Sebastia

Perched on a hilltop 12 kilometres northwest of Nablus, Sebastia is one of the most layered archaeological sites in the West Bank. Known as Samaria in the Iron Age, the city was founded around 880 BCE by King Omri as the capital of the northern Kingdom of Israel and remained an important centre under Assyrian, Persian, and Hellenistic rule. Herod the Great rebuilt it in grand Roman style around 27 BCE, renaming it Sebastia in honour of the Emperor Augustus and settling 6,000 veteran colonists within its walls. Emperor Septimius Severus elevated it to the status of colonia in 200 CE, adding a basilica, stadium, and the magnificent colonnaded street whose 600 Corinthian columns stretched 800 metres across the plateau.

The site rewards unhurried exploration. The Roman theatre, dated to the early 3rd century CE and capable of seating 7,000, sits on the northern slope of the acropolis, while the foundations of Omri's royal palace occupy the summit alongside the temple Herod dedicated to Augustus. In the village below, the Nabi Yahya Mosque — converted from a Crusader church in 1225 CE — incorporates the chamber venerated since the 4th century as the burial place of John the Baptist, a tradition shared by Christian and Muslim pilgrims alike.

Sebastia lies 12 kilometres northwest of Nablus city centre along a scenic hill road through olive groves, making it a straightforward half-day excursion from Nablus or Ramallah. The site is open to visitors and is under the joint administration of the Palestinian Authority; entry fees are modest and a small visitor centre near the mosque provides context. The village also hosts a guesthouse, making an overnight stay possible for those wishing to explore the surrounding Samaritan highlands at a leisurely pace.