Tiberias is one of Judaism’s four holy cities, a lakeside resort town, and a place that has been rebuilt so many times that its archaeologists have job security for centuries. Founded in 20 CE by Herod Antipas and named after the Roman Emperor Tiberius, the city has been a center of Jewish scholarship, a Crusader stronghold, an Ottoman market town, and a modern tourist hub, all on the same narrow strip of shore between the Sea of Galilee and the hills behind it.
Jewish Holy City
After the destruction of the Temple and the Bar Kokhba Revolt, the center of Jewish life moved to the Galilee. Tiberias became the seat of the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish legal body, and the place where the Jerusalem Talmud was compiled in the 4th-5th centuries CE. The Masoretes of Tiberias standardized the Hebrew Bible text and created the vowel system still used today. For a city better known for its beaches, Tiberias has an extraordinary intellectual legacy.
The Tombs
Tiberias is home to the tombs of several of Judaism’s greatest figures. Maimonides (the Rambam), the greatest Jewish philosopher of the medieval world, is buried here, along with Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes, Rabbi Akiva, and Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai. The tombs draw Jewish pilgrims year-round.
The Promenade
Modern Tiberias is a laid-back lake town with a waterfront promenade, restaurants serving St. Peter’s fish, and a nightlife that is modest but enthusiastic. The hot springs south of town, Hamat Tiberias, have been in use since Roman times and contain a beautiful ancient synagogue with a zodiac mosaic floor.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
Tiberias is the natural base for exploring the Sea of Galilee region. Hoshen Tours uses it as a hub for itineraries covering the Gospel sites, Jewish heritage, and the natural beauty of the lake.