5

Roman engineering: the aqueduct at Caesarea once brought water from the Carmel foothills

Roman remains

Remains from Roman times – Rome ruled the area now known as Israel from 63BC until the 7th century AD – are an important element of Israel’s historical sites. Beit She’an, between Tiberias and Jericho, was a large Roman city with an amphitheatre able to seat 800 people – one of the key finds of excavations in the area. It is also a stop on many pilgrimage and cultural tours.

On the Mediterranean, the resort of Caesarea was built by Herod the Great and named in honour of the Roman emperor.

It is no longer the important port it was in Roman times, but today visitors flock here to see the remains of the aqueduct which once brought water from the Carmel foothills, and the amphitheatre, which has been restored and is today once again used for theatrical productions.

The Crusaders also left their mark at Caesarea, building on top of the Roman town and creating their own port at the edge of the Mediterranean.

There are many impressive Crusader remains to help visitors to imagine what Caesarea would have looked like.

Less imagination is needed at Akko, also on the Mediterranean, where guided tours visit the Crusader city and delve into halls that have been excavated.

One of the key finds is the banqueting room, with its narrow escape tunnel.