1 Day Culture tour itinerary for Bethlehem & Jerusalem: Drive Through The Highlights Of Jerusalem And Bethlehem

Begin the day by ascendingMount Scopus (Hebrew meaning, "Hatzofim" - to look over). Here, many a battle in defence of the Holy City were fought.Today, this majestic mountain is the site of the Hebrew University and the Hadassah Hospital. Hear an explanation of the historical and geographical importance of what you see before you.

Drive down the hill to the Church of All Nations, officially named the Basilica of the Agony, is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem next to the Garden of Gethsemane. The Catholic church enshrines a section of stone in the Garden of Gethsemane that is believed to be where Jesus prayed on the night of his arrest (Matthew 26:36).

We will drive around the walled old city of Jerusalem and recount the stories of the various gates.

Enter through one of the famous gates and walk through the Old City, the axis around which the three great monotheistic religions revolve.

Then visit the Crusader Church dedicated to St. Anne and the nearby Pool of Bethseda. 

The next stop will be at Antonio’s Fortress, site of Pilate’s Palace. 

Walk along the Via Dolorosa to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

We will drive to tour in Bethlehem which is significant to both Jews and Christians alike. At the entrance to the town is the Tomb of Rachel (closed on Saturdays), the beloved wife of Jacob, one of the Jewish Matriarchs. Their great-grandson, David, was anointed King of Israel by Samuel the prophet in Bethlehem. It was into David's family that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, to which Mary and Joseph returned because of a Roman census taking place at the time.

In Manger Square, visit the Church of the Nativity. On either side of the sanctuary, in the remains of the oldest church in Israel, steps lead down to the Grotto venerated as the birthplace of Jesus.

Drive back.