Nazareth

Nazareth

Childhood home of Jesus, and Israel's largest Arab city

Nazareth, in the lower Galilee, is the town where Jesus grew up according to the Gospels, and the Basilica of the Annunciation marks where Christians believe the angel Gabriel told Mary she would bear him. It is also the largest Arab city in Israel, with a Muslim majority, a sizeable Christian minority, and a lively old market. Nearby Upper Nazareth was founded in 1957 as a Jewish town. Pilgrims arrive from around the world, and visitors can try knafeh, a sweet cheese pastry, in the old city.

Glossary: Nazareth