Travel in Israel – Hotels, Israel Vacations, Lodging, Trips, Attractions and Travel Guide

Things To Do When Vacationing in Israel

Israel is a country located in the Mediterranean Sea, in West Asia. It is a geographically diverse country contained in a relatively small area. Over the past three thousand years, Israel has held significant religious meaning to people of all backgrounds. The culture of Israel stems from its diverse population and Israel is the only place in the world, where life evolves around the Hebrew calendar.

The Crusader Church is in Abu Ghosh and boasts an exterior rich in Gothic architecture. This church was used as a stable for many years and in 1899 was purchased by the French government. From there it was turned over to the Benedictine order. The Lazarists purchased the church in 1956, turning it into a mosque. Today it is considered to be one of the finest examples of church architecture done by the Crusaders in the 12th century.

In Bethlehem, people will find the Church of the Nativity. The city of Bethlehem is the legendary location famous for being the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The door on the front of the building shows the work of of many centuries. The Crusaders reduced the size of the entryway and replaced the original door with a pointed arch and walled up the surrounding area. The interior has been well preserved and represents a fine example of 6th century carpentry.

Another popular location to visit is the Dead Sea, which lies between Israel and Jordan. It is the lowest point on earth and because of the high salt content, it contains no plants, marine animals or fish. The main inflow of water to the Dead Sea comes from Jordan. Another side effect of the high salt content is rapid water evaporation, to circumvent this issue, developers are planning to build a canal from the Dead Sea into the Mediterranean. A visit to the Dead Sea is something that one will never forget, the high salt content has caused unique salt rock formations to rise high above the water, there is usually a fine mist that hovers above the sea and surrounding desert. The water in the Dead Sea has the highest sodium and mineral content of any in the world and bathing in this water has been said to parlay healing powers to all who bathe there.

Mount Carmel is in the Haifa district of Israel, in the hills of Samaria. Mount Carmel was considered to be a place of worship during biblical times. Mount Carmel has also been the site of several hundred archaeological digs in the past, the findings are now in the Jerusalem Museum. The first Christians in Israel settled on Mount Carmel during the Crusader period. It was also the site of the Carmelite monastery and some remains can still be seen there today.

In Jerusalem, the Dome of the Rock can be found. It is one of the greatest Muslim monuments and is sometimes referred to as the Mosque of Omar. This octagonal structure has a high dome and sits over the sacred rock of Moriah. Under this rock is a cave, known to Muslims as Bir el-Arwah, which means, “well of souls”. It is believed that this is where the souls of the dead, gather to pray.

Israel is a society that observes strict religious customs and practices, as such, it is wise to be respectful and mindful when entering any religious establishments and to limit pictures to show respect. The country has excellent medical facilities and accommodations. The best time to travel to Israel is during the months of June through September when the season is mild and pleasant.