+962 7 9635 8199
[email protected]
The Sea of Galilee, called Kinneret in Hebrew, to be a significant landmark. This region is filled with significant religious sites in addition to its stunning natural surroundings. The establishment of Rosh Pina in 1878 marks the beginning of the earliest Jewish settlement in this region. This quaint small city is not to be missed, especially in the nights, since it still has much of its original attractiveness. Here are some places you should not miss while visiting the Sea of Galilee, whether you’re here for the scenery, the history, or both.
If you visit the holy land in the spring, be sure to visit Arbel National Park. The mountaintop can be reached in only half an hour, and the trail is stunning. You have an unmatched perspective of the entire area from the summit. It’s the ideal location for a picnic or early-morning walk (before it gets hot).
The main draw in this area is the ascent to the Horns of Hittim, the site of a crucial crusader battle. On July 4th, 1187, Saladin dealt the Crusaders a devastating defeat in this location. The 88-year-old Latin kingdom was limited to a small coastal strip with Acre as its capital for the final 104 years of its existence after losing its capital, Jerusalem, and much of its land (Akko).
Church of the Primacy of St. Peter
At the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, which is situated just 200 meters farther down the road to Capernaum, a walkway descends to the Sea of Galilee’s shoreline and the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter.
The current church, made of black basalt, was constructed in 1933 by the Franciscans after a chapel erected here in the fourth century was destroyed in 1263.
The church celebrates the day when the resurrected Christ appeared to his followers on the lakeshore and granted Peter leadership over the church.
The table at which Christ and his followers had dinner is said to have been carved into the rock near the east end of the church.
Mount of Beatitudes
All Christian tourists are particularly interested in seeing the Mount of Beatitudes. According to tradition, here is where Jesus gave his well-known Sermon on the Mount.
For the pilgrims that come here, mass is offered hourly between 8am and 3pm in the local Roman Catholic Church, which was erected in the 1930s.
While within the church itself is a stunning stained glass window showing the Beatitudes, the impeccably managed grounds are a nice calm area to take in views over the Sea of Galilee.
Capernaum
This archeological location is thought to be the Capernaum, a fishing community, recorded in the New Bible as the place where Jesus lived, taught, and collected his first disciples.
The most notable ruins here are the lovely relics of a fourth-century synagogue, while the contemporary church on the site was constructed over the remains of a Byzantine church and the ruins of the Palace of St. Peter.
The site was eventually abandoned around the 11th century, according to archeological investigations done here, but it dates as far back as the second century BC.
Greek Orthodox Church of the 12 Apostles
This stunning red-domed church is a prominent landmark near the Sea of Galilee and is well worth a visit.
It was constructed by the Greek Orthodox Church on the coast in 1925, and it is well worth a visit for its interior, which features stunning murals in a Byzantine style that were painted in the late 1990s.
Don’t miss the vibrant fresco that spans the church’s rear wall and shows the Last Judgment in particular. A cool place to escape the heat of the noon sun is this garden.
Bethsaida
These basalt ruin sites are thought to represent the remains of Bethsaida, a village mentioned in the New Testament where Jesus did the miracle of walking on water and where he also fed the 5000 people and healed a man who was blind.
It might be hard to envision what this once-considerably large town looked like because the ruins are primarily just foundations and low stone walls. Visitors are assisted in understanding the site by information boards positioned at key intersections around the excavations.