EIN GEDI

Oasis / nature park in the Judean Desert on the shores of the Dead Sea. Reserves with many springs and rich flora and fauna; freshwater streams and cascading waterfalls into limpid pools.

EIN HOD

Artists village on the western slopes of Mt. Carmel.

EIN KAREM

Site of the birth of John the Baptist. Churches of St. John and the Visitation (visit of Mary to Ein Karem).

GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

Scene of the arrest of Jesus. Site of the Basilica of the Agony.

GARDEN TOMB (or GORDON'S CALVARY)

Alternative site of crucifixion and Tomb of Jesus preferred by many Evangelical Protestants.

GOLAN HEIGHTS

Former Syrian territory taken by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War. Scene of many battles during the Six Day and Yom Kippur Wars.

HAIFA

Israel's largest port city, built on Mt. Carmel.

HAMAT GADER (Roman Baths)

Thermal springs in a natural setting on the border between Israel and Jordan. Excavations of pool complex.

HATZOR

Archaeological work revealed 22 levels of cities going back from Solomon's reign to at least 2000 BCE.

HEBRON

One of the four holy cities of Israel, especially associated with King David, Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs (Machpela Cave).

HERODIAN QUARTER

Excavation of a number of houses built during the reign of Herod the Great and destroyed in 70 AD. Some of the mosaic pavements have been excellently preserved.

ISRAEL MUSEUM (Jerusalem)

Complex of interconnected buildings and pavilions, housing the Shrine of the Book and others. Collects and displays archaeological material and art.

JAFFA

Southern part of Tel Aviv, Ancient city associated with Jonah and St. Peter.

JERICHO

The first settlement conquered by Joshua, located near the entry of the river Jordan into the Dead Sea. Caliph Hisham's winter palace with splendid mosaics from the 8th Century.

JERUSALEM

Capital of Israel since the days of King David. Scene of the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. Site of the 1st and 2nd Temples.

JORDAN RIVER

Flows from Mt. Hermon to the Dead Sea, via the Sea of Galilee. Scene of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist.

KARANTAL

Monastery of Temptation, a high mountain where Jesus spent 40 days tempted by Satan.

KIDRON VALLEY

Absalom's monument. Basilica of the Agony. Gethsemane Grotto, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Mount of Olives.

KURSI

Ruins of Byzantine monastery at the traditional site of the Miracle of the Swine.

LITHOSTRATOS

Pilate's judgment hall where the cross was laid upon Jesus.

LOHAMEI HAGETAOT

Ghetto Fighters Kibbutz: Large archive and museum of the Holocaust, north of Acco.

MARY'S TOMB

Traditional site of Mary's Tomb.

MASSADA

Mountain-top upon which Herod built magnificent palaces and fortifications. The last stronghold of 967 Jewish Zealots rebelling against Rome, who chose to commit suicide rather than surrender.

MEGIDDO

Ancient Canaanite-Israelite fortress city. The Armageddon of the Book of Revelations.

MITZPE RAMON RESERVE

The Ramon crater is the largest in the world and forms the heart of Israel's largest nature reserve.

MODEL OF JERUSALEM

1:50 scale model of Jerusalem in 66 AD before its destruction by the Romans.