Monuments in Bethlehem
Historical and religious monuments in Bethlehem are spread in the whole city. Bethlehem is only 10km from Jeruslaem and city is a magnet for pilgrims. On the top of the list is the Church of the Nativity, Rachel’s Tomb, Mosque of Omar, Milk Grotto, Graffiti by Banksy, Herodium, Old City and Solomon’s Pools. Tomb of Rachel is located on the outskirts of Bethlehem and is surrounded by the Separation Wall. She was married to Prophet Jacob (Yaqub) and she is the mother of Benjamin and Joseph (Yousuf).
Opposite the Jacir Palace Hotel in Bethlehem is the famous artwork of Banksy “the Girl frisking a Soldier”. To bring things to next level, there is a Banksy shop in the town. It is on the opposite side of the Separation wall in Aida Refugee Camp.
Mosque of Omar
Mosque of Omar is the oldest mosque in Bethlehem. This mosque was built in the memory of Caliph Omar who visited Bethlehem in 637 AD. The current mosque dates from 1860 and renovated in 1955.
From a rooftop of a gift shop, one can see the panoramic view of Bethlehem but also the surrounding areas. An Israeli settlement can be seen lurking close to Bethlehem city. King Herod’s Mountain (Herodium) is also visible from the top, it is just 5 kilometers southeast of the city.
King Solomon's Pools
I visited a wood carving factory in Bethlehem where local wood (mainly from olive trees) is hollowed out and then it is used for decoration.
Pools of Solomon also known as Ain-Salah Spring ( El Burak in Arabic) are just 5km from Bethlehem. These three ancient reservoirs are located in a Palestinian village of al-Khader. Some people believe that these pools were built by the King Solomon (Prophet Sulaiman). In the past, There was an aqueduct system which was providing water to the city of Jerusalem.
