The region of Sebastia, its surroundings, archaeological sites, and the historic town is considered to be one of the   main tourist attractions in Palestine. It is included in the preliminary list of the cultural and natural heritage sites of universal value in Palestine and has been classified as a site of Outstanding Universal Value by UNESCO.

The journey from Nablus to Sebastia takes about 20-25 minutes. At the end of Felasteen street there is a special parking lot for the public vehicles which transport passengers to the town of Sebastia. (Alternatively, the visitor can order a private taxi cab from one of the accredited offices).

Visitors are advised to tour the archaeological site in the afternoon. Alternatively, they might wish to start their visit in the early morning to avoid the hot sun.

Location and History

The Town of Sebastia is located 12 km. to the north west of Nablus city. It is at the intersection of the Palestinian coastal plain road with the northern one linking Nablus - Jenin. The Town’s location gives it a very beautiful view over the surrounding hills which are planted with olive trees and all kinds of almonds, peaches and apricots. The site of Sebastia rises about 450 m. above sea level.

There were several names for this town, the first of which dates back to the second Iron Age, when it was founded.  Its name had been - Samaria - and the origin of the name goes back to the original owner of the Can’anite hill, whose name had been - Shamer – the name stands for “the guard”, according to the ancient Can’anite language. This is according to the first book of The Kings: 16:24.

It is believed that Sebastia had been erected on the spot on which the town of Samaria was located, Samaria dating back to the year (885-874 BC). It had been mentioned as “The Kingdom of Amri”, and on the plate of the Moabite king Mesha’ it had been named as (Yesrel). In reference to king Amri, he had built the town and made it the capital of his kingdom. This plate is being displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris. It dates back to about the year 840 BC.

Another name, according to what had been found at the obelisk of the Assyrian king Shalam Nassar III, is displayed in the British Museum. This obelisk dates back to around 825 BC. and was referred to as Sebastia, "The House of Amri". This had been the ruling family of the capital of the kingdom of Yesrel.

When Emperor Octavian had presented Sebastia as a gift to king Herod, in 30 BC, to rule it as part of the Roman Empire, and when the Roman Senate called Emperor Octavian “Augustus” in 27 BC, King Herod called the town “Sebaste”, in honor of Emperor Augustus. According to the ancient Greek language, it means “revered”, from which the name Sebastia has been derived.

The numerous archaeological excavations carried out at the site since the beginning of the twentieth century showed that the oldest archaeological evidence dates back to the Early Bronze Age (3200 BC). A number of the town’s landmarks dating back to the Iron Age II - the Ninth and Eighth centuries BC – had been discovered. They included the upper town "The Acropolis" encircled by the surrounding defensive walls. The archaeological site within the wall contains the royal palace compound and a central courtyard.

Sebastia had been an important political and administrative capital during the Iron Age II (900-538 BC). The city had fallen in the year 722 BC under the control of the Assyrians. In the Assyrian period, Sebastia had been a regional ruling center. Later on, it had been under Persian rule in the period between 538-332 BC. Sebastia had continued to perform its administrative role during the Hellenistic period (332-63 BC) after its subjugation by Alexander the Great. Huge fortifications had been built around the upper town "The Acropolis". Circular towers at the gates were built then.

After the subjugation of Sebastia to Roman rule (63 BC - 324 AD), the town became part of the province of Syria. Emperor Septimius Severus had granted it the administrative status of "Cologne" in the year 200 AD.

During the Roman period the town witnessed the implementation of huge construction projects; such as the wall, the western gate, and the colonnaded street. They all had been built in addition to the basilica, "the market", the public arena, the theatre, the temple of Augustus, the couri temple, the sports stadium, the aqueduct, and the tombs. Most of the ruins standing in the town today date back to that era. Visitors can see these sites, which include: -

Residence in Sebasitia

Visitors can stay in the al-Kayed palace, a beautiful heritage palace from the Ottoman era, or at the Mosaic guest house. They are both in the old town. Contact Mr. Ahmed Al-Kayed, mobile # 0599473646,  https://kayedpalace.wordpress.com, or the Mosaic guest house, contact Mr. Shadi Al Shaer, mobile # 0598164763.