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Ramallah
Located 9 miles north of Jerusalem, at an elevation of 900m above sea level
on the crest of the mountain range, Ramallah has a pleasant, cool climate
and has long been a popular summer resort. Al-Bireh Ramallah' s twin-city, al- Bireh, was first built
by the Canaanites around 3500 BC. According to Christian tradition, Joseph and
Mary rested in al-Bireh on t heir way from Jerusalem to Galilee when they
discovered that Jesus was missing. A Crusader church, known as the Church of the
Holy Family, marks the spot where they stopped
Beitin
Beitin
is an ancient village located on the outskirts of al-Bireh. Habitation in
Beitin dates back to prehistoric times and excavations have uncovered
flint tools, pottery and animal bones dating back to the 5th century BC. Birzeit
Located 4 miles north of Ramallah, Birzeit's fame is due to Birzeit University. Founded in 1924, Birzeit is the largest and most important university in Palestine. Jifna Located near Birzeit, Jifna is a small scenic village that was once an important Roman-Byzantine city. Previously known as Gophna of Josephus, Jifna was a regional capital during the first century AD. Today, Jifna is a popular summer resort, offering a variety of fine out-door restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Tell al-Nasbah Located
at the southern entrance of al-Bireh, Tell al-Nasbah is an important Bronze Age
site. Visible ruins include a gate dating back to the ninth century BC, a
massive wall, the remains of a Byzantine church, and an Ottoman Khan. Tell al-Nasbah
is believed to be the site where Saul was crowned king. El Nabi Samwil
Located 61/2 miles southwest of Ramallah, Nabi Samwil is traditionally held as the site of Prophet Samuel's Tomb. Holy to Christians, Muslims, and Jews, the site consists of a large turreted building and a cellar with the cloth-covered tomb of Samuel. The mountain top village, also called Nabi Samwil, is built around a mosque whose minaret offers an extensive view of the hills of Jerusalem. Al-Jib (Gibeon) Located 3/4 mile north of Nabi Samwil, the picturesque village of al-Jib is the site of the Biblical city of Gibeon. In the seventh century, Gibeon was a prosperous wine- producing city. Excavations in the area have uncovered 63 wine cellars, each capable of storing 42 large barrels of wine. Other interesting excavations include a well-preserved ancient water system.
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