Off the Beaten Path: Beit She'an

Did you know one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities exists in Israel?

I doubt it. I didn't know either until a friend invited me to see it.

Just over two hours from Jerusalem via bus is an archeological park that was established back in 2013. It's huge, and was an important administrative city to the Romans, Egyptians, and various other empires for thousands of years until an earthquake destroyed it in 749 AD. It's also famous for being the place where King Saul and three of his sons were hung from the walls.

Since then, villages have come and gone over the ruins. But it never returned to its original magnificence.

The city had everything you'd expect, including a 7,000-seat theater, shops, temples, and a bathhouse. It's so well preserved in fact that the streets still retain their names.

You can easily find proof of all the times the city changed hands -- there are Roman inscriptions everywhere, but up on the hill you'll find the Egyptian governor's house, which has Egyptian hieroglyphics.

The technology was incredibly advanced. We saw the heating system that was built under the smaller bathhouse. They would light a flame and then it's heat would travel through the columns, under the floor.

And of course any Israeli experience wouldn't be complete without a conversation with a local (they find us, and we Americans are not complaining).

We spoke with a man who worked on excavating the site as part of his army service long ago. He explained to us that what we see today may just be the tip of the iceberg. It's believed that there are many more artifacts and structures to uncover. But sadly, there's not enough funding available to continue digging.

I definitely recommend a visit. It only took us about two hours and is very user-friendly. And if you want, just fifteen minutes away is Sachne, a natural pool that stays a constant 82F (28C). Just be careful -- the fish nibble!