Located on the shores of the Sea of Gallilee, or Lake Kinneret, Tiberias is a well-known vacation destination full of famous landmarks in Israel.
In the second through 10th centuries, Tiberias was the largest Jewish city in the Galilee and the center of Jewish spiritual creativity. For Christians, Tiberias offers a chance to see where many of the miracles attributed to Jesus took place.
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Here are six must-see spots in Tiberias:
1. The Church of St. Peter is located among the various buildings and ruins in Tiberias’ Old City. Constructed atop the ruins of a Crusader church, today’s church features religious stained glass windows and is located a stone’s throw from the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes church, which commemorates the post-resurrection sighting of Jesus described in John's Gospel. That’s when Jesus called the disciples to the lake to have breakfast and forgave Peter for denying him.
2. The Hamat Tiberias synagogue is the former home of the Jewish ruling Sanhedrin and by some estimates dates back as far 337 AD. The synagogue has the oldest mosaic floor of its kind in the country consisting of three panels. Home to the hottest spring in Israel, Hamat Tiberias has become a popular spa destination.
3. Tiberias’ Fish Market showcases the city’s highly developed fishing industry. Dozens of boats set out on the lake each morning and return loaded with fresh fish for sale at the local market. There is also a popular falafel complex nearby.
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4. The Dona Gracia Museum is located in a castle. The museum is divided into several halls that tell the story of Gracia Nasi, who used her considerable wealth to save many Jewish refugees during the Spanish Inquisition. Gracia Nasi went on to establish the Jewish City.
5. Kibbutz Ginosar, just north of Tiberias, houses the so-called Jesus boat, a 2,000-year-old crude watercraft excavated from the Sea of Galilee in 1985 that archaeologists date to the time Jesus lived. The kibbutz is the former home of Israeli statesman Yigal Allon and has a museum devoted to Allon’s life and the history of the Galilee region.
6. The ancient fishing village of
Bethsaida is located on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Bethsaida is the traditional home of Jesus’ apostles Peter and Andrew.
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