Mshatta

From your airplane window as you arrive at Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan, you may get a glimpse of the largest and best preserved Umayyad palace in Jordan. Mshatta was built by the caliph Walid II, but was never finished, probably due to the Abbasid rebellion and his assassination. Nevertheless, what was completed has survived well, and its main building presents the common form of palatial units in the Umayyad palaces. 

Take a "flight" to Jordan and tour this marvelous palace.

Azraq

Once isolated at an oasis in the middle of the eastern desert, the Azraq fortress is now surrounded by a Druze village. The fortress was built during the Late Roman period was continuously occupied through the late Islamic period. Although it has not be excavated, the ruins have been stablized and is one of the best preserved Roman fortresses in Jordan.

Hammat Tiberias

South of the city of Tiberias, a suburb developed around a hot spring. The village came to be known as Hammat, today Hammat Tiberias, and it shared much of the same history as Tiberias. Inside the southern gate of the village, excavators have discovered several superimposed synagogues with beautiful mosaic floors. Come and take a look.

Horvat ‘Ethri

Although online for some time, Horvat ‘Ethri has been updated with an introduction and new VR movies. Horvat ‘Ethri is a small Judean village in the upper Shephelah that presents a good picture of Judean life from the period of the two Judean revolts. Hidden beneath the typical courtyard-style houses are caverns cut into the bedrock that were used as hiding places during the revolts. The site also includes a public building that has been interpreted as an early example of a synagogue.

Tiberias

Tiberias was established by Herod Antipas and named after his patron Tiberius around 19 CE. From that time, it grew to be the major Roman city in the Galilee and the center of the late Byzantine Jewish community. Despite its historical importance, the ruins and excavations at Tiberias have not received the attention that they deserve. Fortunately that is changing. The state of Israel recently has made a commitment to showcase the ancient city of Tiberias.

In the virtual tour of Tiberias you can visit some of the prominent parts of the ancient city. From the church on Mt. Berenice, overlooking the ancient and modern town, to the basilica by the sea; from the marketplace – both Byzantine and Abbasid – to the large bath, you can get a vivid perspective of life in ancient Tiberias. Come take a look.

Zohar

Zohar is a small Byzantine fortress on a road leading out of the Dead Sea. It shares much of the same history as the nearby fortress at ‘En Boqeq, though it has not been preserved as well.

Abu Ghosh

Abu Ghosh is the home of a well preserved Crusader church. Built by the Order of St. John (the Hospitallers), the church is located where the Crusaders believed the New Testament village of Emmaus to be located. We now know that Emmaus is further east (you can also visit it in the Virtual World Project).

While you visit the church, make sure to inspect its many well-preserved paintings on the church walls.