The Shroud of Turin has been drawing pilgrims and visitors to Italy since the 14th century. Now, thanks to cutting-edge technology, you don't need to travel to Europe to visit an interactive exhibit focused on the Shroud. It has come to one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States: Orlando, Florida.
Drawn to the sunshine and the attractions -- Walt Disney World and the Universal theme parks, nearby space museums, and water recreation -- some 70 million tourists visit Orlando each year. And because so many of these tourists and travelers are Catholic, there's a church built just for them: the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. The 2,000-seat church, designated a minor basilica in 2009, is not a parish but a pilgrims' refuge, as its website explains:
The Basilica is not a parish church, but a designated place of Pilgrimage dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. Built by tourists, for tourists, our mission is to serve the countless travelers who come from near and far in search of the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation.
More than 10,000 people attend Mass at the basilica every week (Sunday Masses are also available in Spanish, Polish, and Prtuguese). In summer, that total rises to more than 15,000 a week, from throughout the United States and around the world.
And now the basilica will host a special traveler -- the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit.
Shroud of Turin: World's greatest mystery
This new exhibition, Who Is the Man on the Shroud of Turin?, comes from the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit (NSE), a group of "14 national and international Shroud experts, scholars, speakers, influencers, authors, and all-around movers and shakers who have spent decades dedicated to Shroud of Turin education or research." Dedicated to the fascination the "world's greatest mystery" holds for both believers and scientists, the exhibit at the basilica in Orlando offers visitors a chance to:
- Study a life-sized Shroud replica produced by the Shroud authorities in Turin, Italy.
- View meticulously crafted replicas on display: Crown of thorns, crucifixion nails, Roman whip matching the wounds of the Shroud Man, and the tip of the spear that pierced His side.
- The chance to touch a second-class relic that the actual Shroud rested on for 120 hours
- Receive a free Shroud diagram brochure.
- Watch an engaging Shroud of Turin video.
- Explore information panels produced by international experts.
- Pray in a special Shroud Holy Face devotional area.
Who do you say he is?
Pilgrims are already flocking to consider and pray over the exhibit's key question. Orlando Bishop John Noonan officially opened the exhibit on March 13, along with NSE Exhibit Director Mary Kahn Adams. More than 500 visitors attended an opening lecture by Dr. Cheryl White on how the Shroud of Turin mirrors the Stations of the Cross. Many said they were deeply moved by the experience.
And on June 11, 2026, 250 bishops, gathering at the basilica to participate locally in the National Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, will visit the exhibit, too.
Will you join them this summer and add this once-in-a-lifetime attraction to your vacation itinerary?
The Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe is located at 8300 Vineland Ave., Orlando, Florida. The Shroud of Turin exhibit is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the end of September 2026. Admission is free, although donations to support the traveling exhibit are welcome.
