Holyland Tours

Category: Places

  • TIBERIAS

    Located at the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Tiberias, the capital of the Galilee, was established in the early Roman period and has served as a religious, administrative and culture center of the Jewish people for many years.

    In addition to its rich history and significance, modern day Tiberias is synonymous with holiday in Israel. Here one can enjoy a variety of activities the city has to offer, and experience a wonderful mix of relaxation, nature and history, along with contemporary attractions, active water sports, pilgrimage sites and unique tourist attractions.

    A visit to Tiberias is not complete without a visit to its surrounding area, which features many must-see sights, including The city Bet Shean, one of the oldest cities in the world, and one of the country’s largest archaeological sites; Magdala (Migdal) the ancient town on the Sea of Galilee which was home to many of Jesus’s disciples and is said to have been the home of Mary Magdalene; Megiddo, a beautiful and impressive national park and one of the most important archeological sites in Israel from the time of the Bible. Once an ancient city of critical strategic importance, Megiddo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an inspiring location for lovers of history and archeology.

  • NAZARETH

    NAZARETH

    A blend of faiths and cultures – See the “Cradle of Christianity” come alive before you.

    World renowned as the childhood home of Jesus, Nazareth is the largest Arab city in Israel, and an important site for pilgrims and tourists, coming to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation. bustling mini-metropolis, Nazareth offers shop-lined thoroughfares, stone-paved alleys lined with Ottoman-era mansions, and in recent years, has been reinventing itself as a sophisticated cultural and culinary destination. Everything in Nazareth is open for business on Shabbat (Friday night and Saturday) and its friendly vibe and stunning location, right in the middle of the Lower Galilee (about 15 miles West of the Sea of Galilee), makes it a beloved stop on many tourists’ routes.

    The Cradle of Christianity

    Nazareth, which began as a small Jewish village about 2,000 years ago, became a stronghold of Christianity in the Byzantine period, just a few hundred years later. During that period the name of Nazareth spread far and wide, and the yearnings to see the place where the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ had lived turned the city into a popular pilgrimage site. These visits led to the building of the city’s first church – the Church of the Annunciation at the traditional site of Joseph and Mary’s home. Many more churches have been built throughout the city, and were destroyed and rebuilt with the changes in Muslim and Christian rule over the centuries. In the 19th century Nazareth attracted renewed interest and Christians returned to live in this city and rebuilt churches and monasteries. Today Nazareth is the largest Arab city in Israel and has about 30 churches and monasteries, as well as mosques and ancient synagogues.

    A taste of the old city

    A tour of Nazareth is like reliving its various periods. Every era left behind it a powerful symbol that became a delightful and popular tourism site in the modern era. Most of the sites are concentrated in the Old City, built in the mid-19th century in a charming Middle Eastern architectural style. A walk through the narrow streets, between the picturesque houses, is an amazing experience and it is worth walking slowly to enjoy their beauty.

    There are many ancient churches in the Old City, with the Church of the Annunciation heading the list. The rebuilt church retained parts of the previous churches, from the Crusader and Byzantine periods. The church also houses an impressive collection of paintings.

    Right next to this church is the Church of Saint Joseph, built on the ruins of agricultural buildings where, according to tradition, Joseph, Mary’s husband, had his carpentry shop. While the Church of the Annunciation was built on the site of Mary’s home, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation is built over Mary’s Well, from which Jesus mother is said to have drank. This is a structure from the Crusader period and has some interesting frescoes. Right next to Mary’s Well is the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, inside a Crusader hall. According to tradition, this is the location of the synagogue in which Jesus prayed.

    Among the many other churches in Nazareth are the Mensa​ Christi Church, the Maronite Church, St. Gabriel’s Church and the Salesian Church. The Old City also has important buildings from the Ottoman period, including the Saraya, or Government House, built by Daher el Omar, the governor of the Galilee in the 18th century, and the White Mosque, which is used today as a house of prayer and an education and culture center. The White Mosque also houses a museum with exhibits that document Nazareth’s history.

    No tour of Nazareth’s Old City would be complete without a visit to the local market, which has become a popular and well-known attraction thanks to the colorful stalls and the variety of merchandise. In the market you can enjoy a visual feast of fashionable fabrics, taste the spices and local foods, and by artwork and souvenirs. All the sounds, sights, smells and flavors promise an authentic Middle Eastern experience.

    Glimpse to a Middle Eastern charm

    Nazareth is full of fascinating and lovely corners that will open your heart to their beauty. Another place that is worth visiting during a walking tour is the Nabi Sain ridge promenade to enjoy the marvelous view of the Galilee. You can visit the ancient Turkish bath house discovered during renovations to one of the city’s stores, take a peek at a fancy manor house with a display of the riches and customs of the Ottoman upper class in the 19th century, including some amazing frescoes. Also worth visiting is the Greek Orthodox bishop’s house, where you can walk through a series of underground passages discovered in the courtyard. Another interesting site is the compound built by the Russians as a hostel for pilgrims.

    Nazareth, which has welcomed pilgrims for centuries, has Christian hostels and fancy hotels for the comfort of the tourists who throng to this important site, especially around Christmas. Dozens of restaurants serve delicious foods with wonderful aromas foods that attract visitors all year long. Nazareth is glorious during Christmas, when the city is decorated for the holiday and its colors and excitement join the holy atmosphere and the sounds of prayer emanating from the city’s churches.

  • HAIFA

    Haifa is Israel’s third-largest city, Israel’s chief port and home to 400,000. Draped around the slopes of biblical Mount Carmel, it is a 100-year-old city whose importance burgeoned in the 1920’s and 1930’s as Britain followed its League of Nations mandate over Palestine to create a Jewish homeland. The bustling lower Carmel neighborhood is the port area and where much of Haifa’s daily business is conducted. The slopes of central Carmel are largely residential, and the mountaintop Upper Carmel is home to museums, many hotels and shops. Transportation from the top to the bottom of Mount Carmel is achieved by the Carmelit subway, the Bat Ganim cable car and, of course, by road.

    Haifa’s iconic symbol is the golden-domed Baha’i Shrine of the Bab, completed in 1953, that abuts the international headquarters of the Baha’i Faith, a network of giant white Greco-Roman buildings whose beauty stuns the visitor. The Shrine of the Bab was further beautified with the completion in 2001 of the “hanging gardens” (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) magnificent terraced gardens that lead from the shrine to the bottom of Mount Carmel. Here is the restored Templer Colony – where the homes and workshops of 19th-century German Christian “Templer” immigrants are now a network of chic stores, bars and restaurants.

    Haifa is home to a dozen museums – including a museum of Japanese Art, Israel’s Railway Museum and the Af-Al-Pi-Chen Museum of Illegal Immigration. It is also home to the Technion, Israel’s version of MIT. Haifa’s Wadi Nisnas neighborhood is the center of multi-holiday celebrations reflecting Haifa’s identity as city that is home to Jews, Christians, Muslims and Baha’is.

  • THE SEA OF GALILEE

  • CAESAREA

    CAESAREA

    The Roman port city of Caesarea is one of Israel’s wonders, combining ancient structures, archeology and a picture-perfect harbor, and adapting them for modern use.

    Built by Rome’s Judean Governor, Pontius Pilate, two millennia ago, Caesarea was one of the largest and most magnificent ports in the Mediterranean, with giant piers stretching out into the sea to accommodate dozens of ships. The city of Caesarea contained a giant hippodrome, aqueduct and theater; a thousand years later the Crusaders arrived and built a giant fortress, and then came the Ottomans, who turned it into a seaside town. Today, the Roman theatre is a venue for concerts, the Crusader fortress is thrilling to visit and the Ottoman harbor and beach are full of cafes, restaurants and a visitors’ center. Caesarea is 45 minutes’ drive from Tel Aviv, 20 from Haifa.

  • GALILEE

    Most of northern Israel is generically known as The Galilee (Galil in Hebrew). It stretches virtually from the Mediterranean to the harp-shaped Sea Of Galilee and River Jordan on whose shores vast history has been made. Here is Mount Gilboa where King Saul and his son, Jonathan, died in battle against the Phillistines. Here is Hazor, where Deborah killed Sisera. Here, at Mount Meron, is the grave of Rabbi Hillel. Here in Tzippori, Hamat Tveriya and Bet Alpha, gorgeous 1,800-year-old synagogue mosaics have been discovered. Here is Armageddon (Megiddo) where Solomon built giant stables. Here is the lakeshore city of Tiberias, one of the “Four Holy Cities of Judaism” (another is Galilee’s Safed), which reached fame 2,000 years ago as one of the chief locations in which the Talmud was written.

    The restoration of the Jewish homeland in the period beginning in the 1880’s was largely centered in the Galilee, and in the ensuing 130 years a much neglected landscape of not much more than olive trees has been transformed into one of the most fertile areas in the world. Here are dozens of kibbutzim and independently owned farms – whose produce feeds not only Israelis but is also flown daily to the grocery stores and flower markets of Europe. Here are some of Israel’s 300+ vineyards producing award winning wines. And here are pretty villages, towns and cities including Nazareth and Carmiel.

  • JAFFA

    JAFFA

    Next, take a walk along the stunning Tel Aviv beach promenade to Jaffa. We recommend visiting Jaffa Port, considered to be one of the world’s most ancient ports. Lounge at one of the many cafes that dot the wharf, and watch the fisherman at work. Then, continue towards the colourful flea market, where you can treat yourself to a vintage item, Armenian ceramics, a hamsa or any of a multitude of souvenirs. At night, the area transforms itself into a bustling bar and restaurant scene.

  • DEAD SEA

    The Dead Sea, officially The Lowest Place On Earth (428m Below Sea Level) And A Shortlist Candidate For The World’s 7 Natural Wonders, Is An Enthralling And Evocative Combination Of Natural Splendor, Compelling Ancient History And Modern Luxuries.

    From the healing powers of the Dead Sea’s cobalt blue waters, through the awesome beauty of the surrounding landscape to the myriad of fascinating sights this area has to offer, the Dead Sea is a place of tranquility, health and inspiration for body and soul alike.

    Float on the waters, take a mud bath or go exploring – with 330 sunny days a year, the Dead Sea area is filled with superb attractions including natural healing spas, magnificent hiking trails, gourmet and fast food restaurants and adrenaline-charged attractions. Along the main part of the 75 kilometer stretch dotted with beautiful beaches, you will also find world class hotels and spa facilities to guarantee a truly indulgent experience.

  • JERUSALEM

    Walk through 3000 years of history

    The Old City of Jerusalem is a favourite for all visitors from first timers, seasoned visitors as well as the locals. Surrounded by an ancient wall that has been rebuilt throughout history, there are 7 gates allowing access to historical and holy sites here. Make your way down the stone cobbled streets and find yourself walking through four thousand years of history, leaving you humbled and yet excited as you connect the modern day present with the simple beginnings of the past.