What to do in Yizrael

The Basilica of the Annunciation is one of the holiest churches of the Christian faith. Join pilgrims in visiting the supposed place where the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of the son of God. A church has stood on the grounds of the Basilica of the Annunciation since the 5th century. Prior to this, common belief is that it was the home of Mary and Joseph.

Mary’s Well is a religious landmark located in the heart of downtown Nazareth. The villagers of Nazareth and their animals used Mary’s Well as a watering hole from time immemorial until the 19th century. Today’s fountain is a symbolic reconstruction built in 2000 as part of the city’s millennium celebrations. Water no longer runs from the fountain; however, it remains a place visited by those interested in biblical events.

On your tour of the revered religious landmarks of Nazareth, visit the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. Also called St. Gabriel’s Church, it is built over a venerated spring that once fed the well where the angel Gabriel supposedly visited the Virgin Mary. Experience the sanctity and spiritual importance of the spring. Admire wall and ceiling paintings that portray significant moments from the Bible and the life of Jesus.

Views of towns and villages surrounded by a countryside of patchwork fields await at the 1,302-feet (397-meter) tall Mount of Precipice. Sit and gaze across areas of the Holy Land while contemplating historical events that occurred thousands of years ago. Part of The Gospel Trail, a route that retraces the footsteps of Jesus, the Mount of Precipice holds great religious significance. Legend states that Jesus escaped the clutches of an enraged mob that wanted to throw him from the top.

Christ Church is one of the many active churches located within the fascinating Old City of Nazareth. Visit Christ Church to witness the religious practices of the Protestant-Anglican communities of Israel. Work began in 1869, upon the request of British missionary sailors unable to find a church suitable for their beliefs. It is the final masterpiece of Swiss architect Ferdinand Stadler, who passed away a year before the completion in 1871.

Experience the mystical aura that surrounds St. Joseph’s Church. Discover a series of paintings and statues dedicated to the Holy Family and see the supposed ruins of Joseph’s workshop. St. Joseph’s Church, also known as the Church of the Nutrition, dates back to 1914. It stands on a site once occupied by Byzantine and Crusader churches.

Journey back to the Roman era at the Ancient Bath House of Nazareth. Fed by nearby Mary’s Well, this public bath house was used by residents of Nazareth during the time of Jesus and is believed to have been frequented by the Virgin Mary. Learn about the fascinating history of the Ancient Bath House of Nazareth on a tour of its archaeological remains. Pick up keepsakes at an artisan’s store located in the same building.