Nazareth lies at the southern end of the Galilee Mountains and is known as the Home Town of Jesus. It sprawls between five rounded hills: Nabi Sa'in, Romane, Kufze, Rajme and Mount Sheikh and forms a horseshoe with Nazareth at their center. In this page you will find Get2Israel's offerings for Nazareth hotels. When planning a Nazareth vacation, it is important to book a hotel in advanced and to gather some information about where you are going to visit. In Nazareth, there's always an option of staying in a Nazareth inn and enjoy the country side of the small city.
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Nazareth:
The City offers visitors a distinctive collection of important religious and historic sites, combined with the charm of a modern Arab City. For two thousand years Nazareth has been identified with Christianity, attracting millions of Pilgrims from around the world and offering a combination of unique history, architecture and culture.
Nazareth is Israel's largest Arab City and is a major cultural center with many types of Festivals, particularly those held during the Religious Holidays of Christmas and Ramadan.
In 2000 Nazareth underwent major renovations and today the town has one of the largest functioning marketplaces in the country. Visitors strolling through the ancient restored streets enjoy the exotic sights, fragrances and flavors of the East.
Religious Sites of Interest to Christians
Nazareth's important religious buildings are too numerous to list fully, but among those that should not be missed are:
Basilica of the Annunciation built above the sunken grotto which Roman Catholics believe was the home of the Virgin Mary. The Basilica is the largest Church in the Middle East and one of ristianity's Holiest Shrines. The Basilica's imposing dome dominates the Nazareth skyline.
St. Josephs Church is located next to the Basilica. It is also known as the Church of the Nutrition and Joseph's Workshop, because it is believed that the cavern in the basement, where steps have been carved in the rock, was Joseph's Carpentry Shop.
The Greek Orthodox Church built in the 18th century, is on the site of three much older Churches. The underground crypt dates back to Crusader times and the freshwater spring leads by an underground aqueduct to the site of an Ottoman fountain. This underwater spring provided Nazareth with its water 2000 years ago.
Synagogue and Greek Catholic Churches dates from the Crusader Period and is found in the middle of the Old Market. Traditionally this was the site where Jesus prayed and preached. The Church was originally in the hands of the Franciscans but passed into Greek Orthodox control during the 18th century.
Religious Sites of Interest to Moslems
The White Mosque (al-Abiad) also known as the Old Mosque was built between 1799 and 1808 in the heart of the souk (market). The mosque is the oldest Islamic Holy Site in Nazareth and its architectural style is typical of the period.
Peace Mosque (al-Salam) built in the 1960s, the Mosque is Nazareth's first modern mosque and it is found on the lower slopes of the eastern quarter. Until its construction, the White Mosque was the City's only Mosque.
Archaeological Sites
Mary's Well and the Ancient Bath House – the structure surrounding Mary's Well, where 2000 years ago the citizens of Nazareth drew their water, was recently renovated and restored to its original form. Next to the Well is a shop and during renovations in the 1990s the owners discovered one of the most important discoveries made in Nazareth in modern times; a network of beautifully preserved ancient stone arches that once supported a very large bath-house. The exposed remains probably date back to the Roman era.
The Mount of Precipice – no visitor to Nazareth should miss the breathtaking panorama from the city's highest point. This is the traditional place where the people of Nazareth took Jesus to hurl him into the abyss below. Enjoy a magnificent view of the Jezreel Valley. The area also includes the Cave of the Leap (Kufze Cave), an archaeological site discovered in the 1970s. Thirteen human skeletons and over 60,000 artifacts dating back 50,000 years were unearthed here.
Nazareth Village – although not an ancient site, The Nazareth Village is a careful reconstruction based on the work of leading researchers, and offers a tour back into the world of Jesus. Villagers in replica costumes help bring the experience to life and for the visitors to learn to ancient practices of 2000 years ago.
Nazareth Hospitality:
The City's many restaurants provide a gastronomic experience in all types of Arab cuisine. Any visit to Nazareth must allow time to enjoy and sample the delicious dishes followed by tempting and mouthwatering Middle Eastern deserts such as Baklava and Kenafi.
Nazareth has many open spaces and pedestrian streets which are constantly being extended. A new central square has recently been built south of the Church of the Annunciation.