KURSI (GERGESSA)

On your right, the remains of the biggest Byzantine convent found in Israel. The place was identified by the early Christians as the site where the ``Miracle of the Swine'' occurred. Jesus exorcized the devils in a man and transferred them into a herd of swine (Luke 8:26., Mat. 8:28). The church dates from the 5th cent. CE, and was destroyed by the Persians in 614 CE. Car park. Entrance fee. Open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The road above En Gev passes the settlements of Neot Golan, Givat Yoav, Bnei Yehuda and Ramot. Some Syrian armoured units advanced close to these settlements on the opening day of the Yom Kippur War.

Ten km. later you come to Road No. 87. Nearby you can enjoy paddling a kayak down the Jordan River. Turn right at the Bethsaida (Bet Zayda) junction and continue north for half a kilometre. On your left is a sign directing you to the Jordan River Park. The park itself is well worth a visit, with excavations currently underway at the site of ancient Bethsaida, mentioned in the New Testament. There is an entrance fee, but if you just want to go kayaking you don't have to pay. Just drive through the park to Abukayak, where you can rent kayaks or inner tubes, and paddle along a three-km.-long stretch of the Jordan (it takes about an hour). Open April-October, all week, 8.30 a.m.-4.30 p.m.

Return to Road No. 87, turning right at Bethsaida junction. Cross the Jordan River on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee and soon arrive at Moshav Almagor (turn right along Road No. 8277). Before the Six Day War it was the only Israeli settlement overlooking Syrian territory from a high vantage point, now the Jordan River Park.

Three km. west of Almagor are the remains of a 3rd-century CE synagogue at Korazin. It was here that Jesus cursed the citizens for not repenting after he had been among them.

A couple of kilometres further on you'll find the guest farm and stables of Vered HaGalil, at the junction of the main road (No. 90) down to Tiberias. The farm offers rides around the Galilee. Turn left towards the Sea of Galilee and very soon branch off left to the Italian Hospice of the Beatitudes. This reposeful church is set on top of the graceful Mt. of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached his immortal Sermon on the Mount (Mat. 5). From here there is a magnificent view of the Sea of Galilee.

Return again to the main road (No. 90) and follow the signposts left to Tabgha and Capernaum and Road No. 87 eastwards.