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Druze villages
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Around the village
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A tour of Peki’in begins even before you enter the village. Going up Road 864 (Peki’in- Rama) you will enjoy a splendid view of Peki’in Valley and the village itself, with its enchanted, vine-covered houses. Facing you are the red-tiled roofs of Mitzpeh Harashim and the Peki’in’s discharged servicemen’s neighborhood, while to the west is Kfar Vradim. Descend along a smooth stairway nestling in the shade of might oaks and carobs down to the cave of Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yohai. According to legend the sage hid here from the Romans for 13 years, together with his son Elazar, during the Bar-Kokhba Revolt. Here they studied the Torah and Kabbalah, living off the fruit of the carob tree and the water of the spring. Going further down the stairway you will arrive at a narrow alley and turn to its left. A short walk will bring you to the house of the mukhtar, with its magnificent stone façade. Until the local authority was established in 1958 this was the home of the village chief. From here proceed along the beautiful alleyway leading to the spring square, passing the eastern quarter’s Druze house of prayer. Enjoy a rest in the shade of the mullberry tree at Ein al-Balad (Arab. for Spring Square) or by the spring stairs. Many of the village’s restaurants and cafés are located here. Also recommended is a walk to the nearby Teacher’s House, located in the restored mill. The next stop is the synagogue. On your way there stop to admire the 19th century Greek Orthodox Church, built on the remains of a Byzantine chapel. Afterwards enter the narrow alley leading to the ancient village nucleus, where the settlement’s multicultural character is most visible. To the right are the houses of the Muslim Darwish family; to the left is the house of the Jewish Zanati family; hard by are the homesteads of the Christian Sakhninis and the Druze Saidas. A walk down the alley will bring you to the old Jewish school. Turning left at this site you will arrive at the restored oil press; its small museum is ideal for a cup of herbal tea spiced with nostalgic tales of the bygone age of oil production. The unique Peki’in experience is made complete at the art gallery established by sculpture Harubi, local resident Riar Gadban’s (open) house, the tomb of Hoshaya of Tiria, the orchard beehive and the al-Zaytun oil press.
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