Nazareth Village

Nazareth Village

Nazareth Village, Nazareth

Nazareth is the village in northern Israel where Jesus lived until commencing His ministry at about 30 years of age. Nazareth Village is an interactive open air museum that transformed a hillside in central Nazareth into a first century Israeli village.

A visit to the Nazareth Village is an engaging time warp back to first century Israel. Created and operated by a non-profit foundation, the village's accuracy and attention to details is impressive. Nazareth Village also is unassuming, reasonably-priced, and perhaps the only site in Israel that hands every departing visitor something - a miniature but functioning souvenir oil lamp - for free. The only Christian sites in Israel that outrank Nazareth Village as "must visit" destinations are Jesus' Tomb and Golgotha.

Nazareth Village has shepherds tending sheep (above) and a weaver who spins the wool into yarn (below).

Nazareth Village also has authentic first century wine and olive oil presses, and a threshing floor where women weave straws into baskets (below).

Nazareth Village also has a first century synagogue, reconstructed homes and terraced fields from the same era, and arguably the most authentic Roman cross on display in Israel, if not in the world.

As an example of its attention to historical authenticity and accuracy, Nazareth Village correctly explains that the Bible identifies Joseph's occupation as "tektonos," a Greek word that means "builder." Two thousand years ago, builders in Israel built with rocks and stones, not wood, so they were not carpenters. However, there was some carpentry involved to create and hang doors, etc., as demonstrated at the village (below).

All costumed personnel at Nazareth Village are courteous and knowledgeable volunteers, and there is no pressure to spend or donate money. If you visit Nazareth Village after the myriad money-grabbing and/or fake sites in Israel (e.g., Via Dolorosa, Church of the Ascension, Holy Sepulcher Church, Bible Lands Museum, Yardenit, etc.), the visit will be a breath of fresh air.