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Tiberias
Tiberias, the largest city on shores of the Sea of Galilee, offers a fantastic view
of the lake and the surrounded mountains.
The city was named after the Roman Emperor Tiberius, who ruled from 14-37 AD. It
was a gift from Antipas, son of King Herod.
Tiberias plays an important role in Jewish history. After the destruction of the
Temple in Jerusalem, the Jewish Council moved to Tiberias in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.
The Mishnah, the oral Jewish law, was completed here.
In the 6th century the Byzantine emperor Justinian built a wall around the city.
After an earthquake destroyed Tiberias in 1033 the Crusaders ‘moved in’ close by
the remains and Tiberias became the capital of the Galilee. In 1187 the Muslims
captured the city and Jews returned there only in the 16th century. In the 18th
century the Bedouin Sheik Daher al Omar revolted against the Ottoman rulers and
he and his son rebuilt Tiberias, erecting a fortress and surrounding wall. In 1904
Jews returned and began settling again.
Tiberias continues to be the official centre of the Galilee.
Things to see: the Tombs of the Rabbis, The Great Mosque, St. Peter’s Church, the
Church and Monastery of the Apostles. The Galilee Experience presents the history,
geography and spiritual significance of the region.
There are many places to stay in Tiberias from youth hostels to 5-star hotels. There
is an ample selection of restaurants, bar, cafes and clubs.
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