Zippori - Diocaesarea - Galilee and Gollan Travel Information

Galilee and Gollan

The Zippori hill is located in the lower Galilee region. It is the place where a great city used to stand, and today only the remains of this city can be seen. The city of Zippori includes an extensive system of streets, public buildings, houses, villas, churches, synagogues and a large fortress at the top of the hill from the time of the crusaders. Most of the findings in the city are from the Roman and Byzantine eras. The name Zippori is derived from the Hebrew word Zippor (bird). During the time of King Herod it was named Diocaesarea, the city of Zeus and Caesar, and also made Zippori the capital of the Galilee.

After the occupation of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple by the Romans, the Galilee became an important Jewish religious center, and Zippori was one of the most important cities of the Galilee. It was home to one of the greatest rabbis in the Jewish history – Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi, who moved here for the last 17 years of his life. Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi is known for compiling the Mishna around the year 200, one of the most important Jewish books. Zippori was also home to the Sanhedrin, which is the Jewish religious court of justice.

During the First Jewish War, the city of Zippori collaborated with the Romans, so it was never destroyed by the Romans, and remained prosperous and quiet for a long time, while its population grew to about 12,000 people. Zippori became a large center for Jewish learning and culture.

Because it was never destroyed, Zippori's streets and houses were well preserved, and one can walk these streets today, and admire the wealth of the city.

During the time of the Crusaders, Zippori was where their armies gathered for the battle of Hittin in 1187, where they were defeated by the armies of Sultan Aladdin.

Getting to Zippori

To get to Zippori you take the Shefaram – Nazareth road (route 79) towards Nazareth. In the part between Hamovil junction and Nazareth you turn towards Moshav Zippori, and immediately turn right to the new road to the Zippori National Park entrance

Visiting the Zippori National Park

A visit to the Zippori National Park could take between and hour to four houes. The trail takes you to the various parts of the ciry, and you can choose which places you want to visit.

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