Ein Karem by GabLabCebu
Ein Karem is a pleasant little village at the edge of Jerusalem, best known for being the birthplace of John the Baptist, and home to the Church of the Visitation and the Church of St. John the Baptist. It was for these 2 churches that I visited Ein Karem back in May 2018. The Church of the Visitation has a 2-story main structure, with the lower floor housing Byzantine-era remains, and the upper floor being the main body of the church. The structure is from the 1950s, and a visit involves a short walk up the hill it's situated on. The Church of St. John the Baptist is a bit less modern in design and structure, having a much older structure, but the interior is decorated with Spanish-style tiles and groin vaults on the ceilings. The village itself seems to be composed of structures from the late Ottoman period, forming a nice little ensemble, further enhanced by the surrounding agricultural terraces and thick forests. However, it doesn't seem to be unique even in the region, with many towns displaying Ottoman and Levantine architecture and Battir beating it to the Levantine agricultural landscape niche of World Heritage Sites. Without the Christian significance, I can't say Ein Karem is a must-see or worthy of World Heritage status as the churches, village, and surroundings, though great places to visit, lack a unique tangible OUV.