Nazareth

Our last stop of a rather long day was Nazareth and for the first time we found a place where the spiritual feel lived up to expectations. Modern Nazareth is basically an Arab town and rather an ugly one at that. The approach to where Jesus spent most of his life is dominated by an Arab market and mosque.
	The modern Basilica of the Annunciation is built on the site where, according to tradition, Mary and Joseph lived. The current building, consecrated in 1969, is built on the site of 4 earlier churches. Some parts of the earlier churches have been preserved as part of the new building. The church is built on two levels, with the grotto where Mary and Joseph lived on the lower level (see photo at the top of the page). The design of the church copes with the flow of tourists but still preserves a quiet atmosphere conducive to contemplation and prayer. There is a passageway from the back of this living area under the ground to Joseph's workshop around 100 metres away. The entrance to the passage is the stairs at the back right. One area of the passageway has been excavated. The small cover in the middle of the centre photograph, shown larger in the bottom right of this set shows where the excavated area is.
As contributions to the new Basilica, countries around the world submitted works of art. Those judged to be the best decorate the interior of the Basilica. The rest are on display in the cloisters outside.
	The interior of the Basilica of the Annunciation.
There are attractive gardens between the main Basilica and the more humble Church of St. Joseph. This statue of Mary is nestled among shrubs and flowers.
	The smaller Church of St. Joseph is built on the tradition site of Joseph's carpentry shop.
There are the inevitable tourist shops. Photo St. Joseph particularly caught my eye.