The Most Important Tourist Sites In and Around Bethlehem
Just outside Jerusalem, you will find Bethlehem, the famous little town where the Bible tells us Jesus was born.
Pilgrims from all over the world come here to pay their homage and, naturally, the most important site to see in the town is the Church of the Nativity.
Besides the significance it has for Christians, Bethlehem is also a very important place for Jews since it is believed to be the place where David, the King of Israel mentioned in the Bible, was born. Right outside of the town, you will find Rachel's Tomb, another important landmark for Jews.
Christians and Jews are not the only ones who believe that Bethlehem has a special significance. There is also a large community of Arab Christians and Muslims. In close distance from Bethlehem you will find other biblical places, such as Beit Sahour, so the entire area is worth visiting.
The most important spot in Bethlehem is the Church of the Nativity. You may be surprised with its appearance, since it looks more like a fortress than a church. The construction was erected above the cave where people think Jesus was born by Mary. This is hardly anything like the first religious construction that was built here, as the Roman Emperors were the first to build something like this on the site.
The church suffered a great deal during history, being repeatedly destroyed, then rebuilt again (fortified by the Crusaders) and then destroyed again by natural disasters, a fire and an earthquake. You will notice the Church of the Nativity to be a gloomy building, especially since it is located close to the Church of Saint Catherine which is in much better shape. You can visit the cave where it is believed that Jesus was born via the church. The place is called the Grotto of the Nativity and is the most popular site in Bethlehem.
Rachel's Tomb is another important site to visit in Bethlehem, since this is the place where Jacob's wife and Joseph's and Benjamin's mother, Rachel is buried. This place is considered holy by all three religions in the area. However, there was an episode when some Arab terrorists used it as a place to attack Israeli people. In order to prevent more violent episodes from taking place, the authorities surrounded the tomb with a fortress. People entering the fortress are checked thoroughly.
Around Bethlehem you will find many places believed to be mentioned in the bible; for instance the Shepherds' Fields. The Milk Grotto Chapel is another place you can visit on your religious tour. A famous mosque in Bethlehem is the Mosque of Omar that is still operating. Most tourists prefer to view it from the outside as the inside is not as exciting.
Pilgrims from all over the world come here to pay their homage and, naturally, the most important site to see in the town is the Church of the Nativity.
Besides the significance it has for Christians, Bethlehem is also a very important place for Jews since it is believed to be the place where David, the King of Israel mentioned in the Bible, was born. Right outside of the town, you will find Rachel's Tomb, another important landmark for Jews.
Christians and Jews are not the only ones who believe that Bethlehem has a special significance. There is also a large community of Arab Christians and Muslims. In close distance from Bethlehem you will find other biblical places, such as Beit Sahour, so the entire area is worth visiting.
The most important spot in Bethlehem is the Church of the Nativity. You may be surprised with its appearance, since it looks more like a fortress than a church. The construction was erected above the cave where people think Jesus was born by Mary. This is hardly anything like the first religious construction that was built here, as the Roman Emperors were the first to build something like this on the site.
The church suffered a great deal during history, being repeatedly destroyed, then rebuilt again (fortified by the Crusaders) and then destroyed again by natural disasters, a fire and an earthquake. You will notice the Church of the Nativity to be a gloomy building, especially since it is located close to the Church of Saint Catherine which is in much better shape. You can visit the cave where it is believed that Jesus was born via the church. The place is called the Grotto of the Nativity and is the most popular site in Bethlehem.
Rachel's Tomb is another important site to visit in Bethlehem, since this is the place where Jacob's wife and Joseph's and Benjamin's mother, Rachel is buried. This place is considered holy by all three religions in the area. However, there was an episode when some Arab terrorists used it as a place to attack Israeli people. In order to prevent more violent episodes from taking place, the authorities surrounded the tomb with a fortress. People entering the fortress are checked thoroughly.
Around Bethlehem you will find many places believed to be mentioned in the bible; for instance the Shepherds' Fields. The Milk Grotto Chapel is another place you can visit on your religious tour. A famous mosque in Bethlehem is the Mosque of Omar that is still operating. Most tourists prefer to view it from the outside as the inside is not as exciting.
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