Jerusalem and Bethlehem Private Trip from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Western Wall Plaza Jewish Quarter, Jerusalem 97500 Israel

From Mount Olives, above the ancient Jewish cemetery we can see the Old City and the Temple Mount where the First Temple, built by King Solomon, and the Second Temple, destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE once stood. Below is the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations and in the Kidron Valley also known as the Valley of Jehoshaphat, are the monumental ancient Jewish burial tombs including Yad Avshalom, Beni Hazir and perhaps Zechariah.

On Mount Zion are the Dormition Church where, some believe, Mary was assumed to heaven; the Coenaculum, traditional Room of the Last Supper, which is also perhaps where the disciples met after the ascension of Jesus to heaven and the Tomb of David, a large cenotaph covered with a drape on which are embroidered various attributes of King David including the lyre he played, a crown and the words “David, King of Israel lives forever” in Hebrew.

Entering the Old City through the Zion gate we pass the Armenian Quarter and in its center the Church of St. James. We continue along the excavated Byzantine Cardo, the fifteen hundred year old main street of Jerusalem which was partially destroyed and unused during the Moslem conquest but had a brief new lease of life during the Crusader period. The excavated Crusader shops are now modern stores.

After visiting the Kotel, the Western Wall, which is part of a two thousand year old supporting wall built by King Herod when he enlarged the Temple Mount area was enlarged, we proceed to the Via Dolorosa and follow the Stations of the Cross ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the church built over the place of the crucifixion of Jesus and the burial tomb. Originally built in the Byzantine period, it was partially destroyed during the Persians and Moslem conquests and then rebuilt and slightly altered by the Crusaders.

Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Church of the Nativity, Manger Square .15 minutes walking from bus 231, Bethlehem Palestinian Territories

After a short drive we cross over into Bethlehem (passports needed) where we will be met by a local guide. A short walk across Manger Square brings us to the well-preserved Byzantine Church of the Nativity. The original Byzantine mosaic floor is revealed through trapdoors in the later floor. Unlike most churches in the Holy Land the Church of Nativity was not destroyed by the Persian and Moslem conquerors but the entrance was lowered forcing us to crouch as we enter.

In the Grotto of the Nativity we can see the star indicating the place of the birth. Opposite are the Manger and the altar dedicated to the three Wise Men. Both the Church and Grotto are Orthodox.

As we exit we pass the small Armenian Chapel of the Kings (Magi) and enter the Crusader Church dedicated to St. Catherine. Here, in the grotto which adjoins the Grotto of the Nativity but is separated from it, is where St. Jerome translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Latin, the Vulgate. Finally we stop at the tent shaped chapel in the Shepherd's Fields and enjoy the panels depicting scenes from the early life of Jesus. As we depart, in the distance we see the Field of Ruth is where Ruth the Moabite, daughter-in-law of Naomi, great grandmother of King David, gleaned in the fields of Boaz.

Duration: 4 hours