Annunciation Basilica in Nazareth
A visit to the Basilica of the Annunciation is also an important part of the program when traveling to Israel. Nazareth is located in the north of Israel and is considered the hometown of Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph.
According to tradition, Maria fetched water from a spring near her place of residence when the Archangel Gabriel is said to have appeared to her. He announced the birth of the Son of God to her. A church probably stood above this point as early as the 4th century. The first written mention comes from 570 AD. Several churches were destroyed at this point over time. In 1620 the ruins were bought by the Franciscans and a cathedral was built over the grotto. In 1955 the new building of the Annunciation Basilica began. This church is the largest sacred building in the Middle East.
On March 23, 1969, the Annunciation Basilica, which is still run by the Franciscans, was opened by Pope Paul VI. consecrated. The Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. have worshiped in this holy place of Christianity during their visits to Israel.
According to topschoolsintheusa, the architect of this building is the Italian Giovanni Muzio. In the grotto below the church remains of old church buildings are integrated and can be visited. Representations of Mary adorn the basilica inside and outside. Many of these pictures were donated by Catholic communities in different countries. The grotto and basilica can be visited all day with free admission.
Yad Vashem – Holocaust Memorial
Name and location
The Yad Vashem Memorial is known as the “Central Memorial for Holocaust and Heroism” and is the world’s most important information center on the subject of the extermination of Jews during the Nazi era.
The monument is located in Israel, outside the city center of Jerusalem, and was opened in 1953. The annual number of visitors is more than two million. Admission is free.
The various facilities in Yad Vashem
The memorial consists of various facilities such as the Museum of the History of the Holocaust, several monuments, an art museum, a synagogue, a library and the “Forest of Nations”.
At the various stations you can get comprehensive information about the time of National Socialism. An audio tour, which is also available in German at the information desk, is highly recommended, as the various stations themselves are only signposted with information in English and Hebrew.
Yad Vashem contains numerous documents and testimonies about the life and suffering of Jews during the Nazi era.
In 2005 a new museum building was opened with a prism-shaped main building and an open view of Jerusalem. The story of the Jews from the Nazis’ seizure of power to the “Final Solution” is told in nine different galleries. Individual fates are repeatedly documented with photos, films and documents.
Outside there are several memorials such as a freight wagon that is supposed to commemorate the deportation of the Jews or 2000 trees on the “Boulevard of the Righteous of the Nations”, which are supposed to stand for all people who saved Jews from certain death.
A trip to the Yad Vashem memorial, whether private or as a study trip, is certainly not easy to cope with emotionally, but it is significant and moving.
Israel Museum
Jerusalem is not only the capital, but also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Israel. If you want to learn more about the history of the country, you should definitely pay a visit to the Israel Museum in the city of 800,000. The National Museum is located in the west of Jerusalem and covers a total area of 50,000 square meters. This makes it not only the largest museum in the country, but also one of the most important art and archeology museums in the world. The modern museum building is characterized by large rooms and very special lighting. The Israel Museum is divided into four different areas. In addition to the sections Jewish art and Jewish life, archeology and art education, the 20,000 square meter garden also houses its own art department.
The Dead Sea Scrolls
Opened in 1965, the Israel Museum has extensive collections with countless valuable exhibits from prehistoric beginnings to the present day. One of the most extensive archaeological collections on the Bible can be found in the museum. In total, the Israel Museum has around 500,000 different objects. The outstanding exhibits of the museum include the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are kept in the so-called “Shrine of the Book”. The Israel Museum is open to visitors daily. Entry costs 54 shekels (around 12.58 euros), children between 5 and 17 years of age pay 25 shekels (around 5.82 euros).
