Located east of Jerusalem’s Old City and separating it from the Judean Desert, the Mount of Olives is one of the most prominent sites in Jerusalem.

Located east of Jerusalem’s Old City and separating it from the Judean Desert, the Mount of Olives is one of the most prominent sites in the Jerusalem vicinity mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. It is first mentioned as King David’s escape route during the rebellion of his son Absalom, then later in the prophets; but it is most often referred to in the New Testament, being the route from Jerusalem to Bethany and a favorite location for Jesus' teachings to his pupils and where he wept over Jerusalem. Here, the Dominus Flevit Church was built by the Franciscan order in 1954 to designs by A. Barluzzi in the shape of a tear atop remains of a Byzantine church.

At the foot of the mountain, adjacent to the Church of All Nations, stand the Gardens of Gethsemane (Gat Shemanim- oil press in Hebrew), in which one finds the golden turreted Russian Orthodox Church of Maria Magdalene. Besides the compound of churches adjacent to Mount Scopus at its north, which includes the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Basilica Eleona and the convent of Pater Noster, it is perhaps best known for the extensive cemetery that faces Jerusalem all along its western slopes.

Believed to be the place from which God will begin to redeem the dead when the Messiah comes, Jews have always sought to be buried here. The most famous of these graves actually lie at the foot of the mountain, flush against the Old City walls, including the Tomb Of Zechariah, the tombs of the sons of Hezir and Yad Absalom. Further up, among the 150,000 graves in the Jewish cemetery, one may find the final resting places of Jewish philosopher Nahmanides, Hebrew language reviver Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, former Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Chief Rabbis Avraham Isaac Kook and Shlomo Goren and media mogul Robert Maxwell.

Presently, the Jerusalem Municipality in conjunction with the Prime Minister’s Office is embarking upon an ambitious renewal and development project for the entire site. The 100 million shekel project includes the renovation of thousands of graves destroyed during the Jordanian rule over Eastern Jerusalem between 1948 and 1967 and the development and maintenance of roads, fences and a tourist information center. The project is expected to last for five years, due to the religiously sensitive nature of the area, which inhibits the use of heavy machinery.

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The Western Wall Tunnel is a treat for archaeology and history buffs, who are astounded to discover that as massive as the open-air portion of the Western Wall is, most of its nearly 1,700-foot original length lies beneath today’s Old City.

Faith, culture and history come together at the Western Wall in that special blend that makes Israel unique. Revered as the last remnant of the Second Temple, the Western Wall is Judaism’s most sacred site. But thanks to King Solomon’s “invitation” for everyone (1 King 8:41-42) to turn here in prayer, visitors of all faiths and cultures can feel a special bond.

You’ll find worshippers here day and night, but on Bar Mitzvah days (Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays) families from around the world and across Israel crowd the plaza to celebrate their sons’ first public Bible reading at age 13. Mingling here with Jews from every continent, each with their own customs, music, dress and liturgy becomes a colorful and unforgettable cultural adventure. For many visitors, placing a traditional prayer note within these ancient stones is a memory to treasure.

The nearby Western Wall tunnel is a treat for archaeology and history buffs, who are astounded to discover that as massive as the open-air portion of the Western Wall is – at over 180 feet long and over 60 feet high – most of its nearly 1,700-foot original length lies beneath today’s Old City.

The tunnels are those that have been created by numerous arches side-by-side supporting staircases going from the city to the Temple Mount. In ancient times there was a shallow valley called the Tyropaean running along the Western side of the Temple Mount (now filled in due to constant demolition and rebuilding) that separated the rich Herodian quarter from the Temple, and it was the need to bridge this that cause the arches to be built. These pathways still hold up the streets today, and the tunnel goes directly underneath the Muslim quarter.

Reach out in the tunnel to touch portions of the huge arches that supported Jerusalem’s streets over the millennia, the homes later built among them, and of course, the Western Wall itself, some of whose building blocks are the most massive ever discovered. You will re-emerge in present-day Jerusalem with a new appreciation for the magnificent and moving site.

When King Solomon constructed his first Temple in Jerusalem, the hillside on which he did so became the most important cultic site of the monotheistic world, and is still reverenced by Jews and Muslims today.

When King Solomon constructed his first Temple in Jerusalem the hillside on which he did so became the most important cultic site of the monotheistic world, and is still reverenced by Jews and Muslims today. Solomon (960 - 900BCE) built the temple that David was not allowed to, using Phoenician craftsmen from the neighboring kingdom of Tyre (See the lengthy account of the process in 1 Kings). He also built a circular platform around the edge of the hill to hold the courtyards that encircled the cedar wood and bronze building, and the whole edifice was to have been the focus of Jewish worship for ever. However, after his reign the Northern Kingdom declared autonomy, after which time the Temple was used by the tribes of Judea and Benjamin only.

In 586BCE the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians as Israelites continued to be trapped between warlike Southern and Northern empires. The inhabitants of Judea were killed or taken into exile (excepting the farmers). It was only after fifty years and the auspicious intervention of Persia, the new inheritors of imperial power, that they had the opportunity to return and rebuild the Temple, the thought of returning having sustained many of them during their exile (See Ezra and Nehemiah).

This hastily constructed Temple stood until the Hasmonaeans shored it up in 186BCE, but was pulled down by Herod the Great in 20BCE who began a brand new building that was only finished sixty years after his death. He also constructed a much larger square platform around the hill to allow the Gentiles to go there without profaning the sacred areas towards the temple itself, and it is this platform that is the "Temple Mount" to this day.

This temple was destroyed by the Romans during the Jewish revolt in AD70, just six years after its completion. The platform was, however, allowed to remain andiIt became the basis for a temple to Jupiter in the new Hadrianic city of Aelia Capitolina, surviving until the Byzantine period when the area was turned into a rubbish dump, proving visibly to the recently pagan that God had turned his favor from Jew to Gentile Christian. Such was the state when Omar the first caliph marched triumphant into the city and, having forced the Christian Patriarch to crawl on his hands and kness from the Holy Sepulchre to the Mount as penance for desecrating it, built the Dome of the Rock where the temple had stood six hundred years previously.

Read more about Temple Mount and its surroundings

Warrens Shaft is the name of the underground waterworks system dating from the age of the kings of Judea.

Warren’s Shaft is the name of the underground waterworks system dating from the age of the kings of Judea. The entrance crosses a tunnel descending to a vertical shaft, whose end lies on the level of the Gihon spring.

Warren’s shaft is possibly the Jebusite water system that David used to conquer to city, but it is thought that the inhabitants of the lnd at that time lacked the technology to build such a work. The shaft enabled people to draw water from the Gihon spring without leaving the city, important in times of war, and was rediscovered in the last century by a British officer, Captain Warren.

2 Samuel 5

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would smite the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built the city round about from the Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

The Revised Standard Version, (New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.) 1973, 1977.

Easily the most celebrated, yet most contentious, church in Christianity, Church of the  Holy Sepulchre contains the traditional sites of the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus under one roof.

Easily the most celebrated, yet most contentious, church in Christianity. The Holy Sepulchre contains the traditional sites of the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus under one roof.

The site was rediscovered by Queen Helena, Constantine's mother, who knocked the temple down and subsequently a huge basilica was built, which was dedicated on Easter day in the year 326.

The church was partially rebuilt in the next century by Justinian, and remained untouched until 1009, when the mad caliph Hakim destroyed virtually all of it. It was patched up by a Monk called Robert, but when the Crusaders came across from 1099 the church was rebuilt to only half of its original size, and thus it stands today.

Mark Chapter 15

22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). 23 And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him, and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour, when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests mocked him to one another with the scribes, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

 33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Elo-i, Elo-i, lama sabach-thani?” which means, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

John Chapter 19

 38 After this Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who had at first come to him by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds’ weight. 40 They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

The Revised Standard Version, (New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.) 1973, 1977.

The City of David is the birthplace of the city of Jerusalem, the place where King David established his kingdom, and where the history of the People of Israel was written.

The City of David is the birthplace of the city of Jerusalem, the place where King David established his kingdom, and where the history of the People of Israel was written. It is within walking distance from the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall, and is one of the most exciting sites in Israel. Visitors come from all over the world to see the strongest physical connection between the stories of the Bible and reality, the place where the Holy City started.

In the year 1004 BCE, King David conquered the city from the Jebusites and established his capital there. It was here where the People of Israel were united under King David’s rule, here where the Holy Ark was bought and here where the First Temple was built by King Solomon, King David’s son.

Today the City of David is an archeological park that tells the story of the establishment of Jerusalem, its wars and hardships, its prophets and kings, and the history of the Jews during Biblical times. The remains of the city are present in the ancient stones and the thousands of shards that cover the pathways between the buildings. Among the archeological ruins are large elaborate houses that bear witness to the high social status of the city’s residents, Warren's Shaft leading to the water tunnel that was used to transport water from the Gikhon spring outside the city, and the remains of one of several towers that was used to defend the well. It is thought that King Solomon was anointed and crowned king of Israel at this site. Among the ruins found in the city were personal seals for signing letters and documents bearing the names their owners – people who were mentioned in the bible.

One of the most fascinating parts of the City of David is the tunnel of Shiloh - a 533-meter-long tunnel that was carved during the period of King Hezkiyahu. The tunnel extends from the city to the well at Shiloh, and is an astounding engineering feat. Its builders carved the tunnel through solid rock beginning from opposite ends and succeeded in making the two sides meet in the middle. Visitors can walk through the tunnel which is partially filled with water, and come out at the pools of Shiloh.

The City of David and its remains and historical significance have made it an important and exciting tourist site.

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The Davidson Center, which is built in the basement of an eighth-century building, offers to take you back through the ages where you’ll meet colorful figures of Jerusalem’s exploration in days gone by.

The glass doors of the Davidson Center near the Western Wall in Jerusalem swish open silently to welcome you. When they close behind you, you enter another world. It is the world of this city’s glorious past, showcased through the prism of advanced visualization technology.

The center was built into the basement of an eighth-century building, scrupulously preserving and enhancing it. As you follow the winding ramp downward, artwork and archaeological finds take you back through the ages, and you’ll meet colorful figures of Jerusalem’s exploration in days gone by.

A ten-minute, high-definition digital video ingeniously interchanges the experience of Second Temple pilgrims with that of present-day visitors.

The realization that the historic and spiritual treasures depicted – the Temple Mount, the Western Wall and the Southern Wall – still stand only a few strides away adds to the power of the presentation. The center’s highlight is a three-dimensional virtual reconstruction of the Temple, based on ancient writings and excavations, and produced by a team from the Department of Urban Simulation at UCLA. Pictures generated every 41 millionths of a second give participants the eerie feeling that they are really walking up the staircase to the Temple and through its towering colonnades to stand before the grandeur of the Holy of Holies.

The center maintains regular visiting hours for groups and individuals, and is closed on Saturdays. The virtual reconstruction session is part of a guided tour pre-arranged through the Davidson Center.

At the Tower of David Museum, not only do the captivating exhibits deepen your understanding of Jerusalem, its very stones are part of this city’s living history.

At the Tower of David Museum, not only do the captivating exhibits deepen your understanding of Jerusalem, its very stones are part of this city’s living history. The complex housing the museum, located at the Old City’s Jaffa Gate, spans the centuries: its nearly 500-year-old walls are part of the Turkish citadel; its name derives from a tower so massive that early Jerusalemites ascribed it to their great King David (ironically its builder was actually the much-maligned King Herod); the spire standing over it became a worldwide symbol for Jerusalem after the British General Allenby marched into Jerusalem beneath its shadow in 1917.

Your visit can begin with a breathtaking view of Old and New Jerusalem from the top of the tower for which the museum is named. Then you can explore the exhibits, where videos, dioramas and computer graphics come together to illuminate the complexities of a city unique in the annals of human history. Each ancient room has been revamped to showcase a different period, allowing the tempestuous events of 4,000 years to fall perfectly into place in your mind. The windows frame glimpses of modern Jerusalem, and with each doorway you exit, you look down into the citadel’s central courtyard, where archaeologists have unearthed remains dating from the Maccabees to the Middle Ages.

The museum also utilizes its unique space for multi-sensory exhibits by leading designers and artists from Israel and abroad, and for memorable private functions.

Read more about the Tower of David Museum and its surroundings

Every step you take in the Jewish Quarter brings you closer to discovering tangible remains of a dramatic chapter in Jewish history, especially of the period of its greatest grandeur: the time of the Second Temple.

Every step you take in the Jewish Quarter brings you closer to discovering tangible remains of a dramatic chapter in Jewish history, especially of the period of its greatest grandeur: the time of the Second Temple.
This period is richly commemorated at the Burnt House and the Herodian Mansions.

At the Burnt House, whose exact date of destruction – a month after the Second Temple fell – was determined by finds there, a stirring audio-visual presentation shares with visitors to the complexities of Jewish life at this time. At the Herodian Mansions, visitors discover how wealthy Jerusalemites were 2,000 years ago.
In the centuries that followed, Jerusalem once again flourished, as archaeologists discovered and restored in the heart of the quarter: the colonnaded Cardo, or main street of the city. Nearby are remnants of Jerusalem’s walls from the time of the First Temple, which fell to the Babylonians with its destruction in 586 BCE.

Into that rich and varied mix, comes evidence of the Jewish experience in the Middle Ages, when the Ramban Synagogue was founded, the Four Sephardic Synagogues restored to their former grandeur and attesting to vibrant community life, and the landmark Hurva Synagogue, now undergoing reconstruction. At the end of visit you’re in on the secret: the Jewish Quarter is more than the sum of its historical parts, it’s a magical blend of them all.

The Cardo is a typical Roman street built in the 6th century, consisting of stores situated between two rows of columns. The remains of the tall columns, arches, and stone floor can still be seen in the Cardo.

The Burnt House is the house that used to belong to the Katros family, a priestly family mentioned in the Talmud. The house was burnt when Jerusalem was captured by the Romans.

The Burnt House is the house that used to belong to the Katros family, a priestly family mentioned in the Talmud. The house was burnt when Jerusalem was captured by the Romans.

A set of rooms belonging to the basement of a house, dating back to the end of the Second Temple period, was uncovered beneath the street. There is also a display of remnants of furniture, earthenware vessels and coins found on the site.

Read more about the Jewish Quarter and the Old City of Jerusalem

The Israel Museum, the largest museum in Israel, includes an Art Wing, the Shrine of the Book, a Youth Wing, Archeology department and Judaica and Jewish Ethnography. The Art Wing includes permanent exhibits and temporary exhibits of Israeli artists and art from all over the world.

You can behold the Dead Sea Scrolls themselves at the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book. Its landmark dome gleams white against the adjacent black wall

As you stand among the 2,000 year-old ruins of Qumran, overlooking the Dead Sea, you’ll gain deeper appreciation for the Dead Sea Scrolls – the oldest Hebrew Bible ever found – discovered right on the edge of the Judean Wilderness in 1947. The archaeological remnants and the fascinating displays at the Qumran National Park visitor center recall the lifestyle of the Essenes, who left Jerusalem seeking spiritual purity. The message of the Dead Sea Scrolls for Christians is manifold. For example, they were part of a widespread movement also spearheaded by John the Baptist. Their writers lived similarly to early believers, who “had everything in common” (Acts 2:44). Their scriptural commentaries echo the way the Gospels interpreted the events of the day with prophetic references, and they had a special focus on ritual immersion, which would eventually develop into baptism.

You can behold the Dead Sea Scrolls themselves at the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book. Its landmark dome gleams white against the adjacent black wall, recalling the group’s belief in the battle of good against evil. Fountains play on the dome, recalling water baptism, and its shape evokes the cover of the jars that held the scrolls, which you’ll see inside in the exhibit “A Day at Qumran.” And the precious Isaiah Scroll at the heart of the exhibit proclaims the scrolls’ prophetic significance.   

Next to the Shrine of the Book, the model of Second Temple Jerusalem has recently been reopened. It depicts the Holy City at the time of Jesus, a time of tribulation and hope that is the essence of the story of Qumran and its scrolls, and of our biblical heritage.

Read more about the Dead Sea Scrolls

The Model of Second Temple Jerusalem occupies 21,500 square feet next to the Shrine of the Book. Ancient Jerusalem’s palaces, homes and more are depicted in intricate detail, crowned by the Temple, the spiritual center of the Jewish People. 

The Model of Second Temple Jerusalem, one of the capital’s best-loved visitor sites, first opened in 1966 on the grounds of a Jerusalem hotel. It was built at the behest of the hotel’s owner, Hans Kroch, in memory of his son Jacob who fell in Israel's War of Independence. But when construction activities around the hotel necessitated the model’s move, the Israel Museum welcomed it, and it was reopened in 2006. The 1:50 model now occupies 21,500 square feet next to the landmark Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls, the earliest copies of the Hebrew Bible ever found, are displayed. Ancient Jerusalem’s palaces, homes, courtyards, gardens, theater and markets are all there in intricate detail, crowned by the Temple, the spiritual center of the Jewish People and the largest building project in the world of its day. 

A short film, screened in the new auditorium of the museum’s Dorot Foundation Information and Study Center, highlights the complexities of life in those days and is a companion piece to the Shrine of the Book and the model. The plot follows two fictional friends: one an acolyte of the sect that lived at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, the other a young Jerusalem priest, as each seeks his spiritual path in troubled times.

The model’s new setting allows visitors both to circumnavigate it and to view it from above, getting a glimmer of  the grandeur of this city, about which the sages said “ten measures of beauty were given to the world; nine were taken by Jerusalem.”

The Bible Lands Museum's every exhibit, large or small, keeps visitors anchored to one great theme – biblical heritage and the Bible lands. You will come away enriched with greater understanding of the Bible’s influence on Western civilization and world events.

Visitors to the Bible Lands Museum flow easily through ancient regions and historical periods as they move from one airy gallery to another in this open-design complex.

Yet every exhibit, large or small, keeps them anchored to one great theme – biblical heritage and the Bible lands. The artifacts are displayed together with evocative quotes from Scripture, which help visitors realize that biblical figures - from the patriarchs and the matriarchs to Canaanite deities, Queen Esther and many more - and the tiny land of Israel are rooted in the myriad cultures and faiths, spanning the ancient Near East, from Egypt to Turkey, Mesopotamia and beyond.

You will come away enriched with greater understanding of the Bible’s influence on Western civilization and world events. The exhibit is even more amazing when you consider that it is the life-long collection of one man, Elie Borowski (1913-2003) who graced Jerusalem with this museum specifically to display these treasures. 

The museum also runs imaginative enrichment programs and special events, and its wine and cheese Saturday-night concerts are fixtures in the capital.

Herodium is the most outstanding among King Herod’s building projects. This is the only site that carries his name and the site where he chose to be buried and to memorialize himself, all of this with the integration of a huge, unique palace at the fringe of the desert.

The long search for Herod the Great’s tomb has ended with the exposure of the remains of his grave, sarcophagus and mausoleum on Mount Herodium’s northeastern slope.Herod was the Roman-appointed king of Judea from 37 to 4 BCE, who was renowned for his many monumental building projects, including the reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the palace at Masada, as well as the complex at Herodium, 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem.

"Herodium is the most outstanding among King Herod’s building projects. This is the only site that carries his name and the site where he chose to be buried and to memorialize himself, all of this with the integration of a huge, unique palace at the fringe of the desert", said Prof. Netzer of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Institute of Archaeology. "Therefore", he said, "the exposure of his tomb becomes the climax of this site’s research".

The approach to the burial site - which has been described by the archaeologists involved as one of the most striking finds in Israel in recent years - was via a monumental flight of stairs (6.5 meters wide) leading to the hillside that were especially constructed for the funeral procession.

The excavations on the slope of the mountain, at whose top is the famed structure comprised of a palace, a fortress and a monument, commenced in August 2006. The expedition, on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, was conducted by Prof. Netzer, together with Yaakov Kalman and Roi Porath and with the participation of local Bedouins.

The location and unique nature of the findings, as well as the historical record, leave no doubt that this was Herod’s burial site, said Prof. Netzer.

The mausoleum itself was almost totally dismantled in ancient times. In its place remained only part of its well built podium, or base, built of large white ashlars (dressed stone) in a manner and size not previously revealed at Herodium. 

Among the many high quality architectural elements, mostly well decorated, which were spread among the ruins, is a group of decorated urns (made in the form of special jars that were used to store body ashes). Similar ones are to be found on the top of burial monuments in the Nabatean world. The urns had a triangular cover and were decorated on the sides.

Spread among the ruins are pieces of a large, unique sarcophagus (close to 2.5 meters long), made of a Jerusalemite reddish limestone, which was decorated by rosettes.

The sarcophagus had a triangular cover, which was decorated on its sides. This is assumed with certainty to be the sarcophagus of Herod. Only very few similar sarcophagi are known in the country and can be found only in elaborate tombs such as the famous one at the King’s Tomb on Selah a-Din Street in East Jerusalem. Although no inscriptions have been found yet at Herodium, neither on the sarcophagus nor in the building remains, these still might be found during the continuation of the dig.

Worthy of note is the fact that the sarcophagus was broken into hundreds of pieces, no doubt deliberately. This activity, including the destruction of the monument, apparently took place in the years 66-72 C.E. during the first Jewish revolt against the Romans, while Jewish rebels took hold of the site, according to Josephus and the archaeological evidence. The rebels were known for their hatred of Herod and all that he stood for, as a “puppet ruler” for the Romans.

The search for Herod’s tomb, which actively began 30 years ago, focused until the middle of 2006 at Lower Herodium, in an area which was, no doubt, especially built for the funeral and burial of the king - the “Tomb Estate.” In order to reveal there the remains from Herod’s days, the expedition was “forced” to first expose a large complex of Byzantine structures (including a church), an effort that demanded many years of digging.

The Tomb Estate included two monumental buildings and a large ritual bath (mikveh) as well as the large route (350 meters long and 30 meters wide) which was prepared for the funeral. When no sign of the burial place itself was found within the Tomb Estate, the expedition started to search for it on the slope of the hill, although there seems to be no doubt that the initial intention of the king was to be buried in the estate and that only in a later stage of his life - apparently when he grew old - did he change his mind and asked to be buried within the artificial cone which gave the hill of Herodium its current volcano-shape.

The main historical source of the Second Temple’s days, the historian Josephus Flavius, has described the site of Herodium in detail, as well as the funeral in the year 4 BCE, but not the tomb proper. He wrote as follows:

 “The king’s funeral next occupied his attention. Archelaus, omitting nothing that could contribute to its magnificence, brought forth all the royal ornaments to accompany the procession in honor of the deceased. The bier was of solid gold, studded with precious stones, and had a covering of purple, embroidered with various colors; on this lay the body enveloped in purple robe, a diadem encircling the head and surmounted by a crown of gold, the scepter beside his right hand.

Around the bier were Herod’s sons and a large group of his relations; these were followed by the guards, the Thracian contingent, Germans and Gauls, all equipped as for war. The reminder of the troops marched in front, armed and in orderly array, led by their commanders and subordinate officers; behind these came five hundred of Herod’s servants and freedmen, carrying spices. The body was thus conveyed for a distance of two hundred furlongs to Herodium, where, in accordance with the directions of the deceased, it was interred. So ended Herod’s reign

A visit to the Rockefeller Museum leaves archaeology buffs wondering what fascinated them more – this magnificently eclectic complex or the exhibits it houses.

A visit to the Rockefeller Museum leaves archaeology buffs wondering what fascinated them more – this magnificently eclectic complex or the exhibits it houses.

This was Jerusalem’s first proper antiquities museum, built opposite the Old City walls by John D. Rockefeller in 1938. It combines Middle Eastern stone archways, domes, and interior courtyards with European accents like the vaulted library (which welcomes drop-ins), heavy walnut doors and metal fixtures imported from England.

The old-fashioned rectangular display cases that line the galleries seem not to have changed since Mandate times, and recall the famous old photos of the “Scrollery” – the room in this building where scholars worked on the Dead Sea Scrolls in the 1950s.

The cases reveal many heritage treasures, especially from the great digs of the early twentieth century such as Gezer, Jericho and Beit She’an, to name just a few. Rockefeller, home to the Israel Antiquities Authority and under the management of the Israel Museum, also mounts changing exhibits.

Perusing everything from coins and jewelry to mosaics, statuary and sarcophagi, history-lovers can wander these long, cool halls in awe for hours.

Read more about the Rockefeller Museum and archaeology

The Kidron Valley is one of Jerusalem’s most sacred locales, due to its location between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives.

The Kidron Valley is one of Jerusalem’s most sacred locales, due to its location between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives.

On the Mount of Olives is the world’s oldest Jewish cemetery, where it is believed the resurrection of the dead will begin when the Messiah comes. Legend has it that a miraculous bridge will span the valley at the end of time, over which the righteous will pass on their way to the Temple Mount.

This part of the Kidron is also called the Valley of Jehosafat, where God will judge the nations of the world (Joel 3:12). Another name for the valley is the Vale of the King; it was once intensely cultivated and the revenues went to the king.

Many olive trees have recently been brought here to restore the ancient landscape. The Kidron also has the earliest tombs in the cemetery: Zechariah’s Tomb, named after a First Temple priest, the Tomb of the Sons of Hezir, a Second Temple-era priestly family, and Absalom’s Tomb.
The conical-roofed Absalom’s Tomb received its name because the Bible says this rebellious son of David built a monument here so he would be remembered. Absalom was eventually killed by his father’s men; Jerusalemites of old would bring their sons to pelt the tomb with stones and recall the fate of rebellious offspring.

Located east of Jerusalem’s Old City and separating it from the Judean Desert, the Mount of Olives is one of the most prominent sites in Jerusalem.

Located east of Jerusalem’s Old City and separating it from the Judean Desert, the Mount of Olives is one of the most prominent sites in the Jerusalem vicinity mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. It is first mentioned as King David’s escape route during the rebellion of his son Absalom, then later in the prophets; but it is most often referred to in the New Testament, being the route from Jerusalem to Bethany and a favorite location for Jesus' teachings to his pupils and where he wept over Jerusalem. Here, the Dominus Flevit Church was built by the Franciscan order in 1954 to designs by A. Barluzzi in the shape of a tear atop remains of a Byzantine church.

At the foot of the mountain, adjacent to the Church of All Nations, stand the Gardens of Gethsemane (Gat Shemanim- oil press in Hebrew), in which one finds the golden turreted Russian Orthodox Church of Maria Magdalene. Besides the compound of churches adjacent to Mount Scopus at its north, which includes the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Basilica Eleona and the convent of Pater Noster, it is perhaps best known for the extensive cemetery that faces Jerusalem all along its western slopes.

Believed to be the place from which God will begin to redeem the dead when the Messiah comes, Jews have always sought to be buried here. The most famous of these graves actually lie at the foot of the mountain, flush against the Old City walls, including the Tomb Of Zechariah, the tombs of the sons of Hezir and Yad Absalom. Further up, among the 150,000 graves in the Jewish cemetery, one may find the final resting places of Jewish philosopher Nahmanides, Hebrew language reviver Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, former Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Chief Rabbis Avraham Isaac Kook and Shlomo Goren and media mogul Robert Maxwell.

Presently, the Jerusalem Municipality in conjunction with the Prime Minister’s Office is embarking upon an ambitious renewal and development project for the entire site. The 100 million shekel project includes the renovation of thousands of graves destroyed during the Jordanian rule over Eastern Jerusalem between 1948 and 1967 and the development and maintenance of roads, fences and a tourist information center. The project is expected to last for five years, due to the religiously sensitive nature of the area, which inhibits the use of heavy machinery.

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Standing among the 2,000 year-old ruins of Qumran, overlooking the Dead Sea on the edge of the Judean Wilderness, visitors gain deeper appreciation for the Dead Sea Scrolls, containing the oldest Bible ever found, and discovered right here.

Standing among the 2,000 year-old ruins of Qumran, overlooking the Dead Sea on the edge of the Judean Wilderness, visitors gain deeper appreciation for the Dead Sea Scrolls, containing the oldest Bible ever found, and discovered right here.

You’ll see a room where scribes may have copied the scrolls, a pavement where the hard-working inhabitants dried dates, a potters’ workshop, a dining hall, and a ritual bath, recalling the way of life of the Essenes who left Jerusalem seeking spiritual purity.

At the visitor center, designed like Qumran’s ancient buildings, an exciting film links the fabulous landscape with the story of its people, recalling that John the Baptist may have lived here. A dramatic view of the cave in which most of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found tops off the experience, and whets your appetite to view the scrolls themselves at the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem.

Read more about Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls 

Massada, one of the most exciting places in Israel, is situated on the top of a mountain with steep sides and a flat top overlooking the desert panorama to the west and the Dead Sea to the east.

Massada is one of the most exciting and frequently-toured places in Israel, and relates a story of perseverance and power, faith and surrender, ambitions, and a tragic end.  Massada is a place where battles were waged with rocks and flaming arrows, as well as battles of the human spirit. 

Massada is situated on the top of a mountain with steep sides and a flat top like a parapet overlooking the desert panorama to the west and the Dead Sea to the east.  The thrilling story of the site reveals the courage of the defenders of Massada and their battle against the conquering Romans. 
The story, related against the background of the ancient panorama, is as thrilling as a Hollywood movie, and is filled with tension, struggle, and love.

The fortress of Massada was built in the year 30 BCE by King Herod, whose architectural feats have left their mark throughout the country.  At the beginning of the great revolt against Rome in the year 68 BCE, the site was conquered by a group of Jewish zealots, and Massada became their last stronghold.  In the year 72 the Romans besieged Massada and succeeded in reaching the steep fortress after constructing a huge earthen ramp on its western side.  In the year 73, the 960 Jewish zealots living at the top of Massada chose to commit suicide rather than to fall into the hands of the Romans alive. Their deeds left behind a saga of courage, heroism, and martyrdom. 

The remains of the fortress of Massada are well-preserved and have been reconstructed in an effort to pay homage to the site and its heroic inhabitants.
The most impressive structure on Massada is King Herod's northern palace, built on three rock terraces overlooking the gorge below.  Near the palace is a large Roman style bath house with a colorful mosaic floor and walls decorated with murals.  Many other buildings at the site - such as the luxurious western palace, the mikveh (Jewish ritual bath), storerooms, watchtowers, and synagogue relate the history of Massada, especially when viewed with artifacts such as storage containers, decorated pottery, scrolls, and coins. 

The beautiful embossments and murals that were discovered on the walls of buildings on Massada were restored by Italian experts to preserve them for years to come. This is the largest and most complete Roman siege camp that remains today.

Massada is extremely high, and can be ascended on foot by the winding "snake path" or by a cable car that runs from the tourist center at the feet of Massada to the top. 
The tourist center also features a movie about the story of Massada, a model of the site, and an exhibit of the archeological findings. 

A visit to Massada is a thrilling and exciting experience.  The chilling story and the archeological remains contribute to the special atmosphere of the site, and preserve its magnificent past.  In the year 2000 readers of Traveler Magazine rated Massada as the best tourist site of its type in the world, and in 2001 UNESCO declared Massada a World Heritage Site.   

A prosperous Jewish settlement at Ein Gedi was destroyed at the time of the rebellion against the Romans. The main finding at the Ein Gedi Antiquities National Park is the ruins of a synagogue from the Byzantine period. Next to it are remains of a settlement, including a pool, part of a street, and several houses.

The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth in any land mass (417 meters below sea level, to be exact). The quantity of water that evaporates from it is greater than that which flows into it, such that this body of water has the highest concentration of salt in the world (340 grams per liter of water).

How far does one have to descend to reach the Dead Sea? About 400 meters below sea level. How deep is this salty lake? Almost the same (in the northern section). Fascinating? Absolutely! Every detail about the Dead Sea is fascinating.
Here are a few more: The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth in any land mass (417 meters below sea level, to be exact). The quantity of water that evaporates from it is greater than that which flows into it, such that this body of water has the highest concentration of salt in the world (340 grams per liter of water).

It is called the Dead Sea because its salinity prevents the existence of any life forms in the lake. That same salt, on the other hand, provides tremendous relief to the many ailing visitors who come here on a regular basis to benefit from its healing properties. All these and more make the Dead Sea so fascinating, so different and so interesting.

The Dead Sea can also be called “the lowest health spa in the world.” Sea salts are produced from the southern section for industry, and in the northern section promote tourism and good health. The composition of the salts and minerals in the water are what make it so unique and beneficial for the body.
The sea bed also has deposits of black mud that is easy to spread on the body and provides the skin with nourishing minerals. As if that were not enough, the bromide in the air is also beneficial to the body’s systems, thus making the Dead Sea a provider for good health and healing for vacationers from all over the world.

It is a truly priceless national treasure. The western shore (inside Israel’s borders) is dotted with organized beaches and bathing areas that provide convenient access to the water. Beside two of the therapeutic beaches (Neve Zohar and Ein Bokek) large tourism centers have been established, providing the most pampering tourism services.
You will find dozens of hotels, hostels and guest houses, restaurants and shopping centers, as well as surprising tourism enterprises that offer a wide range of challenging activities (jeep and bicycle tours, camel tours and Bedouin hospitality, rappelling and more), alongside art and cultural activities (galleries and artists’ studios), and of course the unique agriculture, adapted to the local climate.

The Dead Sea is on the edge of the Judean Desert, a hot, barren region at the foot of Ha-He’etekim cliff, which has also become an important center of desert tourism. The coastline is dotted many springs, surrounded by wild plant life. The special combination that has formed in this place, between desert landscapes and oases with plentiful water, plants and animals, attracts both the eye and the heart and draws many tourists to sites such as Mt. Sdom, Nakhal Darga, the Ein Gedi nature reserve and the Einot Tsukim (Ein Fashkha) reserve.

Alongside these breathtaking natural sites there are also some purely historic sites of considerable importance in Israel’s past, which preserve the ancient charm of this area. Among the most prominent sites are the Massada (Metsada) fortress, ancient Ein Gedi and the Kumran cave site where ancient scrolls were found, including the Dead Sea scrolls, which offer some insights into early Christianity and the Essenes sect that lived at the site and is considered the beginning of Christian monasticism.

The northwestern region of the Dead Sea is also a pilgrimage site for Christians who have visited here over the centuries especially during the Easter season. From here they go to the Jordan (the traditional site of Jesus’ baptism), and many still follow this tradition in our times. A tour of the Dead Sea region would not be complete without a visit to the amazing monasteries built on the cliff walls. In the fourth century ascetism became popular among Christians, who wanted to live their lives as Jesus had. Many believers wanted to devote themselves to God and the Judean Desert became a ideal destination for monks, who built phenomenal monasteries, some of them carved into the stone faces of the desert cliffs. Among these monasteries are St. George, Quruntul, Khozeba and Mar Saba. Some of the monasteries are still operating and even welcome visitors, who can gain their own impressions of the intensity of the desert and its wild beauty.

The people who lived at Beit Govrin thousands of years ago left behind plentiful testimony to their existence both above and below ground.

Read more about Beit Govrin and related topics

During the period between the 1920s and the 1940s, the part of Tel Aviv known as “The White City” was built. Tel Aviv is the largest open-air Bauhaus museum in the world, and a declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The city of Tel Aviv has always been a melting pot of cultures and artistic styles. In the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s Tel Aviv was a young, thriving city in the midst of economic, social, cultural and geographical change. It was during this period that the part of Tel Aviv known as “The White City” was built. The architects and designers of the city could not imagine that their choice of the Bauhaus style of architecture would eventually make Tel Aviv the largest open-air Bauhaus museum in the world. 

It was because of the “White City” that Tel Aviv was added to the list of 56 historical cities in the world in 2003, and became one of the few modern cities to be declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. 

The “White City” is a unique and beautiful residential neighborhood in the heart of Tel Aviv.  The neighborhood consisted of 4,000 buildings that were built during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s of which about 1,000 are still standing today.

The buildings, designed by the best architects in the city, drew on the Bauhaus style invented in post First World War Germany. Bauhaus design philosophy attempted to create a new, simple architectural language based on clean forms that met people’s everyday needs.

In Tel Aviv, the Bauhaus style gave rise to a typical Israeli style that was suitable for the hot Mediterranean climate and the city’s turbulent atmosphere. The simple, square white buildings sought austere beauty from the asymmetrical play between various geometric shapes. Round terraces were built alongside square windows, flat roofs, and tall pillars.  Ceilings were higher and rooms larger than usual and large windows overlooking the urban panorama were open to the pleasant evening breeze. In keeping with the Israeli tradition of warm hospitality, the terraces of these homes served as meeting places for the residents and their neighbors, as well as friends passing by. 

Visitors to Tel Aviv can visit these buildings in the area of Rothschild, Bialik, and Dizengoff streets, marvel at the beauty of the houses, and sense their great contribution to the city’s architecture. 

The impact of Bauhaus was not only in Tel Aviv. At the end of the 1920s a railroad was built to link Mandatory Palestine to Jordan. A white railway station at the border was built in the Bauhaus style with clean lines and a roof that rests upon square pillars, rounded on one side and square on the other. The station can be seen only within the framework of organized tours that leave from the area of the Israeli-Jordanian border. The graffiti on the walls add to its historical value. 

Caesarea National Park exhibits the remains of a pagan temple, a theater, a hippodrome, a bath-house and a sculpture garden.

Caesarea is a city of the past and the future, the new opposite the ancient. While new Caesarea is graced with magnificent modern homes, ancient Caesarea offers tourists the ruins of unique, impressive buildings. While golfers enjoy lush fairways, horse races are reenacted in the huge hippodrome in the national park. While modern Caesarea’s neighborhoods are quiet and serene in the glory of contemporary architecture, ancient Caesarea is bustling with tourists who come to see the wonders of the past that were built by one of the greatest builders of the ancient world - King Herod.

Caesarea’s antiquities park is one of Israel’s most impressive parks, housing unique buildings from various periods, bearing silent witness to the upheavals that have visited Caesarea over the past 2,300 years. Standing side by side over an area of 500 dunams (125 acres), there are architectural remains from the Hellenistic period (the 3rd century BCE) to the Crusader period (the 12th century), when Caesarea was a port city and spent many years as Israel’s capital. Caesarea was given to King Herod as a present by Augustus Caesar and is named after him. Herod built a massive port there alongside entertainment facilities, bathhouses and temples. In the Byzantine period, Caesarea was an important Christian center. The early fathers of Christianity (Origen and Eusebius) lived there and according to Christian tradition it was here that the first idol worshiper was converted - the Roman centurion Cornelius. In the Crusader period the city was fortified with walls and gates, which were eventually destroyed by the Mamluk Conquest in the 13th century.

A tour of the national park is like walking through a story, and wandering between the ancient buildings one can both sense how people lived here thousands of years ago and enjoy modern, contemporary experiences, such as the enthralling musical performances held in the beautiful Roman Theater. One can walk along the city walls and around the towers, wander through the ruins of the castle and the various temples, watch the horse races in the hippodrome, visit the ancient port and the tiny artists’ square and view the interactive 3-dimensional computer simulations of the city’s past. The port hosts cultural festivals year round and offers a wide range of activities: historic riddles, jeep tours, target practice with a variety of weapons, paintball, Tai Chi on the beach, toga workshops and treasure hunts. Caesarea’s beach offers the beauty of nature and diving enthusiast can explore the underwater ruins in the archeological park beside the port.

Alongside all the ruins are modern cafes, quaint restaurants, romantic corners and a sandy beach, and not far away is the ancient aqueduct that brought water to the ancient city of Caesarea, 9 kilometers away. Next to the national park is the rural town of Caesarea, which took its name from the ancient city. The town is full of activities, including golf courses, a pampering spa, fancy hotels, the Ralli Art Museum and a historic site that houses the remains of a magnificent palace with a mosaic floor of amazing birds and a rare and unique table top inlaid with glass and gold.

When you stand atop the ancient mound of Megiddo, with the remnants of 25 civilizations beneath your feet, each hill and valley you see tells a biblical tale. The Book of Revelation set the great battle of the End of Days against this backdrop, and called this place Armageddon.

When you stand atop the ancient mound of Megiddo, with the remnants of 25 civilizations beneath your feet, each hill and valley you see tells a biblical tale. Every army that ever crossed this land clashed in its shadow. No wonder the Book of Revelation set the great battle of the End of Days against this backdrop, and called this place Armageddon.

Megiddo stands at the very hub of history. It was a central stop on the greatest trading route of ancient world, which crossed the land bridge of Canaan to link the far reaches of the Fertile Crescent – Egypt in the south and Mesopotamia in the north. Joshua (Joshua 12:21), King Solomon (I Kings 9:15) and the ill-fated King Josiah (2 Kings 23:30) all beheld its walls, which finally fell to the invading Assyrians.

When you come to Tel Megiddo, now Megiddo National Park and a World Heritage Site, you can’t help but sense the power of the massive gates that held the Egyptian army at bay for months, and the gates above them attributed to King Solomon. You will look down on a round altar where Canaanite sacrifices were carried out, and understand what the Bible means when it talks about “high places” where the Canaanites – and the Israelites – sacrificed to idols (2 Kings 23:19).  The remains of the city the Assyrians built here some 2700 years ago are here as well, now scattered across the landscape.

Another Megiddo highlight is the descent down 180 steps into the shaft and tunnel, hewn in an amazing engineering feat to channel spring water into the city in the eighth century BCE, during the reign of King Ahab.

Though no town existed here in Jesus’ day, a surprising illustration of the nativity story has become a popular photo op: stone feeding troughs in stables from the days of the Israelite kings are precisely the type of manger in which the baby Jesus was laid (Luke 2:7).

Right down the road from Megiddo, an amazing discovery was made in November 2005 in excavations prior to the expansion of a prison, of all things:  a mosaic floor bearing three inscriptions in Greek. Among them is one honoring a woman named Akeptos, “lover of God, who contributed the table to God, Jesus Christ as a memorial.” Archaeologists say that because the inscription mentions a table (and not an altar, a later custom) the Eucharist at the time must have still been conducted around a table, the way the first Christians did it. That may make this building unique in the Christian world, and we look forward to this site’s renovation, so Christian visitors can once again worship at what might be the oldest church ever found.

But nothing beats standing at the top of Tel Megiddo to take in the inspiring view:  Mount Carmel to the west, Mount Gilboa to the east, Samaria to the south and, to the north, just across the valley – Nazareth. What better place to pray over and ponder this incomparable rendezvous with past and future.

Beit She'arim is an ancient site with remnants of an ancient Jewish city, in the middle of which are the remnants of a large synagogue and a graveyard: 100 burial caves are hewn on different levels.

Beit She’arim National Park encompasses some of the most dramatic and interesting evidence of the Jewish past in the Galilee and of the Jewish world of Roman times.

After the Romans exiled the Jews from Jerusalem in the second century CE, Jewish community life reestablished itself in the Galilee, and Beit She’arim rose to prominence as the headquarters of the Sanhedrin. It was also the Jewish world’s best-known cemetery, after Rabbi Judah the Prince, the redactor of the Mishnah, was laid to rest here.

Excavations have unearthed 20 catacombs. A small museum occupies one, and visitors can walk the dramatically lit halls of another, where over 200 stone coffins bear fascinating inscriptions and designs that are testimony to the complex Jewish cultural milieu of those days. The remains of a synagogue also attest to the town’s vibrant Jewish life, and an olive press recalls its main livelihood.

On a hill above the national park, which is located near the town of Tivon southeast of Haifa, is a statue of the pioneer Alexander Zayid, founder of the watchmen’s organization, the Shomer, who settled here in the 1920s and discovered the tombs.

Acre (Akko) is a meeting place for East and West, new and old, beauty and ruins, all adding to its uniqueness. The variety of tourism sites makes it a bustling city full of cultural events, and there is another interesting adventure or attraction around every corner.

The waves from the Mediterranean Sea crash against the walls of Acre’s old city, washing the steep, thick sandstone walls that have survived the centuries. The walls, fortresses and strongholds of the city bear the marks of many nations that left impressive buildings behind them, beautifying Acre to this day. Thanks to these buildings, UNESCO declared Acre a World Heritage Site in 2001.

A visit to Acre is part of the Israeli experience. The city is a meeting place for East and West, new and old, beauty and ruins, all adding to its uniqueness. The variety of tourism sites makes Acre a bustling city full of cultural events, and there is another interesting adventure or attraction around every corner.

Acre was one of this region’s important cities in ancient times. Various cultures made their home here, the Crusaders captured it and the Ottomans lived here for many centuries. Even Napoleon Bonaparte tried to lay his hands on Acre and conquer it, but after two months of siege and failed attempts to storm the city’s walls, he retreated in humiliation.

The fascinating history that has passed through the streets of Acre, the legacy left behind by its conquerors, the buildings that adorn the city and the places of worship built there are just part of the experience this city offers. Among the high-walled alleys and underground passages there is a huge mosque and a Christian monastery, an inn and Turkish baths, halls built by the Knights Templar, with an extraordinary Templar tunnel and fascinating archeological findings. These are joined by intriguing museums and many churches, a row of hotels near the inviting beaches, a marina, restaurants and a picaresque fishing port.

Every year Acre hosts colorful festivals that attract thousands of visitors and tourists from around the world. Between the ancient alleyways a lively open market hums with activity, especially on weekends. The market is also the home of one of Israel’s most famous hummus restaurants, where one sometimes has to wait in line for a table for two. Nearby, in the fishing port, there are excellent fish restaurants that serve the best of the previous night’s catches. Not far away from the city is a beautifully manicured Bahai Garden, build by members of the Bahai religion in Israel. It is a real pleasure to wander the garden’s paths and enjoy the meticulously designed flower beds.

Acre is interesting and charming, good for a glimpse of the past, a festival or just a romantic evening stroll along the city walls over the sea.

A tour of Beit She’an is like a walk through time. Among the residential buildings, modern public buildings, and modern shopping centers are ancient buildings that were once public institutions, archaeological sites and impressive ruins.

A tour of Beit She’an is like a walk through time. Among the residential buildings, modern public buildings, and modern shopping centers are ancient buildings that were once public institutions, archaeological sites and impressive ruins. Beit She’an is one of the most ancient cities in the country. It is a historical gem that unfolds the fascinating story of a rich period full of changes, climaxing in the National Park of Beit She’an to the north of the city.

Tel (the Hebrew name for abandoned ruins that often appear as hillocks in the countryside) Beit She’an was first settled way back in the Chalcolithic Period (some 5,000 to 6,000 years ago). The city has had many conquerors, among them the Egyptians some 3,500 years ago. A few hundred years later, the Philistines conquered it (it was they who fastened Saul’s body to the wall of Beit She’an after the famous battle on Mount Gilbo’a: 1 Samuel 31 .8 – 11). Beit She’an became part of the kingdoms of David and Solomon, and was eventually destroyed in a fire, apparently at the hands of the King of Assyria (in 732 BCE).

Beit She’an was rebuilt as a Hellenistic city about 2,300 years ago, and was renamed Scythopolis (“City of the Scyths”). In the succeeding Roman period, it spread south, reaching the peak of its greatness in the fifth century, when it had 30,000 – 40,000 inhabitants. The remains of this magnificent city can be clearly seen at the city’s main site – the National Park of Beit She’an, which is one of the country’s most beautiful and impressive national parks. In the northern part is Tel Beit She’an – the location of ancient Beit She’an. South and east of it are the ruins of Roman-Byzantine Scythopolis, which tell of its richness and greatness.

The city extended over an area of some 370 acres, and you can still see the remains of the wall that surrounded it. In addition, several impressive buildings have been uncovered in the national park, including a theatre (still used for events and shows), a public bath-house (the largest found to date in Israel), two magnificent colonnaded streets, a Roman temple, a decorative fountain building (nymphaeum), a large basilica marking the center of the city, and of course the reconstructed mosaic on which you can see Tyche, the Roman Goddess of Good Fortune, holding the Horn of Plenty.

The city remained at its peak for several more years, following which it declined. After the Arab conquest, it sank to the status of a small town. Upon the establishment of the State of Israel, it was resettled and new immigrants came to live here. Today, the city numbers some 18,000 inhabitants.

As mentioned, there are more ruins within the precincts of the new city of Beit She’an, including a Roman amphitheatre (hippodrome), an affluent person’s residence from the Byzantine period, and the remains of a bridge from the Roman period on Nakhal Kharod, which flows at the outskirts of the city. In another part of the city are ruins from later periods, including the remains of a Crusader fortress, a mosque from the Mamluk period, a Turkish government house, and several basalt stone houses from the time Beit She’an was under Arabic rule.

The area surrounding the city is profuse with springs and, consequently, there are abundant nature sites and places to tour. The new youth hostel, one of the most impressive in the country, is worth a visit.

Tiberias is synonymous with vacations in Israel. Here one can enjoy a variety of activities in a city that offers a wonderful mix of relaxation, nature, history and contemporary attractions, serene quiet, active water sports, and pilgrimage sites.

At Capernaum – known as Jesus’ “own town” (Matt. 9:1) – “walking where Jesus walked” takes on thrilling new meaning.

At Capernaum – known as Jesus’ “own town” (Matt. 9:1) – “walking where Jesus walked” takes on thrilling new meaning. As you sit on the stone benches of Capernaum’s ancient synagogue, you’ll be reminded that right here, Jesus taught (Mark 1:21; John 6:59) and healed a man possessed by an evil spirit (Mark 1:23-27). It was the synagogue on this very spot, whose foundations you can still see, which Luke says was built by the centurion whose servant Jesus later healed (Luke 7:3-5). Jesus also raised from the dead the daughter of this synagogue’s leader (Luke 8:49-53).

The ruins that surround you here, from homes with ordinary tools of daily life to intricately decorated stone carvings, are powerful reminders of Jesus’ prediction about this town (Matt. 11:23). A highlight is Peter’s house, where Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law (Matt. 8:14-15; Mark 1:29-31). Peter’s house was a simple dwelling, like many others that archaeologists have unearthed in this small fishing and farming village. But unlike the others, here Christian pilgrims over the centuries left no less than 131 inscriptions on the walls. Jesus’ name appears frequently, as does Peter’s, along with crosses, pilgrims’ names and blessings. Eventually, in the mid-fourth century, a large church was built, whose mosaic floor you can still see, with Peter’s house as its centerpiece. Some years ago a modern church went up above the ruins. These walls, old and new, attest to the continuing reverence for the site of one of the best-loved healing stories of the Gospels, here in the heart of Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ Galilee ministry.

Read more about Capernaum and related topics

Bethsaida is one of the three towns of the “Evangelical Triangle” of Jesus’ Galilee ministry.

Jesus clearly knew Bethsaida well (Matt. 11:21).
Early Christian travelers also knew the town, just north of the Sea of Galilee, which was home to Peter, Andrew and Philip (John 1:44) and, according to tradition, Zebedee and his sons.
It was also scene of the feeding of the 5,000 according to Luke (9:10-17) and of Jesus’ healing of a blind man (Mark 8:22-26). But in later centuries, when travel became difficult, its location was actually forgotten. Now, thanks to archaeology, Bethsaida has reopened its gates to visitors. Following the rediscovery of Capernaum, and more recently Chorazim, Bethsaida is the last of the three towns of the “Evangelical Triangle” of Jesus’ Galilee ministry to rejoin Christian itineraries.

Among the many treasures yielded by this 21-acre mound is a fisherman’s house, identified by stone net-weights, an anchor, a fishhook and even a needle for repairing nets, which recall Bethsaida’s fishermen disciples.

Visitors can also learn Old Testament history here; Scholars tell us this was the capital of Geshur, the hometown of Maacah, wife of David’s youth (2 Sam 3:3). Massive burned gates are evidence of the destruction of the north by the Assyrians in 732 BCE, as recorded in 2 Kings 18:10. A shaded spot with a wonderful view of the Sea of Galilee and natural-rock seats make a perfect locale for Bible study and prayer. And most thrilling of all, visitors can even walk a cobbled street from the time of Jesus. 

Korazim is an archaeological site mentioned in the New Testament as a city condemned by Jesus (together with Bethsaida and Capernaum) for rejecting him.

Korazim is an archaeological site mentioned in the New Testament as a city condemned by Jesus (together with Bethsaida and Capernaum) for rejecting him.

Korazim was a Jewish town renowned for its good wheat in Talmudic times. The town's ruins are spread over an area of 25 acres, subdivided into five separate quarters, with a synagogue in the center. The ruins at the site include a large, impressive synagogue which was built with black basalt stones and decorated with Jewish motifs. Close by is a ritual bath, surrounded by public and residential buildings.

Matthew Chapter 11

 20 Then he began to upbraid the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Beth-saida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Caperna-um, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

The Revised Standard Version, (New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.) 1973, 1977

Tel Dan is a nature reserve in the north of the Hula Valley that comprises the springs of the Dan River, Tel Dan and the upper Dan River. Along the tributaries is a concentration of trees, creepers and rare plants for which this is the only natural habitat in Israel.

A pleasant north wind greets visitors to Katsrin - the capital of the Golan Heights. Founded in 1977, it has become an urban, commercial and tourism center.

A pleasant north wind greets visitors to Katsrin - the capital of the Golan Heights. Founded in 1977, it has become an urban, commercial and tourism center. Katsrin is built in the heart of the Golan Heights and is a young city known for its landscapes and its quality of life. Its special location affords easy access to many nature reserves, historic and archeological sites, river beds and attractive visitor centers.

The city is named after the ancient town of Katsrin, whose ruins are located in the nearby Katsrin antiquities park. The ancient town was inhabited on and off from the Middle Bronze Age (about 4,000 years ago) and archeological digs found evidence of a Jewish village from the Talmudic period, which existed until the Moslem conquest just over 1,300 years ago. The remains of the ancient village are fascinating with reconstructed homes, complete with their interiors and the farming implements used by the inhabitants. The central site is a magnificent synagogue from the 6th century, evidence of a prosperous community. The park is full of beautiful rest spots, surrounded by fig trees and grape vines, and there is also a museum of modern basalt sculptures.

The Katsrin industrial zone houses a mineral water bottling plant and a large winery, among the most famous in Israel, and both have visitors’ centers that offer a glimpse of the water-bottling and wine-making processes. The Golan Antiquities Museum is located in the commercial center in Katsrin, with exhibits of archeological findings from the region as well as an impressive audiovisual presentation of the heroic defense of the town of Gamla against Roman forces in the 1st century. Also at the center is a doll museum depicting the history of the Jewish people up until the renewal of Jewish settlement of Israel and the Golan Heights in the late 19th century. Between the two museums are stores, pubs and restaurants, a few guest rooms and a field school that offers sleeping accommodations in hostel rooms as well as outdoor camping and guided tours.

The nature and historical sites near Katsrin include Nahal Zavitan, the Meshushim Pool with its unusual hexagonal rocks, Gamla, Nakhal Yehuda and Seleukia Springs.

Gamla has it all: a dramatic saga, rugged landscape and magnificent vistas to match, and a wonderful foray into nature, including a waterfall and great raptors soaring overhead.

Gamla has it all: a dramatic saga, rugged landscape and magnificent vistas to match, and a wonderful foray into nature, including a waterfall and great raptors soaring overhead.

Gamla is the site of a Jewish city founded in the second-century CE Hasmonean times, located on a craggy basalt outcropping in the western Golan Heights.
One look at the hump-like shape of the hill is enough to understand why it was called Gamla, which comes from the Hebrew word for camel.  Two thousand years ago, the Jewish historian Josephus described the siege of the walled city of Gamla by the Roman general Vespasian, who marched across the Galilee to subdue the Golan in 67 CE at the beginning of the Great Revolt.
Seven months later, the Romans overcame the walls and streamed into the city. Josephus says the 9,000 remaining inhabitants fought their way to the edge of their town and threw themselves to their deaths into the gorge below when they realized they could not avoid capture. This element of the story has led to the site’s nickname, “the Masada of the north.”

Even a view of Gamla from the observation platform at the top of the trail is thrilling. You can clearly see the walls, the actual tower Josephus says the Romans undermined by pulling out the bottom stones, and the synagogue, one of the oldest ever found. Archaeologists discovered not only these architectural remains, but many other artifacts: the picks the Romans used to climb the walls, thousands of missile stones and arrowheads, as well as coins minted by the rebels stamped “For the salvation of Holy Jerusalem.” 

Good walkers will enjoy the fairly steep trail to the antiquities (about one hour down and, of course, longer coming back up). Quotes from Josephus’ account are inscribed on boulders along the trail. At the site itself you’ll get a closer look at the massive round tower, and the synagogue that was the heart and soul of the town that occupied these slopes two millennia ago. The trail also leads to the industrial zone of the community – its olive presses – which have been reconstructed to show visitors how they worked and help reveal elements of the daily life of this vibrant and prosperous community.

A short walk from the parking lot leads to the observatory built by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority next to Byzantine ruins. Here visitors and bird watchers can enjoy the sight of the Griffon vultures for which Gamla is famous, as they effortlessly catch the updrafts from the cliffs where they nest. From here you can also see the 150-foot high Gamla waterfall, to which another trail leads. A brochure in English showing all the trails comes with your entrance ticket; the rangers are happy to give advice on the best way to see the site.

To complement your experience, visit the archaeological museum at nearby Katzrin, which features a dramatic audio-visual presentation about Gamla among its displays.

Excavations using innovative technology are yielding an array of fascinating finds that have transformed the ruins of the southern Golan Heights synagogue of Umm el-Qanatir into a high-tech adventure into the past.

Excavations using innovative technology are yielding an array of fascinating finds that have transformed the ruins of the southern Golan Heights synagogue of Umm el-Qanatir into a high-tech adventure into the past.

A magnificent Torah shrine has been found, along with menorah-carvings flanked by shofars, etrogs and incense pans, all prime Jewish symbols of the Talmudic period (the fourth to the seventh centuries). Beautifully finished stone walls, originally an estimated 36 feet high were lined with rows of fine windows.

Archaeologists use a laser to scan the ruins, which their software translates into precise three-dimensional computer images. Each stone is implanted with a microchip, so that everything about it, including its original placement becomes only a mouse-click away. 

The excavators found remains of only a tiny community next to the synagogue. But they believe a monumental arched building (“Umm el-Qanatir means “mother of arches”) at the nearby spring, containing pools, channels and ground chalk, may reveal how they could have afforded this fine synagogue: they were probably processing linen – a prosperous business according to the Talmud.

Thanks to archaeology and reconstruction, the people of Umm el-Qanatir send regards to today’s visitors from their synagogue, homes and industry.

The capital of the Negev, the Old City, the university, the Turkish railway station, and the Bedouin market represent only a part of the colorful mosaic offered by the city of Be’er Sheba, a city full of life and proud of itself, as you will be told by any of its 185,000 inhabitants.

Be’er Sheba, spelt Beersheba in most English translations of the Bible, is a major crossroads whose potential was felt by Abraham, father of the Jewish people, who arrived here 3,700 years ago. He dug a well to water his flock, made a covenant of peace with Abimelech, the king of Gerar in those days, and the two swore allegiance to one another. “Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath" (Genesis 21, Verse 21). To symbolize his ownership of the well, he planted a tamarisk tree. Thus the city of Be’er Sheba struck roots at that place and at that time. Abraham’s descendants continued to live here, in a place that was the cradle of monotheism.

Be’er Sheba is located at the intersection of two ancient important international road junctions: The "Way of the Sea" (Via Maris) which extended along the shoreline in the west, and the King’s Highway (the Valley Route) in the east. Consequently, the city is mentioned throughout biblical times as a wayside station, as a resting spot, as a border point and as a ritual center.

Tel Be’er Sheba, five kilometers east of the city, is usually identified with biblical Be’er Sheba. The site is fascinating, and contains the ruins of a walled city from the Israelite monarchic period. Due to the wonderful finds there, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2005. In the Roman Period, the settlement spread to the area of present-day Be’er Sheba, and was located in the center of the Limes Palestinae, the Roman defense layout from Rafah (Rafi’akh) to the Dead Sea, which mainly consisted of fortresses built the borderline. When the Romans converted to Christianity, it served as the Episcopal residence (the residence of the Bishop) and several churches were built there. The Crusaders also built a fortress in the city, but when it was destroyed it remained desolate for a long time.

Modern-day Be’er Sheba was founded at the start of the twentieth century by the Ottomans, and was the only city that the Turks built in the Land of Israel. Remains of buildings from this period and from the time of the British Mandate can be seen in the Old City, located in the south of the city. These include the Governor’s House – the residence and office of the city’s governor, which was built in 1906 and today houses the Negev Museum of Art; the city’s first mosque also built in 1906; the Turkish railway station built during the First World War; the station manager’s house; the water tower that supplied the trains’ steam engines with water; the Saraya – the Government House (today the city’s police station); a public garden; and additional buildings that tell the fascinating story of Be’er Sheba under Turkish rule.

The Jewish city was established in 1949. It developed and turned into the center of the south and became the capital of the Negev. Today, it has museums, a zoo, historical sites, one of the largest universities in Israel, and on Thursdays – the famous Bedouin market.

The market was officially opened in 1905, and became a weekly event where the Bedouins sold various wares. Nowadays, the market has modern stalls (footwear, clothing, etc) alongside authentic Bedouin stalls where you can buy unique items such as copper products, glassware, jewelry, beads and precious stones, as well as mats, carpets, cushions, and the like. The market is variegated, vibrant, exceedingly charming, and colorful.

Another important hub is the Center for Ethiopian Craftsmanship where new immigrant women preserve the ancient handicraft traditions of Ethiopian Jewry as practiced in their home villages, and engage in modeling earthenware, embroidering, sculpting, and straw crafts.

Be’er Sheba is the gateway to the Negev – you can start from here on endless walks and car trips.

Avdat was founded by Nabatean traders as a way station on this Incense Route. Long before, the Israelites had wandered near here through the Wilderness of Zin.

As you stand among the ruins of the Negev Highland city of Avdat, the echoes of the bells tinkling on the bridles of the camels that passed this way in their caravans of hundreds, bringing the riches of the East – frankincense and myrrh – to market via the Mediterranean. Avdat was founded by Nabatean traders, the masters of those caravans as a way station on this Incense Route. Long before, the Israelites had wandered near here through the Wilderness of Zin.

At the visitor center a short film will introduce you to the mysteries of this site. Then you’ll visit a luxurious ancient bathhouse with a dressing room, two steam rooms, a furnace and a 210-foot-deep well. At the top of the city, you’ll discover a third-century guard tower with a Greek inscription, and a Nabatean shrine to their god Oboda (after whom Avdat was named). This temple eventually became a church, whose pillars frame a magnificent Negev desertscape.

Considering the surrounding desert, you’ll be amazed to find a wine-press here, revealing agricultural skills that tamed their harsh surroundings by harvesting every precious drop of water into a complex system of channels and cisterns. From the top of the hill, you can see the Ben Ari Farm research station, where today’s Negev farmers have studied ways to emulate these ancient achievements.

Avdat’s homes once covered not only the visitor path you now walk, but the entire slope below, now part of the 518-acre Avdat National Park. Once you’ve experienced Avdat, you’ll know why its ancient cultural, social and economic impact on the region has placed it, together with its Negev sister-cities of Mamshit and Shivta, on UNESCO’s prestigious list of World Heritage Sites.

The legendary Incense Route is a 2,000 year old commercial success story. Valuable goods traveled the route, which started in Yemen to the East, crossed Saudi Arabia and Jordan to end in Israel in the Gaza port, where they were loaded onto merchant ships bound for Europe.

The legendary Incense Route is a 2,000 year old commercial success story.

At the time, without transportation, roads or maps, long caravans of camels traversed difficult trails navigating among robbers, looters, obstacles and narrow-minded rulers. Valuable goods traveled the route, which started in Yemen to the East, crossed Saudi Arabia and Jordan to end in Israel in the Gaza port, where they were loaded onto merchant ships bound for Europe. There the women of the Roman Empire could enjoy the perfumes of the frankincense and myrrh, the flavors of the eastern spices, and the useful salts for cooking and preserving foods.

The 2,400 kilometer Incense Route journey took about six months. The camel caravans including thousands of individuals, moved at a sluggish pace, passing through 56 stops, where they stopped, rested, took care of the animals and gathered strength for the day to come.

The Israeli section of the Incense Route covered about 150 kilometers. Across the Negev there are still ruins of the route, and many travelers set out to follow them in exploring the desert and try to experience the lifestyle of the masters of the desert. Several of the rest stops remain starting with the Arava's Moa on the Jordanian border, where the ruins of an inn, a guard post, agriculture, caves, storerooms, and an aqueduct are still evident. From here, the route continues northwest to Mamshit, a large city whose impressive ruins include an inn, churches, a bathhouse, rainwater collecting pools and other structures.

The next stop was the city of Ovdat, located high on a hill. Here too are ruins of a fortress, churches, an oil press, a ceramics workshop, homes, a bathhouse and even burial caves.

The caravan continued from Ovdat to Shivta, a small town with a well developed water system, pools, oil presses and a few churches. The next to last and northernmost stop was Halutsa, of which there remain the ruins of a theater and church, and from where the caravans headed straight to Gaza. A few minor stations were added along the way – Kasra, Nekarot, Makhmal and Grafon – as well as an additional inn, Ein-Saharonim, of which there is still a courtyard surrounded by workshops and a bath.

Along the route, there are reservoirs, guard towers, ritual sites, bathing facilities and milestones that marked the route.

Moa, Mamshit, Ovdat, Shivta and Haluza, as well as Ein-Saharonim, are all accessible with any vehicle. The route itself, through the desert is passable only in jeeps, although bicyclists and pedestrians can also enjoy the fascinating path. In 2005, UNESCO declared the Incense Route a world heritage site, and Israel invites you to the Negev and Arava to follow the footsteps of nomads and enjoy the impressive stories and splendid history that left behind a silent witness to a stormy age.

Timna Park in southern Israel offers geological wonders such as Solomon’s Pillars, towering sandstone columns so perfectly formed that it is almost impossible to believe they were not man-made.

The geological wonderland of Timna Park is one of the biggest attractions in southern Israel. Only 17 miles north of Eilat, a visit to Timna is a great way to break your drive to Israel’s Red Sea Riviera. On a shorter stay you can see the highlights and enjoy the air-conditioned multi-media presentation, while on a longer foray you can also chose from several hiking routes, each with its own special appeal. Among the attractions, the windows of Timna’s restaurant frame what at first you’ll think must be a desert mirage – a lake! Use of a paddleboat is even included in your entrance ticket, as is the fun of filling a bottle with the multicolored sand for which the region is famous.

The star of Timna Park is Solomon’s Pillars, towering sandstone columns so perfectly formed that you might really think they were a gargantuan public works project initiated by the biblical king for whom they are named. But of course, they, like all the other formations in the 23-square-mile park, are nature’s handiwork. So are stripes of magma frozen in geological time in the cliffs, and the sandstone, in its soft palette of pastels, shaped by wind and water into strange shapes like “the mushroom” and “the sphinx.”

One of the shorter hiking routes takes you right through Solomon’s Pillars to behold the image of the Egyptian goddess Hathor carved into the stone, and to her ancient shrine at the foot of the cliffs of the other side. This imposing Lady of the Rock was the patroness of miners, as you’ll discover at the exciting multimedia presentation, “Mines of Time,” where the pharaohs, kings, queens and quarriers, who knew this region millennia ago, come alive. After enjoying the presentation, you’ll be able to decipher the mystery of the 8,000 or so stone circles discovered in the park: they once led to shafts that were the first copper mines in the world (one of which you can explore). Copper mining was renewed for a time in the early days of Israel as a livelihood for the newborn city of Eilat; a byproduct is the beautiful teal-to-turquoise rock known as Eilat stone, which is an Israeli jewelry trademark.

From October to April, groups can enjoy rappelling, archery, and a zip-line at the park. During the summer months, regular park hours are extended to offer sunset tours, and you can attend an evening show at the illuminated cliffs. Timna Park can also be an imaginative venue for your special family celebration in Israel.  

www.timna-park.co.il

The Ramon Crater is the largest crater in the Negev. It is about 40 kilometers long and its maximum width is about 10 kilometers. There are interesting sites inside it, such as Ha-Minsara ("The Saw-Mill") and Nahal Nekarot, for which there are organized excursions for the whole family.

The vibrant city of Mamshit, first settled 2,000 years ago, still amazes visitors as they tour the 350-acre Mamshit National Park, located just east of Dimona on the main Negev road to Eilat.

The vibrant city of Mamshit, first settled 2,000 years ago, still amazes visitors as they tour the 350-acre Mamshit National Park, located just east of Dimona on the main Negev road to Eilat.

Among Mamshit’s highlights is “the wealthy house” with spacious rooms built around a courtyard, and a three-story guard tower you can still climb for a fabulous view of the surroundings.

Two churches with mosaics date from the time Mamshit attracted Christian pilgrims crossing the Negev. You’ll also see a typical dwelling in the style of the Nabateans, the people who founded the city, including a stable for 16 horses (the raising of which was an important part of Mamshit’s economy). 

On some holidays, when the market street is recreated, you’ll experience the sights, sounds and aromas of yesteryear. You can even camp overnight at the park’s Nabatean Khan (caravansary).

The nomadic Nabateans made Mamshit a station along on the Incense Route, over which they brought frankincense and myrrh out of Arabia to market via the Mediterranean. They also tamed their harsh desert surroundings by harvesting every drop of precious water into a complex system of channels and cisterns.

Their agricultural achievements even inspired Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion to urge settlement in the Negev, with the understanding that this region could (and would) produce bumper crops again.

Once you’ve experienced Mamshit, you’ll know why its ancient cultural, social and economic impact on the region has placed it, together with its Negev sister-cities of Avdat and Shivta, on UNESCO’s prestigious list of World Heritage Sites.