The current post summarizes a second tour in Tiberias and around the sea of Galilee. This time I mainly focused on the ancient city as well as the beautiful churches located in the northern bank of the lake.
The city of Tiberias has undergone a serious facelift in recent years. I stayed in the “Europe” hotel, a beautiful “boutique” hotel, the first to open in Tiberias in the twenties of the last century. The hotel was renovated and returned to its original character and grandeur. From there one can see the old city built of broken basalt stones. The streets in the old city and the promenade along the beach are bustling with life. The fish restaurants are full. Boats leave from the small port and wander in the Sea of Galilee. Many of them are pilgrims coming from all over the world to visit the peaceful sites where Jesus was preaching 2000 years ago. In the city center I could enjoy a nice modern Café to watch the beautiful ancient street leading south. I also visited the “Briniki” winery and the Rambam’s tomb on which a magnificent modern white building was built.
The upper city that stretches across the mountain is interesting, as are the wonderful beaches.
I continued the illustrated tour in the churches overlooking the sea of Galilee from the north. The most beautiful of them, in my opinion, is the Church of the Beatitudes. The peaceful atmosphere radiated from all the churches along the lake inspires a strong desire to express it through painting. South of Tiberias, the passage through the sea of Galilee estuary to the Jordan river and the baptism site in the Jordan is equally relaxing. From there, a view of the Sea of Galilee from Beit Gabriel completes an exciting and beautiful experience in Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee.
You are invited to watch a short video which is taking us to the Tiberias and Sea of Galilee tour accompanied by music which is saluting million migrating birds which are crossing each year the sea of Galilee back and forth between Europe and Africa.