Visit Zippori:
"Ornament of all Galilee"

As you tour the beautiful remnants of Zippori you'll understand why the Roman historian Josephus praised it as the "Ornament of all Galilee." Zippori (Sepphoris) was the grandest city in the Galilee mountains, just being built in Jesus' day. Some say that as craftsmen, Jesus and Joseph, living in Nazareth, only a few hours walk from Zippori, may have worked there as stonemasons!

You'll marvel at the ornate and colorful mosaics that adorned its homes and shrines ... including the landmark 'Mona Lisa of Galilee'

Zippori is also a wonderful place for you to recall one of the devoted women who supported Jesus' ministry - Joanna (Luke 8:3). She was the wife of Cuza, steward of Herod Antipas (Luke 13:32) who founded this city, and may have made her home here. You'll learn that ancient Christians identified Zippori as the hometown of Elizabeth and Joachim, the parents of Mary, and as Mary's birthplace.

You'll marvel at the ornate and colorful mosaics that adorned its homes and shrines in later times, including the landmark "Mona Lisa of Galilee", which has made Zippori National Park famous. Most magnificent of all is the brilliant and colorful carpet of tiny interlocking stones of Zippori's sixth-century synagogue mosaic. Rich in symbolism, they come together to depict the moving story of redemption that is the hallmark of your own faith.