Jericho (Arabic أريحا Arīḥā Hebrew יריחו Yəriḥo) [1], the "City of Palms", is a small city within the Palestinian Territories and Israeli-occupied West Bank, close to the northern end of Dead Sea and some 55 km (34 miles) from Jerusalem. A relatively tranquil town, Jericho's recent reputation for calm and lack of security incidents in the midst of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, have made it a natural target for visitors to areas administered by the Palestinian National Authority.

Understand

The modern town of Jericho includes the ancient mound known as Tell es-Sultan, the accumulated remains of cities that have existed on the site for some 9,000 years - the Neolithic period. Archaeology reveals that Jericho is one of the oldest human settlements in the Middle East.

Jericho, of course, is probably best known for its Biblical associations: (song) "Joshua fought the battle of Jericho - and the walls came tumbling down!"

Get in

See

• Tell es-Sultan (ancient Jericho) - the large city mound is located some 2 km north-west of the modern city centre, overlooking the natural spring of Ein Sultan
• Hisham's Palace - 2 km north of modern Jericho, this winter palace was built by the Omayyad Caliph Hisham Ibn Abdul Malek, before being destroyed by eathquake soon after completion in 747 CE. The extensive site contains royal buildings, a mosque, water fountains and spectacular mosaic floors.

Do

• Take the world's longest cable-car ride to the 'Quruntul mountain'. from the precarious rocky spot you get a great view of Jericho and the Jordan Valley. There a Greek Orthodox monastery situated high in the rocks, and it is the biblical setting for Jesus' temptation by the devil.