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Tiberias is a small city on the Sea of Galilee in Israel. It’s considered one of the Four Holy Cities of Judaism along with Jerusalem, Hebron, and Safed.
Brief History of Tiberias
Tiberias (Τιβεριάς) was founded in the year 20 by Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, and was named in honor of Roman Emperor Tiberius. From the 2nd to 10th centuries, it was the largest Jewish city in the Galilee region and an important center of Jewish religious education. It’s the city where the Jerusalem Talmud was composed.
According to Jewish tradition, the Sanhedrin will be restored in Tiberias. It’s believed the Messiah will rise from the Sea of Galilee, enter the city, and be enthroned at Safed on the summit of a lofty hill.
Getting to Tiberias
Buses run frequently between Tiberias and Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and Nazareth. The bus station is in the city center. Because we were on a pilgrimage, our transportation was already sorted and we didn’t have to use any buses.
Getting Around Tiberias
Getting around Tiberias is easily done on foot. Most tourist attractions are in the city center and within walking distance of each other.
Where to Stay in Tiberias
Tiberias is an important tourist center, especially for Christian pilgrims. Unfortunately, there are lots of ugly high-rise hotels, and some have been abandoned. I’ve stayed at two different hotels in the city.
Ron Beach Hotel
On my first trip in October 2019, we stayed at the Ron Beach Hotel, which is a short walk north of the city center. The hotel sits right on the Sea of Galilee and caters to large groups.
Our room was large and comfortable but was extremely dated. It felt like sleeping in a time capsule from the 1980s. Even the hotel literature in the room needed an update. We enjoyed the balcony.
Our group stay included breakfast and dinner at the hotel. We were dreading the buffet but it was actually better than we expected. The quality of the food was good and there was a great variety of choices. Service was friendly and efficient.
One of the best things about the hotel was the pool area. It was a great place to wind down after a long day of sightseeing. There’s also a small swimming area on the Sea of Galilee, which is the lowest freshwater lake in the world.
Leonardo Hotel
On our second trip in November 2022, we stayed at the Leonardo Hotel, which is actually across from the Ron Beach. It was definitely an upgrade with more modern rooms, but the food wasn’t nearly as good.
Weather in Tiberias
Because it sits below sea level, Tiberias can be extremely hot. Make sure you drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen.
My Trips to Tiberias
It’s easy to say I didn’t see everything I wanted to see in Tiberias, but I think I got a good start. I only had a very short time to explore the city on both of my trips for two reasons.
First of all, my first trip in October 2019 coincided with Yom Kippur, which meant everything in the city was shut down. It was a bit eerie to have the entire city to myself, except for about the six people I saw walking around. Secondly, because both trips were a pilgrimage, we arrived back at our hotel quite late in the afternoon. That gave me only two hours before sunset to wander around town.
Fortress
First of all, walking towards the city center from the north, I reached a nice stone stairway. I walked up until I came to the ruins of a small fortress. It was built in 1745 by Salibi al-Zahir (d. 1773). He was the son of Daher al-Omar (1689-1775), the Bedouin ruler of the Galilee at the time. The fortress was built using stones from other buildings.
Tomb of the Rambam
A couple blocks away is the Tomb of the Rambam, who’s better known as Maimonides or Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (1135-1204).
Maimonides was a Sephardic Jewish philosopher, astronomer, and physician born in Córdoba, Spain, when it was under Almoravid rule. He became one of the most important Torah scholars of all time, and his most important work was the Mishneh Torah.
After his exile from Spain, Maimonides was active in Fez, Morocco, and Cairo, Egypt. He died in Fustat, Egypt, and his body was later taken to Tiberias for burial.
Al Amari Mosque
Next, I walked down into the empty city center to the Al Amari Mosque. It was built by Daher al-Omar in 1743, but hasn’t been used since the British evacuated the Muslim citizens of Tiberias in April 1948. The mosque is oddly out of place in the courtyard of a shopping center.
Archaeological Gardens
Two blocks south, I walked through the Archaeological Gardens. It’s a pleasant park with the ruins of a 4th century synagogue in the center. Interpretive panels were faded.
Monastery of the Holy Apostles
Walking towards the waterfront, I came upon the Monastery of the Holy Apostles (Ιερά Μονή των Αγίων Αποστόλων Τιβεριάδα), which belongs to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
History of the Monastery
The Monastery of the Holy Apostles was built in 1837 atop the ruins of a Crusader castle that was used as a synagogue in the 17th century. It’s believed to be the spot on the Sea of Galilee where Christ appeared to his disciples for the third time after the Resurrection. It’s also possible that Helen built a monastery there in 326.
Tower
The tower on the Sea of Galilee side was built by Daher al-Omar, the Bedouin ruler of the Galilee in the middle of the 18th century. It sits on the foundations of a wall built around the city by the Crusaders. The tower is one of the symbols of the city of Tiberias.
Visiting the Monastery
The monastery is not typically open to the public, but you may be able to gain access by ringing the bell at the entrance. We were able to visit as part of a pilgrimage group.
Courtyard
The medieval Crusader architecture is as prevalent in the courtyard as it is on the exterior. At the opposite end of the courtyard is the entrance to the church, which is unique because you have to walk down a flight of stairs to get to it. A small gift shop sits at the top of the stairs, with a priest selling icons, incense, and other religious items.
Church
The church can be dark, damp, and uncomfortably humid, but it has a unique layout. There are three altars, each in a different vault of the original Crusader castle. The altar closest to the entrance is dedicated to the Twelve Apostles, while the middle altar is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. The third altar is dedicated to Mary Magdalene.
Platform
Next to the monastery is a small platform with great views of the Sea of Galilee, the lowest freshwater lake in the world. It sits between 215 meters (705 feet) and 209 meters (686 feet) below sea level.
Water Level Surveyor
The stainless steel sculpture on the platform is the Water Level Surveyor. It’s shaped in the outline of the Sea of Galilee and indicates the current water level of the lake in meters below sea level. The sculpture is five meters high and 3 ½ meters wide. It was erected in 2006.
Russian Pilgrims’ Residence
Across from the platform is the Russian Pilgrims’ Residence, which dates back to the 16th century. It’s now a small hotel run by the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.
Yigal Alon Promenade
The road in front of the platform is the Yigal Alon Promenade. This pedestrianized walkway runs for about 400 meters and is lined with restaurants, cafés, and small marinas.
On my first trip to Tiberias, everything was closed for the holiday so I couldn’t see it in action. On my second trip in November 2022, there were no holidays and I was there at the beginning of the week. I was expecting to see more life but it was just as dead. I’m not quite sure when the promenade fills up. Maybe the third time will be a charm.
Al Bahr Mosque
About halfway down the promenade is the Al Bahr Mosque. It was built in the 18th century and once had a special entrance for worshippers arriving by boat. It’s also called the Sea Mosque.
St. Peter’s Church
Finally, at the north end of the promenade is St. Peter’s Church. This Catholic church was founded by the Crusaders around 1100. It became a mosque in 1187 after the Battle of Hattin.
The Franciscans retook the church in the 18th century and in 1847 established a monastery near it. The current façade dates back to 1870. The church is named after the Apostle Peter because it’s believed to be near the site he was a fisherman in the Galilee. Unfortunately, it was closed on both of my visits.
