Israel’s Top 3 Wheelchair-Accessible Archaeological Sites

January 20th 2015

In Israel, ancient history is always tourist-worthy. If you or someone in your tour group uses a wheelchair, it’s good to know that an experienced tour consultant can help you locate fully or partially wheelchair-accessible antiquities. Here are a few of our favorite wheelchair-accessible archaeological sites.

Meditation on the Mediterranean
Sandy beaches and the arches of an ancient aqueduct frame the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea at the coastal city of Caesarea. The ruins of Roman and Crusader structures in Caesarea tell the story of this once vibrant port town. Highlights include a Hippodrome horse racing area, the Roman amphitheater, a shop-lined Byzantine Street, Greek mosaic inscriptions, impressive Roman aqueducts and a Crusader cathedral. Caesarea National Park contains the remains of a prestigious port city established by Herod the Great, which flourished into the Byzantine period. The site is mostly accessible via wheelchair.

Reliving Daily Life in the Times of the Talmud
The ancient village on display at the Golan’s Katzrin Talmudic Park gives visitors a sense of daily life in the Talmudic period. Visit an early synagogue where weddings and bar and bat mitzvahs are still held. Nearby are reconstructed homes and an olive press. View an audio-visual presentation across six screens that brings you back in time. Learn about the tools and kitchen implements mentioned in ancient Jewish law.

A Biblical Mound and Ruins of a 2,000-Year-Old Town
The fully excavated theater and town in Beit She’an National Park tell the story of daily life 2,000 years ago. See the remains of the northern town, with its colonnaded streets and elaborate bathhouses. Learn about
the history of the city, inhabited over the years by Canaanites, Jews and Christians. It is here that King Saul was defeated by the Philistines in a vicious historical battle. Later, Beit She’an was reestablished as a Greek outpost. The city was devastated by an earthquake in 749 CE; the remnants that we see today only give us a glimpse of what once was. Don’t miss the She’an Nights sound and light show. The site is partially wheelchair-accessible, and a special vehicle is available at no extra charge.

Meeting Mobility Challenges

With a little advance planning and some sound advice, it’s easy to find plenty of amazing archaeological sites to include in your Israel itinerary that everyone can enjoy.