The people who lived at Beit Govrin thousands of years ago left behind plentiful testimony to their existence both above and below ground. Among the sites are a Roman amphitheater and Beit Govrin National Park,Tel Mareshah, which was fortified by Solomon’s son Rehoboam (2 Chron. 11:8).
The top of Tel Mareshah affords a wonderful view of this strategic region separating the coast from the Judean Mountains; on a clear day you can see the Mediterranean Sea.
The real excitement, though, lies in the cool interior of some of the hundreds of caves, which first served as quarries for the people of Hellenistic Maresha to build their houses in. Beneath those houses are storerooms and cisterns.
One cave had hundreds of niches where pigeons were raised; in another you can see an ancient olive press.
The colorful Greek-style frescoes of the Sidonian burial cave and the Musicians’ Tomb are another attraction.
Beit Govrin’s dramatic Bell Caves still bear the marks of the diggers, who penetrated the surface through small holes and left behind bell-shaped caverns.
Thanks to wonderful acoustics, the Bell Caves host concerts and other events, including private celebrations.
www.touryoav.org.il; www.parks.org.il