The Galilee
The Galilee makes up much of the north of Israel, totalling one-third of the whole country. Divided into three areas: The Lower Galilee, Upper Galilee, and Western Galilee, the Galilee has a hilly landscape with flat fertile plains, and an almost Tuscan-style appearance. The famous Sea of Galilee and River Jordan are located here, as are many pretty agricultural villages which sit alongside ancient ruins, and amazing hills and valleys which are mentioned throughout history as the location of famous battles and events.
The Lower Galilee is the least hilly region of the Galilee stretching from the Jezreel Valley (Valley of the Armageddon in Christianity) and the eastern slopes of Mount Carmel across to the Sea of Galilee. It includes the breathtaking hump-back shaped Mount Tavor, the ruins at Megiddo, Nazareth, the largest Arab city in Israel and Jesus’ home-town, and Mount Gilboa, renowned for its pretty, colourful landscape.
Further north, the Upper Galilee is more remote, more enchanting, and often even more breathtaking! A popular retreat for Israelis escaping for vacations the Upper Galilee features quaint towns such as Rosh Pina, important religious cities such as Safed, and amazing leisure pursuits such as kayaking on the River Jordan, caving, canyoning, jeep tours, and more. The Hula Valley is one of the world’s best bird-watching locations, whilst the remote hills of this region are to many retreats, spas and quaint guesthouses.
The Sea of Galilee is the lowest freshwater lake in the world. It has had settlement around its shores for thousands of years, and the ruins of ancient settlements today stand alongside some of the pioneering and oldest communities established in Israel, including some of the oldest kibbutzim and moshavim. On the lake itself, man windsurfs, sails, and even fishes.
The Sea of Galilee is the enthralling power of this region for Christian visitors, where you don’t have to close your eyes to picture Jesus here – you have to open them.
As Matthew 4:13 tells us, Jesus went from Nazareth, in the heart of Galilee, to Capernaum by the shore of the lake they called Genesaret. Here He gathered His first disciples – fishermen whom He found casting their nets from the shallows (Matt. 4:18). You can walk along that shore, in the very places where Jesus and the disciples trod, and see the Bible spring to life.
You’ll want to rise early here, perhaps at dawn, when the ancient fishermen used to come home with their catch – or without it. As you watch the frenzy of the fish feeding close to the shoreline, you can understand why Jesus chose fishermen for His first apostles: “...the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake...” (Matt. 13:47). This was the backdrop for the feeding of the 4,000 (Matt. 15:32-37) and of the 5,000 (Mark 6:39-43), with a few loaves and fishes. The beloved stories of the miraculous catches of fish are remembered here, perhaps especially that in John 21, when Peter was reconciled to Jesus (John 21:15-17). The drama of the demoniacs in the land of the Gadarenes (Matt. 8:28-33) takes on new meaning as you stand on the craggy cliff marked centuries ago by Christians as the place where the pigs flew into the lake. This site, lost for centuries, was rediscovered and restored only a few decades ago by Israeli archaeologists.
A unique stone path was created along the northern part of the lake, from near Capernaum to the place of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, allows you to feel the land vibrate with ancient stories of glory and simple faith. Look around you – in winter and spring the “lilies of the field” (Matt. 6:28) abound, and seeds thrive in their beds of good soil (Mark 4:8). In late summer and fall, the choking thorns Parable of the sower still overtake those same fields, just as Jesus described it (Mark 4:7).
These moments, when you become one with the memories of this beautiful land, come with an understanding that will accompany you ever after on your spiritual walk.
Moving back towards the Mediterranean coast, the Western Galilee is the far north-western region of Israel, roughly the Mediterranean coastline north of Haifa and the area inland. The region includes the ancient crusader port of Akko, the grottoes at Rosh Hanikra, and far more beautiful scenery, quaint rural beaches, and great retreats, hikes, and nature.