Masada in Israel

Israel has many global achievements to be proud of. One such achievement stands high on the list – the five sites listed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The sites listed are the Old City of Acre, Masada, The White City of Tel Aviv, the Incense Route (the Desert Cities of the Negev), and the Biblical Tels (Megiddo, Hazor and Beersheba). To qualify for inclusion in this prestigious list of 830 worldwide sites, each of the five sites had to meet the world body’s strict criteria. The five sites are:

1. Acre is a wonderfully preserved medieval town both above and below street level. Its status as an outstanding example of an Ottoman walled city where visitors can walk the ramparts and enjoy incredible views of the Mediterranean won Acre a place on the World Heritage List.

2. UNESCO has honored Masada as a symbol of Jewish cultural identity and of the human struggle for freedom from oppression. The construction by Herod the Great is considered to be an extraordinary example of an early Roman villa and the Roman Siege works that surround the plateau are said to be the most complete in the world. Masada National Park continues to upgrade in response to its World Heritage status and has recently added an innovative new museum displaying artifacts from excavations.

3. The White City of Tel Aviv is an outstanding example of the synthesizing of architectural trends of the Modern Movement and integrating them into local conditions. The buildings of the White City are one of Tel Aviv’s most popular attractions.

Tel Aviv in Israel

4. The Incense Route is part of a 1,500-mile long frankincense trade route from Arabia to the Mediterranean that crosses Israel’s Negev Desert. The ancient route and the cities of Mamshit, Avdat, Haluza and Shivta that the Nabateans built along it, are all fascinating places to visit. In addition to being a trade route, it was also a cultural route where ideas and dreams made a hostile desert environment bloom.

5. The Biblical Tels of Megiddo, Hazor and Beersheba are all testaments to the cultural exchanges that took place along the major ancient highways. Their historical intricate water systems are examples of ingenuity and community cooperation and are popular with visitors. The palaces, ramparts and storehouses are remnants of a great civilization that illustrate the power of the biblical narrative.

Each of these sites are unique in their own way and have a prestigious place in Israel’s history. Israel has vowed to protect and foster them to ensure their preservation for future generations.

Israel Tour Connection will be happy to help you visit Israel’s historic sites. Click here to contact us.