The main building of the monastery was the church, and its heart was this open courtyard with a freshwater well. It wasn'twasn'ta place for Sunday service—it was the "ancho" for the whole community.
The "Monastery-to-City" Pipeline Think of these monasteries as the startups of the Byzantine Empire.
The Empire would send monks to these strategic spots to set up camp.
Because the monks were stable and organised, a whole village would eventually grow around them.
This was their secret sauce for economic growth and spreading Christianity to the locals and pagans. It was basically "natio"-building" 101." The Story in the Stones If you look at the walls, you'llyou'lle something interesting. Most of the buildings are made of black basalt (the local volcanic rock from the Golan Heights). But you'll spot chunks of white limestone mixed in.
Why does that matter? Well, the Golan doesn't have limestone—that comes from the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Seeing both types of stone together is like an ancient recipe. It proves that people were trading and shipping materials across the lake. Even back then, these guys had a solid logistics network going!
Imagine the perfect spring morning in Israel—the sun is warm but not yet "blasting" you, and the air smells like fresh wildflowers. It's the absolute best time to grab the keys and head to the eastern side of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee).
First Stop: Kursi & The Views Start your day at Kursi. It's this massive Byzantine monastery ruin where the vibe is just... super chill. You can walk across ancient mosaics and literally feel the history. But don't stay too long because the drive up the mountain is even better. Make sure to pull over at Mitzpe Nukieb. On a clear day, the view is insane—you see the whole blue "bowl" of the Kinneret stretched out from Tiberias to the Golan Heights. It's one of those "stop and just stare" moments.
The Main Event: Susita (Hippos) Then, you've got the crown jewel: Susita. It's like a ghost city sitting on a hill. They call it the "Pompeii above the lake." You'll walk through the old Roman forum and see giant columns that were knocked down by an earthquake 1,200 years ago and just... stayed there. It's got this wild mix of ancient Roman vibes and old Israeli military outposts.
Trains and Hummus When you head back down, swing by the old Tzemach train station. It's been restored and feels like a movie set from the early 1900s—back when trains ran all the way from Haifa to Damascus.
Finally, once you're officially "toured out," hit up Hummus Eliyahu at the Tzemach junction. Trust me, a warm bowl of creamy hummus with olive oil, fluffy pita, and a solid cup of coffee is the only way to end a trip like this.
Pro tip: Go right now while it's spring. The Golan is bright green, and everything looks like a masterpiece.
