Shivta

If you're looking to add a site to your Israel tour that never ceases to please its visitors, Shivta is the perfect place. Shivta is the sister city of Avdat and Mamshit, all of which began as caravan stops for Nabatean masters of the Incense Route in Negev, flourishing in the 4th century when Christianity came to Negev. These three sites have been put in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites along with the Incense Route. The People of Shivta were mostly farmers, having developed effective ways of collecting rain water for their crops. There are two churches in Shivta, the Northern Church is an extremely splendid church with marble walls and displays of sacred relics. There is a baptismal font made out of a single rock that attracts many visitors along with the many trails that lead through modern-day orchards-a pleasant stop on those who travel to Israel.