Cremisan Monastery

Approximately 2 Km west of Bethlehem is Beit Jala, a town set among olive groves and vineyards with stunning stonemasonry and a spectacular view of Jerusalem. Driving through Beit Jala to the top of the summit will bring you to the Cremisan Monastery, which houses a school and a beautiful library.
However, it is most famous among locals as well as tourists for its wine, which is produced by its priests. The monastery has an impressive collection of wines and extra irgin olive oil available for sale.

---

Old City Bazaars & Shopping

In the crabbed alleys and covered ways of the Old City bazaar or souk (market),you will find a fantastic assortment of food, people, flavors and odors. As you gaze at the merchandize hanging from every nook and cranny of the cave-like apertures, porters laden with incredible loads, dignified prelates, nuns, Muslim dignitaries, and homemakers with shopping bags among others will jostle you. You will be enticed by shop- keepers to see their wares.

Certain characteristic products are found in all parts of the bazaar: Hebron glass, vases and bowls in turquoise, amber and blue; beads and medallions; olive wood camels and Christmas ornaments ;mother-of- pearl furniture, backgammon boards and other religious articles and replicas of shrines; embroidered Arab folkloric dresses, cushions and wall hangings; and brassware, candlesticks and antiquities.

Some of the souk's specialties are Souk el-'Atareen (Herb Market)offering aromatic mixtures of many spices and located in the middle lines of Triple Market and Street of Bad Cookery where meat was roasted for pilgrims.

Along David Street you will find Bedouin rugs woven from camel wool, two straw markets and in a high vaulted building, its site for close on a thousand years, the fruit and vegetable market. Around the Holy Sep ulchre Church you will find pious Christian articles, like giant candles, rosaries made of olive pits, icons and crucifixes.

In the Muristan you can buy uncured sheepskin coats and rugs and camel leather bags, belts and sandals. On Souk Khan el-Zeit (Olive Inn market)you will be offered sweet honey cakes piled in pyramids, olives, pickled vegetables, goat's cheese, soured cream and the aromatic freshly ground Arabic coffee.