Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity, and the Ruins of Herodion - August 12, 2011 - (Matthew Mac Donald)

On our final day in the Holy Land, we spent some last moments at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem before we left our hotel.

Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity

The Church of the Nativity, under the custody of the Greek Orthodox Church

The Gate of Humility - The front entrance to the Church of the Nativity

Columns in the Church of the Nativity with faded Mosaics

The Main Altar and Iconostasis in the Church of the Nativity

Stained Glass Window in the Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria (The Latin Rite Church of the Nativity)

Before heading to Ben Guiron Airport in Tel Aviv to catch our flight to Rome, we toured the ruins of the palace of Herodion. This was the main palace and burial place of King Herod the Great. It was destroyed by the Romans in 71 AD.

Ruins of Herodion

The Surrounding Countryside

Ancient Roman Ruins

Fabritzio explaining the site

Exploring and underground watershaft