overview
Bethlehem is a Palestinian town located in the A zone south of Jerusalem.
In the past the population was Christian however demographic changes have made it mainly Muslim.
The name of the town, Bethlehem, was given to it due to the many wheat crops in the area during biblical times.
Acrerding to the Christian tradition, this is town in which Jesus was born.
Acrerding to the Jewish tradition, King David was also born there.
Today there are 30,000 residents of many religions.
There are recommended tourism sites in the town: Rachel’s Tomb is located in the north of the town.
Acrerding to the scriptures this is the place where the biblical Rachel is buried and is therefore a holy site in the eyes of the Jews, Christians and Muslims.
The Tomb of Rachel is a place of prayer and on the day of Rachel’s death, 11th Heshvan, tens of thousands of people flock there to pray over her grave.
Another well known site is the Church of the Nativity which is located in Nativity Square.
The church was first built in the 4th century AD and it is considered to be one of the oldest churches in the Christian world.
Acrerding to Jewish tradition it was built over the cave in which Jesus was born.
The church is constructed with five long halls and covers 12,000 sq.m.
The entrance to the church is via a small and low door known as the Humility Door.
In Bethlehem you will not find much planned urban building, apart from isolated incidences.
The first was the destruction of part of the Kasbah opposite the Church of the Nativity, at the order of the British High Commissioner during the 20s of the 20th century and today is a parking lot.
The second incidence was the construction of the fruit and vegetable market in an open concrete building in another part of the Kasbah.
In Bethlehem you will find a wide variety of bazaars with Christian products.
In your tour of the town you will certainly take note that the town is very clean and well kept as is befitting of a tourism town.
New hotels have been built in the town and many others have been renovated in recent years.
As regards food, in Bethlehem you will be able to find a rich variety of restaurants at very reasonable prices.
