Bet Shean is an ancient city with a glorious past. King Saul and his sons, who lost the battle against the Philistines on nearby Mount Gilboa, were hung from Bet Shean’s city walls.

The Spring of Harod flows from Gideon’s cave in the Jezreel valley near the base of Mount Gilboa. This is the place where Gideon chose his 300 men by the way they drank from the water. The Spring of Harod has been a place where armies have gathered and great battles were fought from the times of Gideon to modern history.

This baptismal site located at the Jordan River on the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee provides a beautiful and tranquil setting for anyone who wishes to be baptized or re-baptized in the Jordan River.

Named for the Greek god Pan, Panias (or Banias in Arabic) was built as Caesarea Philippi by Philip, son of Herod, at one of the sources of the Jordan River. Jesus would often visit this site together with the disciples.

The Sea of Galilee is Israel’s largest fresh water reserve, and the country’s most important source of drinking water. The Sea of Galilee played an important role during the ministry of Jesus. Jesus lived, preached, and performed miracles in the Galilee region. It was here that He walked on the water, multiplied the loaves and the fishes, and calmed the stormy waters.

Tabgha/St. Peter’s Primacy… The quiet cove of Tabgha on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee is the scene of many biblical stories, including the Multiplication of Loaves and fishes. Capernaum/Synagogue Ruins… On this ancient site, the centurion whose servant Jesus later healed built the synagogue, whose foundations you can still see. Capernaum was home to Peter, Andrew, and Matthew, as well as Jesus during his Galilee ministry. Magdala… The gorgeous scenery around Magdala includes the impressive Arbel cliff and the Valley of Doves, the main road Jesus would have taken to this area from Nazareth. Bethsaida… This was home to Philip, Zebedee, and his sons – James and John. It was also the scene of the feeding of the 5,000 and of Jesus’ healing of a blind man. Kursi… Kursi (Gergesa) is located on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. This was a gentile town during the times of Jesus. The site is identified with the miracle of the swine. Nearby is Tel Hadar, where Jesus fed the 4,000.

Named for the tribe of Dan, which was described in the Book of Judges as the largest of the twelve Israelite tribes, the city of Dan was the capital of the northern kingdom of ancient Israel and considered a major center for trade and business.

Mary’s Well… A modest shelter built of light-colored stone, this ancient well was almost the sole water source for Nazareth in Jesus’ time. Most probably Mary used to come to draw water. The structure covers an ancient well that received its water from the near-by spring, now partly under the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Gabriel. Church of the Annunciation… The Basilica of Annunciation in Nazareth marks the place where, according to tradition, the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary announcing that she would give birth to Jesus. The rock-cut grotto at the heart of the church is believed to have been the home of Mary.

Joshua burned and captured this city that also played a part in the lives of Deborah and Barak and was rebuilt by Solomon in the tenth century BCE as a “Chariot City” along with Megiddo & Gezer.

This great Roman port city is one of the largest archeological digs in Israel. This is where Peter baptized the Roman centurion Cornelius, the first gentile convert to Christianity. It was from this port that Paul set sail to preach in communities all over the Mediterranean, and where he was later imprisoned for two years and made his powerful speech before Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa. Roman aqueduct… Built by Herod the Great (37BC to 4BC), it brought the water from the southern side of Mount Carmel about 10KM to the northeast of the city. The water flowed on a single raised canal. Roman theater… Built by Herod the Great, this theater was the first of its kind in Israel. It was continuously maintained throughout the Roman and much of the Byzantine eras. It has a seating capacity of 3,500-4,000 and was built using many granite columns from Aswan. Originally, there was a large stage that blocked the view of the sea.

Mount Carmel is associated with the prophets Elijah and Elisha. A Christian site is located on its crest in honor of the story of the prophet Elijah who called down fire from heaven that consumed the offering which had been soaked in water, defeating the prophets of Baal.

The ancient city of Megiddo (1 Kings 9:15) is a fascinating tel (artificial hill) of 26 ancient civilizations superimposed on one another. Megiddo overlooks the Valley of Jezreel also known as the Valley of Armageddon. Critically located at the crossroads of two major trade routes, Megiddo was a key location to controlling the area. King Solomon built a giant fortress and city here.