Bethlehem needs no introduction. It is the city of Palestine, where Christ was born. Today about 10% of Bethlehem’s residents are Christians! The city, itself, will not fascinate you. But it is worth your visit for 3 reasons. To visit the place where Christ was born, to admire the graffiti of the British artist Bansky that decorate the walls of the city and to meet the Palestinians. Chatting with them, you will find that they live in the moment, because they simply don’t know if there will have a tomorrow. They are in a situation for which they are not responsible, in a war situation where they live for the moment.
How to get to Bethlehem
We had the luck to be in Bethlehem on Christmas day, felt the aura of this day. We arrived, from Jerusalem, in Bethlehem on a Greek Orthodox Patriarchate bus. Bethlehem is only 10 kilometers from Jerusalem. So, when you are in the territory of Jerusalem, you have 3 ways to go to Bethlehem:
- By bus from Jerusalem: Buses to Bethlehem start opposite the Damascus Gate and cost very little. Read more, here.
- With a tourist agency, where you will also have a tour guide.
- With a Taxi, after negotiating the price first. Out of curiosity, they asked us 20€ for one route; not bad!
Extra tip: You can definitely go with your own rent car, but all the above ways will make it easier for you to cross the Palestinian border. Don’t forget to bring your passport and visa that was given to you at the airport upon your arrival.
What to see in Bethlehem
A day is enough to see the main “attractions” of the city of Bethlehem. The points of interest in the city are:
- The central square “Manger”
- The old town with its shops
- The Church of the Nativity
- The graffiti on the walls of the border of Palestine
Bansky’ s graffiti
The walls between Israel and Palestine are the most hostile in the world, but also the most “beautiful”. For several years the British artist Bansky painted graffiti on the concrete sections of the walls. Through his work he highlighted the contrast between the wall and people’s daily lives. The wall is a monument to one of the most difficult and unresolved conflicts in the world, in which Israelis and Palestinians are trapped into, without these two races being solely responsible.
If you choose a bus to go to Bethlehem, you will not be able to stop at the border of the city to admire the graffiti of the artist Bansky. But you can go there by taxi or with a local who makes this route for tourists. To get the contact number of our local Adam, who will guide you around the walls, contact us, here.
Church of the Nativity
Church of the Nativity was built in 327-333 A.D. from Saint Eleni and is located in the central Manger square of the city. To enter the temple, you have to pass through a very low gate. This particular gate was built to prevent Muslims from entering the temple.
The point that presents the most intense historical and religious interest is the Cave located under the Holy Altar of the church. Again, you will need to go through a narrow gate to get close to it. The Cave is from a natural rock and is the real place where Christ was born. A silver star with 14 rays is placed in the Cave, symbolizing the “Star of Bethlehem”.
Don’t expect to see a straw manger like the one we decorate at Christmas. The “manger” is actually a very large Cave, where His birth took place. You will be jostling with crowds to get to it, as the passage is very narrow. But you will feel the energy of that place penetrates you. You will be moved, you will shiver, everything is standing there in front of you; from where it all began!
