The Mount of the Temptation sits 350 meters (1,150 feet) above sea level in the middle of a desert extending between Jerusalem, Jericho and the Jordan River. Its name refers to the time Jesus allegedly went off to a mountain to pray and was tempted by the devil. It is also called Jabal al-Quruntal or Monastery of the Temptation built the Byzantines in the sixth century AD. After the Crusaders occupied the monastery, two churches were built, one in a cave and another on the top of the mountain.
The West Bank city of Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world, sits 250 meters (820 feet) below sea level. Visited by Palestinians and tourists from all over the world, it is home to many archaeological sites, including Hisham’s Palace, which boasts a huge mosaic floor and several monasteries, including Deir Hajla and Deir Wadi Qelt.
