Nearby Attractions
Hope Building Apartments (HBA) are centrally located in Bethlehem and within walking distance to the Manger Square & the Church of the Nativity where Jesus was born. It is 3 km away from the Shepherds' Fields. It is also a 20 minutes drive to historical Herodium built by King Herod the Great in the 1st. Century.
Hope Building Apartments are also 10km away from Jerusalem and 35 km away from Hebron.
Church of the Nativity & Manger Square
The church, one of the oldest churches in the world, a UNESCO recognized Heritage Center, is the heart of Bethlehem, and the reason why millions of tourists and pilgrims visit Bethlehem every year. The church was originally built by Constantine the Great and his mother Helena around 325 AD. The Present structure, recently rennovated, was build by Emperor Justinian in the 6th Century, holds the grotto where Jesus was born, and the Manger, where according to traditon, he was placed after birth.
Manger Square, the plaza in front of the Church of the Nativity, is where the Christmas Tree and the Creche of Bethlehem are placed during the Christmas Season. Manger Square is also the location of the Bethlehem Municipality and house to many souvenir shops, good Palestinian Restaurants, and near the traditional street markets of the city.
The Shepherds' Fields
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” (Luke 2:14)
According to traditon, the Shepherds' Fields is the location of the apparition of the Angel to the Shepherds announcing the birth of Christ in Bethlehem and given them the sign "a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger."
Both Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches are in the small town of Beit Sahhour.
The Bethlehem Market
Experience the vivid Middle Eastern and Palestinian markets. This is a lively market in Bethlehem. A good introdution to the hustle and bustle of the Old City of Jerusalem markets. Fruits, Vegetables, breads, rotiserie chicjken, clothing, and much more... you'd better know how to haggle and negotiate prices...
Herodium
To the East of Bethlehem, this volcano-like mountain, is in fact a fortress built in the first Century BC by King Herod the Great, notoriously known for the killing of male children two years and under at the birth of Jesus. The Fortress is part of the city he built which also served as an administrative center and Mausoleum where the king was burried after his death.
A good hike for those who are capable and a great visit to the ruins of the city and tunnel system within the fortress; used by Jewish rebels against the Romans in the first and second centuries.
Jerusalem & the Old City
The eternal city with a history of thousands of years and hundreds of biblical references. The city that houses some of the most historic and religious buildings venerated by the three monotheistic religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, The Garden of Gethsemane, The Temple Mount or Al Haram Al Sharif Mosque plaza (Al Aqsa), the Western Wall and more...
The Old City and its most vibrant hustle and bustle markets is an experience that you will never forget!
Hebron
The city of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of the Bible. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah are burried there according to tradition.
Because of both Jewish and Muslim veneration to these holy people, the Mosque that houses all these tombs had been divided into two sections, a Jewish section accessible only to Jewish visitors and tourists, and an Arab Palestinian section accessible only to Arab and Muslim visitors.
The city is one of the major economic hubs in Palestine.
