built a website cataloging these sacred sites, traveling with his family to photograph and research each one.
Carlo believed that technology should bring people closer to God, not further away. He called the Eucharist his "highway to heaven" and dedicated his short life to helping others find that same path.
Carlo passed away from leukemia in 2006 at just 15 years old. He was beatified in 2020 and canonized on September 7, 2025—becoming the first millennial saint.
Sacred Steps is dedicated to continuing Carlo's mission—using technology to help people encounter the sacred, one church at a time.
"The Eucharist is my highway to heaven."
— Carlo Acutis
More than an app.
A new way to travel.
Transform wandering into pilgrimage. Turn visits into memories that last.
Find Hidden Gems
Discover churches the guidebooks miss. Search by patron saint, find relics of your favorite martyrs, or seek out masterpieces by the Old Masters. Places locals treasure.
Remember What Moved You
Check in, add your reflections, capture the moment. Months later, scroll back and feel it again—the light through that window, the silence, the peace.
Travel Together, Apart
Follow friends' journeys. Get inspired by where they've been. Share your favorite finds with people who understand why it matters.
Celebrate Your Journey
Earn badges for visiting cathedrals, completing pilgrimage routes, or discovering churches in new countries. Small celebrations for meaningful milestones.
See Your Story Unfold
Watch your personal map fill in over time. See the connections between places. Your pilgrimage, visualized beautifully.
Learn the Stories
Discover which saints rest beneath the altar, what relics are venerated, and the artists who painted the frescoes. The stories that make stone come alive.
Simple by design.
Meaningful by intention.
Find a church nearby—or far away
Search by location, patron saint, or relic. Browse curated collections like "Marian shrines" or "Churches with Caravaggio."
Visit and check in
When you arrive, tap to log your visit. Add a photo, a note, a prayer intention—or nothing at all.
Build your legacy
Over time, your visits become a map of your faith journey. A visual record of where you've been and who you're becoming.
Real journeys.
Real transformations.
Every pilgrim's story is different. Here are a few that inspired us.
"I've visited churches my whole life, but they all blurred together. Now I have this beautiful record of 73 churches across 8 countries. When I scroll through, each one brings back the moment—the smell of incense, the cool stone, the prayers I offered there."
"I used to rush through churches on vacation, taking photos I'd never look at. Sacred Steps changed how I travel. I slow down now. I read the history. I sit in the pews. The app helped me find reverence again."
"As a Black Catholic, I wanted to find churches that reflected my heritage. Sacred Steps helped me discover historic Black parishes I never knew existed—even in my own city. Now I'm on a mission to visit every one."
Have a story to share?
We'd love to hear from youBuildings point.
God transforms.
We treasure the art, the relics, the saints, and the stories woven into every chapel and cathedral. But we remember: these are signposts, not destinations.
"We document churches. We hope you find God."
Read more about why we built Sacred StepsYour pilgrimage awaits.
Start for free. No credit card required. Just you and the sacred places waiting to be discovered.