The Visit of Ludovico di Varthema to Makkah al-Mukarramah: a Critical and Analytic Study

Abstract This article presents a critical analysis of the travelogue of Ludovico di Varthema, known as “al-Ḥājj Yūnus the Egyptian,” in which di Varthema asserted that he traveled to Makkah beginning on April 8, 1503, disguised as a Muslim pilgrim of Persian origin. Consideration is given to the age when the journey is said to have taken place and to the personality of the traveler, his description of Makkah al-Mukarramah and its landmarks, the Grand Mosque and its gates, the Noble Kaʿba, and the Zamzam Dome, pointing out the errors and inaccuracies to which di Varthema fell victim. The article concludes by suggesting that di Varthema did not actually visit Makkah. He relied on a description of the city, which accounts for the numerous errors in his narrative.