Kafr Kanna: Churches, Handicrafts and Olive Oil

In Kafr Kanna, churches and ancient remains meet handicrafts and olive oil as tangible cultural themes. If you are looking for a hotel in Kafr Kanna, this mix of themes can help you identify your interests for your stay: religious history and archaeology on the one hand, basket weaving and olive cultivation on the other.

Churches and Ancient Remains in Kafr Kanna

Among the most important churches in Kafr Kanna are an Orthodox church and a Catholic church. The remains of an ancient synagogue lie beneath the Catholic church. The town’s history thus brings together different religious and historical themes: the two churches and the older historical evidence beneath one of them.

Basket Weaving and Olive Oil

At the Sindyanna of Galilee visitor center, Arab women from Kana and the neighboring villages learn basket weaving. They work with palm fronds, olive branches and willow rods, weaving in both traditional and modern styles. The craft brings together different materials and design traditions.

Visitor activities at the center also include a tasting of olive oil made from different olive varieties. Visitors can learn about traditional olive cultivation and oil production. The activity lasts 20 to 30 minutes, offering a distinct, time-limited experience alongside basket weaving.

Basket-weaving workshops last 60 minutes; special workshops can last up to three hours. They are suitable for family and corporate events. The tasting and workshops therefore have different time requirements. If you would like to plan one of these activities, it is advisable to check its current availability before your visit.

Archaeological Insights in the Wider Destination of the Northern District

In the wider destination of the Northern District, Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo provide their own archaeological context. These sites offer historical themes that differ from those of the churches and visitor center in Kafr Kanna. At Tel Hazor, the visit focuses on the upper city. Its distinctive architectural features include Solomon’s Gate, with six chambers and two towers dating to the 10th century BCE.

The water system at Tel Hazor also illustrates sophisticated engineering adapted to the geographic conditions for water storage. The excavated vertical shaft is 45 meters deep, with steps three meters wide carved into its walls. Tel Hazor National Park can be reached from the north and south via Route 90 toward Ayelet Hashahar. Check your navigation before setting out.

The Canaanite palace at Tel Hazor was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. The Late Bronze Age palace is considered the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most significant in the Levant. The fortifications also have a notable comparative standing: they are considered the best example of their kind in the area from southern Turkey to the northern Negev.

Tel Megiddo is one of three tells that preserve significant remains of cities with biblical associations and are closely connected with events in the Bible. Its Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional for the number of its temples, the continuity of cult activity and the documented ritual practices. The orthogonal Iron Age city plan has few parallels in the Levant. The region’s archaeological perspective thus encompasses early temple complexes as well as urban planning and fortification building.

Discover more destinations: Beit Rimon, She'ar Yashuv, Barak, En Dor, Bar'am, Kiryat Shmona, Gilon, Kfar Kama.

For the overview of the wider destination: Northern District.