Hospederías rurales en la Siria bizantina

From the middle of the fourth century, we see Syrian Christians treveling for devotional reasons to the tombs of the martyrs, or setting out for places where celebrated ascetics lived in sanctity. With the pilgrims, also came traders and merchants seeking to sell their products. All were in need of lodging, which they found along the principal roads, but especially in centers of pilgrimage. We find monumental inns which had a certain hotel and sanitary organization. Most of all, we find more modest inns composed of a single, one storey building. At times, the inn is reduced to a single room adjoining the church. The Syrian Church is to be admired for the creation of its own network of inns. Thus, the pilgrim Egeria had reason to be satisfied at her welcome by Syrian monks, “saints and true men of God”.