Visiting Mar Saba Monastery and Herodium: Bethlehem is often a good starting point for travellers wishing to explore more of Palestine. The city and its surrounding countryside hold special religious significance, especially in regards to the foundations of Christianity.

Bethlehem is famously home to the Church of Nativity, widely believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. In the neighboring town of Beit Sahour lies the Shepherds’ Field, believed to be the same field in which the angel Gabriel appeared to the shepherds to announce Jesus’ birth; today there sits a small, Roman Catholic chapel as well as a rather impressive Greek Orthodox monastery. A little south of Bethlehem is the village of Artas, one of the oldest and most important agricultural sites going back to the Caananites and also the home of Soloman’s Pools, which was historically used for supplying water to Jerusalem. 

A little farther off in Bethlehem’s countryside sit two sites of interest–Herodium and Mar Saba–of which both may be easily visited in half a day. Below you may find their descriptions, as well as a guide on how to reach them. 

Herodium

Built around the year 15 BCE, Herodium is the site for the ancient ruins of King Herod’s palace. Known at the time as the Mountain of Paradise, the site now resembles an extinct volcano rising from the desert. There are a number of interesting ruins within the compound, from the bathhouses to King Herod’s own tomb to a series of tunnels once used by Jewish rebels during an uprising against the Romans.

From Herodium, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea are both visible along stunning landscapes. For Annabel, one of the Excellence Center’s many interns, this particular site was “the highlight of [her] visit.” 

Under the current political circumstances, within the West Bank Herodium is located in Area C–which is under full Israeli control–and is administered by the Israeli Parks and Nature Authority. Entrance fees cost 27 NIS for adults, and hours of operation are 8am-5pm during the summer and 8am-4pm in the winter. Once in Bethlehem, simply take a taxi–private or shared–directly to the site. 

Mar Saba Monastery

Located just 20km east of Bethlehem, Mar Saba is a beautiful, Orthodox monastery set into the dramatic cliffs of the desert overlooking the Kidron Valley. Founded in 439 CE, the monastery holds the remains of Saint Sabbas, who was crucial in the development of the Orthodox Church and Eastern Monasticism in general. Sadly, only men are allowed to tour Mar Saba though women may still view the monastery from the opposite slope. 

Erica, a student of Arabic at the Engage in Palestine, recently visited Mar Saba. She thoroughly enjoyed the drive to the monastery through the desert and villages of Palestine, which also boasted views of the Dead Sea. However, the most scenic view presented itself after she crossed a bridge leading over the Wadi Qidron and climbed the steep steps, observing the monastery from the opposite hill–a view she found very peaceful.

Unlike Herodium, there is no fee required to visit, although a private taxi from Bethlehem may be necessary, the estimated cost of which is around 120 NIS roundtrip. Please be advised, the monastery is closed to visitors Wednesdays and Fridays.

Go See for Yourself!

In addition to the historic city of Bethlehem, the surrounding villages and countryside play host to a plethora of important religious, cultural, historical, archaeological, and even agricultural sites.

The beautiful Herodium and Mar Saba Monastery are two such examples, each with uniquely different histories; they’re also administered under vastly different contemporary political realities, which has the benefit of providing visitors with insight into the daily life of Palestinians. If you are already planning to visit Bethlehem, these sites come highly recommended. 

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