Religious tourism in Israel

Ironically, it is religious tourism that is considered one of the oldest forms of travel. Thousands of true believers from ancient times considered it compulsory to visit places sacred for their religion. Many sought to touch the relics for the sake of healing themselves or their loved ones. At the present stage, no less popular has become another goal of such travel - simple curiosity. Whoever refuses to see the places where history was once created, walk along the paths where the feet of the great prophets have walked, enjoy the grandeur of the ancient walls.

Pilgrim tourism in Israel attracts hundreds of thousands of believers. The relics of the three great religions are concentrated here: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Even people far from any faith heard of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, know what the Church of the Holy Sepulcher or the Western Wall is. Therefore, do not be surprised by the crowds that flood the streets of ancient cities, not only on holidays, but also on weekdays.

Christian religious tourism is most in demand on such symbolic dates as Christmas and Easter. Regular tours, which are offered by different operators, are designed for ten days. This is the optimal amount of time to visit the sacred objects, feel like a piece of history. However, no one forbids traveling on their own. Religious tourism in Israel is one of the most important items of the country's income, therefore pilgrims are always welcome and always welcome.

All tourists are eager to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Mount Sinai, Nazareth. These are the main points for any pilgrim. The way of Christ is one of the most popular tourist routes. He touches the places connected with the last days of Jesus' life. Here you can walk along the road by which the seized prophet was brought to trial to the high priest, and by Via Dolorosa, or the Sorrowful Path. It was on him that the Son of God went to Golgotha to receive martyrdom and thus atone for human sins.

At Calvary and around it, 40 buildings emerged over time, among which the most famous are the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Church of the Resurrection. Here, one way or another, all the places connected with the execution of Christ are noted: whoever was standing, walking, praying, etc.

Orthodox pilgrims who come to Israel to touch the cradle of faith, and not just see sacred places, tend to stay overnight in the once specially built for this Gornensky monastery.

It keeps the Israeli land and many Muslim shrines. One of the places of pilgrimage is the mosque "Golden Dome". In its essence, the "Golden Dome" is not a mosque, because it does not carry out prayers. According to legend, the monumental building was erected in order to mark the place where the "cornerstone of the Earth" is located. The "cornerstone" itself is a huge fragment of the rock, which was formed from a lightning strike at the time of the prophet Muhammad's ascension.

Another not less famous mosque is Al-Aqsa. Erected in the VIII century, it survived many raids and cataclysms. Nevertheless, they only strengthened it and attracted the attention of thousands of pilgrims. Today it is a huge building, amazing with its greatness. It covers a grandiose black dome, and underground rooms are also famous for their size.

It should be noted that, despite the widespread presence of Christian and Muslim shrines, the history of Israel is still more connected with Jews and Judaism. However, there are very few people who want to go into this topic. Religious tourism is also not particularly designed to reveal such historical facts. This is not surprising, because the lack of demand causes a lack of supply. Nevertheless, it will not be superfluous for anyone to visit the Temple Mount, wander through the city of David, visit the cave of the Forefathers and in the ancient city of Safed. This is the only way to fully discover the beauty and uniqueness of the Holy Land.

Tourism in Israel will be interesting not only to the true believer. There are many so-called secular tours organized here for those who simply want to enjoy the historical places and beauty of this mysterious country.