EXCURSIONS
Jerusalem is the oldest religious center, where the shrines of Judaism, Christianity and Islam are located, because it is not for nothing that it is called “an open-air museum”. About 3,000 years ago, King David made Jerusalem his residence, and during the reign of his son Solomon, the First Temple was erected.
According to Top-mba-universities,all buildings of the Old City are surrounded by walls. Here, in the Christian Quarter, is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – the main Christian shrine. Adjacent to the Muslim Quarter is the Temple Mount, from which, according to legend, Muhammad’s ascension took place. On the western side of the Temple Mount is the main shrine of the Jews – the Wailing Wall. Nearby is the Hill of Memory with the National Museum dedicated to the memory of the persecution of the Jewish people, at the entrance to which you can see the memorial “Wall of Catastrophe and Heroism”.
It is also worth seeing the Valley of the Kings with the city of David, from where the construction of Jerusalem began., the Church of St. Anne, from it stretches the Street of Sorrow, along which Christ reached Golgotha, and the Church of All Nations on the Mount of Olives. From this mountain, on which the observation platform is located, the whole city is perfectly visible. Outside the walls of the Old City, where modern life is in full swing, there are many restaurants, hotels and shops. Of the buildings of the new time, one can single out the Parliament Building and the Supreme Court Building. When visiting Jerusalem, be sure to walk through the colorful oriental bazaars, for example, the largest of them – Mahane Yehuda.
South of Jerusalem is Bethlehem , the city where Jesus Christ was born. The Church of the Nativity of Christ located here was built in 326. The ancient city is also associated with the name of Jesus Nazareth. Here he spent his childhood. The city is interesting in that it houses the largest cathedral in the entire Middle East – the Temple of the Annunciation.
The second largest city in Israel is Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean coast. It was founded in 1909 and is now the center of culture and trade of the country. There are few historical sights here, as the city is relatively young. Of interest is the Palace of Independence, where the State of Israel was proclaimed in 1948. A long seaside boulevard leads to the ancient city of Jaffa with a picturesque bay and an old port. It is believed that this is where Noah built his ark. Also, on the Mediterranean coast, north of Tel_Aviv, is located Caesarea is an archaeological site where an archaeological park has been created. On its territory, the remains of a Roman water pipe have been preserved, the oldest theater discovered in Israel, built during the reign of King Herod, the amphitheater of King Herod, which was used for horse racing and sports competitions, sections of city streets of the Roman and Byzantine periods and a complex of premises for a public bath of the Byzantine period with excellent finishes.
City of Haifa located in the north of the country on the Mediterranean coast on Mount Carmel. According to legend, Elijah the prophet lived on this mountain. Now picturesque Bahai gardens are spread on its slopes. But the main attraction of the city remains the Bahai Temple with a large golden dome, which is visible from anywhere in Haifa.
The city of Akko was once the capital of the Crusaders in Palestine. Its first mention dates back to 1800 BC. Akko is surrounded by powerful fortress walls, behind which are the main attractions – the Citadel with the Museum of Heroism, the Al-Jazar Mosque, the “City of the Crusaders” and Turkish baths.
Very beautiful city of Tiberias . It is always full of greenery as it is located in the Jordan Valley. The most popular place in the vicinity of the city is Yardenit. This is a small backwater on the river where Jesus Christ was baptized. On the stone descent, everyone can plunge into the sacred waters of the Jordan. Masada
fortress is popular among tourists, which is located in the Judean Desert next to the Dead Sea on a rock, to which a cable car leads. It was built between 37 and 31 BC. under King Herod. When Jerusalem fell under the onslaught of the Roman troops, the surviving Jews took refuge here. They lived in the fortress for about 2 years, during which time they built a wall around it 1400m long and about 4m wide. During the siege of the 10th Roman legion in 73 BC. Jews chose to commit suicide rather than surrender to the Romans. Therefore, this place is a symbol of the heroism of the Jewish nation.
Sea route
The ancient sea route “Via Maris” runs along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This route will introduce you to the history and nature of Israel. It starts in Tel Aviv, passes through the cities – Haifa, Acre, Galilee and Nahariya. Not far from Nahariya, visit the white chalk cliffs of Rosh HaNikra, inside which many natural grottoes have formed. Eilat area known for geological faults. For example, Timna Park is a valley surrounded by sheer cliffs, which in some places reach a height of 850 m.
There is a 250-kilometer hiking trail through the Negev desert, which can be walked entirely, setting up camps with tents and getting to know the life of the Bedouins, but you can also choose the part of the path that suits you best. The best way to travel around the Negev is by jeep.
