Herodium Park is an ancient fortress-palace built in the 1st century BCE. The park offers a close-up view of Herod’s tomb, an access path to the tomb area and a viewpoint overlooking the Herodian theatre. Guided tours take place every Friday and Saturday at 12 noon. In addition to the archaeological site, visitors can choose a specific tour time and explore the site from several different perspectives.
Archaeological Sites and Samaritan Heritage
Qumran National Park is associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Essene sect. There is a wheelchair-accessible path at the archaeological site. To get there, take Route 90: turn west at Kibbutz Kalya and follow the signs. This makes it possible to plan for both the site’s distinctive historical significance and practical directions for getting there.
The Good Samaritan Museum displays archaeological remains, including numerous mosaics from the Byzantine period. One wing is dedicated to the history and customs of the Samaritan community. The archaeological site is accessible from the car park via a paved gravel path.
Mount Gerizim is home to the remains of an ancient Samaritan sacred precinct, surrounded by the ruins of a large Hellenistic city. The mountain has been the holy mountain of the Samaritans for thousands of years. Susya offers a different historical perspective: the ancient Jewish city dates from the period of the Mishnah and Talmud. The selection therefore brings together different archaeological and religious connections without suggesting that they share the same history.
A visit to Ancient Shiloh includes futuristic multimedia presentations that tell the stories of ancient Shiloh and the Tabernacle. This offers a different way to experience the site than the archaeological remains and mosaics at the museums and parks: here, the multimedia storytelling is an explicit part of the visit.
Landscapes and Practical Information
Nabi Samuel Park combines archaeological remains with agricultural terraces, a mountain spring and orchards. The tomb of the prophet Samuel is located in a large Crusader-era building. Those who want to include landscape features alongside historical sites will find several different features within this park.
En Mabo‘a is a rhythmic karst spring. It adds a natural phenomenon with a clearly described geological character to the archaeological and cultural destinations. Each site has a different focus: fortress architecture and views at Herodium, Samaritan heritage at Mount Gerizim and the Good Samaritan Museum, historical remains at Susya, and landscapes and a spring at Nabi Samuel Park and En Mabo‘a.
When looking for a holiday rental, you can first decide which of these themes you want to shape your stay. Visiting arrangements also vary: Herodium offers tours on a set day of the week and at a set time; Qumran has a wheelchair-accessible path, and the gravel path from the car park is described for the archaeological site at the Good Samaritan Museum. Take these details into account when planning your visits, and check the tour time if you want to include it. Discover more destinations: Southern District, Netanya, Haifa, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Safed, Jerusalem, Northern District, Central District.
For the overview of destinations: Israel.
