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Herodion

Tours to the Holy Land provide unique windows into the history of different cultures and locations through fascinating sites such as the Herodian. Located approximately 8 km east of Bethlehem on the border of the Judean desert, the Herodian is a palace that was built by King Herod, for which it was named. Mountain fortified, the Herodian is second in popularity only to Herod's kingdom of Masada. Both desert fortresses were built to ensure the safety of his kingdom as well as his personal safety. It was later used as a hiding place by the zealots of the Bar Kochba revolt and eventually converted to a Monastery by the Byzantine monks. This artificial hill is well worth making a stop during your Israel tour.