Nazareth & Sepphoris Guided Tour

Two towns, one landscape

Nazareth and Sepphoris sit about six kilometers apart, but they tell very different stories. Nazareth was a small village that became the town of Mary and the boyhood home of Jesus. Sepphoris was a large Roman city and the capital of Jewish Galilee, where the Mishnah took shape. Seeing both in one day shows how close these worlds really were.

Nazareth

The landmark of Nazareth is the Basilica of the Annunciation, completed in 1969 to a design by the Italian architect Giovanni Muzio. It was built over the grotto where, according to Catholic tradition, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, and its walls are lined with images of Mary sent by communities from around the world.

A short walk away, the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Gabriel stands over the spring that feeds Mary's Well; in Orthodox tradition, this is where the Annunciation took place. The present church dates to 1767. Between the two lies the Old City, with its market, the Church of St. Joseph, the Synagogue Church and the White Mosque.

Sepphoris

Sepphoris, Tzippori in Hebrew, got its name, says the Talmud, because it sits on top of the hill like a bird. In the Roman period it was the capital of Jewish Galilee, and according to the Talmud, Rabbi Judah the Prince, editor of the Mishnah, spent his last seventeen years here.

Today it is a national park with some of the finest mosaics in Israel. In the Roman villa known as the House of Dionysus, a woman's portrait discovered in 1987 earned the nickname "Mona Lisa of the Galilee". The synagogue floor combines the Binding of Isaac, the Tabernacle and a zodiac wheel.

Sepphoris at a glance

Where traditions meet

Sepphoris also has a place in Christian tradition: an old tradition holds that Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne, lived here, and the Monastery of St. Anne stands at the foot of the hill. Some scholars suggest that craftsmen from Nazareth worked on building Sepphoris, and visitors often ask whether Joseph the carpenter was among them.

A sample day

Good to know

• Dress code. Churches require covered shoulders and knees.
• Tickets. Sepphoris National Park charges an entrance fee. Group tickets are arranged in advance.
• Christmas. Nazareth celebrates twice: Catholic churches on December 24–25, Orthodox churches on January 6–7. Expect crowds.
• Walking. Sepphoris is on a hill with stone paths. Bring a hat and water in summer.

Frequently asked questions