Page 78 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Israel & Petra

76 ❯❯ Israel and Petra Area by Area

Jericho
5
MAP F5 • 25 miles (40 km) E of
Jerusalem, West Bank • Arab bus 36
to Al-Azariyya, then service taxi • Tel
Jericho and Hisham’s Palace: open
8am–6pm Sat–Thu, 8am–5pm Fri
(closes 1 hour earlier in winter) • Adm
Settled 10,000 years ago, Jericho is
reputedly the world’s oldest contin-
uously inhabited city. The Book of
Joshua describes how the Israelites
brought down Jericho’s walls with a
trumpet blast, and excavations at Tel
Jericho have uncovered the remains
of 7,000-year-old walls and a stone
tower. A cable car connects the Tel Cable cars at the ancient city of Jericho
to the Monastery of the Temptation
Ramallah
on the cliff face (see p78). Hisham’s 7
Palace, built in 724, lies in ruins, MAP F4 • 10 miles (16 km)
but retains its mosaic floors. N of Jerusalem, West Bank • Arab
bus 18 • Tourist Information Center:
Bethlehem
6 Issa Ziadeh St; (02) 294 5555 ext 123;
Open 9am–5pm Sat–Thu
Revered as the birthplace of
Jesus, the imposing Church of the This city at the heart of Palestine
Nativity in Manger Square is the has tons of atmosphere. Al-Manarah
most important sight in Bethlehem. Square is the commercial center,
There is also an attractive Franciscan chock-full of vendors, shoppers,
church and a Greek Orthodox site and noise. The Old City retains its
with Byzantine remains. The town Ottoman charm, and the mausoleum
center, with its narrow lanes, exudes of Yasser Arafat in Al-Bireh is worth
an old-world charm (see pp26–7). a visit. Weina Ramallah Festival, held
in July, is a window into Palestinian
culture. Ramallah is also known for
its nightspots.
Nablus
8
MAP E4 • N of Jerusalem,
West Bank • Arab bus 18 to Ramallah,
then service taxi
A maze of souks, cobbled streets,
and crumbling mansions, Nablus is
an antidote to modern life. Believed
by some Jews to be the site of
Joseph’s Tomb, the area remains
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem a political hot spot. An Ottoman
clock tower, Turkish hammams, and
Roman amphitheaters are dotted
TRAVELING IN THE WEST BANK around town. Nearby Mount Gerizim
Although tourists are almost never a is home to the Samaritans (see p63).
target, it is wise to stay informed about
Wadi Qelt
the security situation. Organised tours 9
are still available, but you should take MAP F5 • West Bank, signed
care when traveling anywhere in the off Route 1
West Bank and avoid all large gatherings. This stunning 17-mile (27-km) ravine
Due to restrictions on travel, consular
assistance may be limited in this area. between Jerusalem and Jericho has
a path along its full length, lined with

Eyewitness Travel – Top 10 series LAYERS PRINTED:
Two-column, 8.5pt grid “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v.1.9)
074-077_Top_10_Israel.indd 76 19/06/2017 12:58
Date 24th June 2015
Size 100mm x 191mm