Ramallah & Al-Bireh

Ramallah & Al-Bireh

Ramallah:

The name Ramallah consists of two parts: Ram and Allah. Ram or Ramah is an Aramaic word meaning a high place and Allah is the name of majesty. This name was used in the Islamic period, while in the Crusader period it was known as “Ramilia”.

Nestled 16 kilometers north of Jerusalem at an elevation of 900 meters, Ramallah is a Palestinian city that has earned the moniker "Bride of Palestine" for its breathtaking natural beauty. Adjacent to the city of Al Bireh, Ramallah is widely regarded as the most affluent, cultural, and progressive of all Palestinian urban centers.

The city's pleasant, temperate climate has long made it a popular summer retreat, attracting a thriving creative class of Palestinian activists; poets, artists, and musicians who have helped shape its vibrant cultural landscape. Remnants of the past also dot Ramallah's cityscape, such as the 12th century French Crusader stronghold which is still standing in the old quarter.

Today, Ramallah offers visitors a wealth of modern amenities, from a bustling town center and acclaimed museums to art galleries, theaters, and an array of high-end restaurants and accommodations. Complementing these urban attractions are lush public parks and a welcoming, friendly populace, making Ramallah a compelling destination for those seeking to immerse themselves in the dynamic heart of Palestinian life.

Whether drawn by the city's natural charms, cultural vitality, or cosmopolitan comforts, travelers to Ramallah are sure to be captivated by this multifaceted gem at the center of Palestine.

Al-Bireh

The name Al-Bireh was given to the sites and places where they used to speak or utter Aramaic, and therefore Al-Bireh is a translation of the Aramaic word (Berta); it is also known as the castle or fortress.

Al-Bireh is located 16 km north of Jerusalem, on the central ridge between Jerusalem and Nablus. It is situated on a cliff 800 meters above sea level.

The city includes remains dating back to different civilizational periods (Byzantine, Crusader, Mamluk, and Ottoman), while the old town has many archaeological monuments such as a khan, a church, and some religious shrines, in addition to ancient buildings. Therefore, you can sense the mixture between old and modern architecture. Al-Bireh is famous for its many springs and monuments, some of which were used for drinking water, such as Ain Al-Jame' (the mosque spring), which is one of the essential springs in Al-Bireh, some springs were used for irrigation, and some of them were used for grinding grain through water mills, such as Al-Jinan springs; which It is four springs near Al-Sheikh Najm spring, south of Al-Bireh, and a water mill was built on the valley's streams to flow extra water for the town. Currently, most of the springs of Al-Bireh have dried, but only a few remain, such as Ain El-Jame', Ain Sidi Shayban, Ain Umm Al-Sharait, and Ain Al-Jinan.

The history of the first archaeological evidence found at Al-Bireh dates back to the Bronze Age, where the settlements still appear. Next to Al-Bireh-Nablus Street, the remnants of a Crusader church were found in the center of the old city of Al-Bireh. And on the western side of Jerusalem Street is the archaeological site of Tal Al-Nasbah, which was prospected during the twenties and thirties of this century. And as an active town, during the seventeenth century AD, Al-Bireh welcomed immigrants from Al-Karak, Jordan, where Hussein Tanash and his people came to Al-Bireh.

Al Bireh is considered a tourist attraction because of its weather, and people think it is a summer resort. This immigration process stopped after its occupation in 1967. However, it maintains close relations with the large expatriate Palestinian-American communities.
After 1948, the city received many displaced Palestinians from neighboring cities such as Lod, Ramleh, Jaffa, and others.