Capernaum

Capernaum (Kfar Nahum or "Nahum village") is an ancient and fascinating village located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which came to be called "Jesus’ city”. Here were discovered the remains of a 1st century structure, which has probably served for the gathering of the first Christians. This structure was also identified with the house of the Apostle Peter and hence its great importance to Christianity. On top of this structure a Franciscan Church was built with a glass floor which allows looking at the ancient structural remains. In Kfar Nahum and its surrounding area Jesus chose his twelve apostles. The Church of the Twelve Apostles located in the village is an impressive church seen to a distance due to its white walls and pink domes. The church’s interior is no less impressive and includes murals with motifs from the New Testament.  Another impressive and magnificent structure on this site is an ancient synagogue, which is related to Jesus as well. At the synagogue’s courtyard ruins were found and among them are pillar capitals decorated with Menorahs (a Jewish branched candelabrum) and Shofars (a blowing horn used in Jewish religious ceremonies) and parts of structures decorated with Stars of David (a Jewish symbol) and the Seven Species (seven agricultural products listed in the Bible as being special products of the Land of Israel). The tall ladder which leads to the synagogue is decorated with decorative stones and the synagogue’s lintels are decorated with geometrical shapes and animals and plants drawings.