Perillo Tours

The Sea of Galilee, which is actually a large, freshwater lake, is also known by a number of other names, including Bahr Tubariya, Ginnosar, Lake of Galilee, Lake of Gennesaret, Lake of Gennesar, Sea of Chinnereth, Sea of Chinneroth, Sea of Kinnereth, Sea of Tiberias, Lake of Tiberias, Waters of Gennesaret and Yam Kinneret.  The area, located along the ancient Via Maris, which linked Egypt with Mesopotamia, is as rich in history as it is in terminology.

The Sea of Galilee and the surrounding towns of Cana, Capernaum, Tiberias and Nazareth are mentioned repeatedly in the Bible. Jesus and his disciples were all from the Galilee region, and it was the setting for much of his ministry. Following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, Galilee became a center of Jewish scholarship. The first wave of Jewish immigrants settled there in the late 19th century, and Israel’s first kibbutz was established in 1909 on the shores of the lake.

The modern name for the body of water is Lake Kinneret, and it is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth. Galilee is one of the few regions in Israel with a large Arab population, going back to the 1948 founding of the Israeli state.  The region is a very popular holiday destination, owing to its physical beauty, mild climate and many historical and spiritual sites. Major attractions include the town of Tiberias, Mount Tabor and the site where Kinneret's water joins the Jordan River – pilgrims come from all over the world to be baptized or re-baptized here.

Near the Mediterranean shore of the Galilee region is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old City of Acre. Known locally as Akko, the city is an 18th-century Ottoman walled town, with well-preserved, typical features like a citadel, mosques and baths. What is exceptional is that it is built on top of the remains of medieval, Crusader-era buildings, providing an exceptional picture of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. Just a portion of the city has been unearthed so far, however, the findings are exceptional – including streets, shops, the knights’ chapel and a dining hall. The city was a notorious prison city under Ottoman rule – among its prisoners was Bahau'llah, founder of the Baha'i Faith – as well as under the British, who incarcerated Jewish 'terrorists' here.