Caesarea, Megiddo and Nazareth
Our first stop today is the ancient city of Caesarea. From our guide summary, Caesarea was built in the 1st century BCE by Herod the Great, became the Roman and Byzantine capital of the district and was later rebuilt by the Crusaders. At the time of Herod it was the 3rd largest port in the ancient world. Today, Caesarea is a National Park includes a large Roman theatre where concerts are still enjoyed in the summer season, a hippodrome, a Roman bathhouse, mosaic floors, warehouses, a Crusader fortress and a beautiful ancient aqueduct.
While we waited for Daphne to bring the van around, we tried some fresh squeezed orange juice.
About 45 minutes away is the opening of the Jezre’el Valley and the ancient city of Megiddo. It was here that Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III won a glorious battle in 1478 BCE and inscribed the battle description on his temple walls, making it the first “recorded” battle in history. In the New Testament Book of Revelations, Megiddo is described as Armageddon, the prophesied location of the gathering of armies for the battle at the end of times.
Our next stop, 30 minutes beyond Megiddo is Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus. From our guide summary, Nazareth was then a small Jewish village nestled in the Galilean mountains. It was here that the Angel Gabriel visited Mary at the well, announcing the upcoming birth of Jesus. Today, Nazareth is the largest Israeli Arab city in the country, home to Muslims and Christians and together with Nazareth Heights (Nazrat Ilit), a Jewish Israeli city, make up a large industrial, commercial center in the Galilee.
The Church of the Annunciation, built atop Byzantine and Crusader churches marking the traditional location of Joseph and Mary’s home.
Before we left Nazareth, a quick stop for lunch.
After lunch, we headed for Tiberias which would be our base for the next two nights.
