Nazareth, Chapel of St. Joseph, Basilica of the Annunciation

We tour the area around the Basilica of the Annunciation, located in Nazareth in northern Israel. Adjacent to the Basilica is the Chapel of St. Joseph, built on the site where he was thought to have had his carpentry shop or later, the home of the Holy Family.

The Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth is a 2 story building, where the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to the son of God. You may remember from Part 3, the Greek Orthodox believe this happened closer to Mary's well. A church was first made on today's Basilica site in the Crusader-era, and then rebuilt in the Byzantine-era. The structure today was last rebuilt in 1969.

Under the Basilica is a lower church, thought to be at the site where exists the remains of Mary's childhood home. It was raining this entire day as you'll see in the photos.