Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev

Welcome to the awe inspiring expanse of the Negev desert, a landscape that at first glance appears entirely inhospitable. The heat here is profound, radiating from the limestone and sand, creating a shimmering mirage on the…

As we pass through the outer perimeter of the city, notice the distinct lack of a traditional, massive defensive wall. In many of the Nabatean settlements, such as Shivta, the city was not heavily fortified in the conventional…

Just steps away from the life sustaining public reservoir, we enter the ruins of the Byzantine bathhouse. The presence of a bathhouse in the middle of the arid Negev desert is a striking paradox, serving as a profound statement…

We now step onto the ancient market street, once the bustling, vibrant epicenter of commerce. Notice the rows of small, uniform rooms lining both sides of the thoroughfare. …

Leaving the public clamor of the market street, we cross the threshold into a realm of immense private luxury. We are now standing in the spacious inner courtyard of the grandest dwelling discovered in the city, affectionately…

Continuing our exploration of the Nabato House, we pass from the domestic courtyard into a space that further broadcasts the sheer opulence of its owners. We have entered the grand stable. …

We now approach one of the most imposing vertical structures in the city, the great watchtower. Originally standing three stories tall, reaching a height of over eight meters, this massive square building served as the vital eyes…

As we move further into the archaeological park, we encounter a structure that represents a profound ideological shift in the history of the desert cities. This is the Eastern Church, often referred to as the Church of the…

Our final architectural stop is the grandest of the religious structures, the majestic Northern Church. We enter through the atrium, a large, open gathering space that would have welcomed weary pilgrims traveling the long,…

As our journey through the Incense Route and the desert cities of the Negev comes to a close, let us pause and look out over the sun bleached ruins one last time. The wind whistles through the crumbling arches and empty…