To encourage travel to the Holy Land and help travelers to have an authentic experience that is as close as possible to local realities, also by supporting them economically, Pro Terra Sancta has opened five Guesthousesin the heart of the historic cities of the Holy Land.
A Guesthouse is a "guest's home": the guest is offered a stay including breakfast, together with the possibility of inhabiting the spaces of the Guesthouse in a flexible way, as if it was his own home. One of the most important aspects of the Pro Terra Sancta project is that the guest, staying in one of our Guesthouses, contributes directly to the financing of local social and welfare works: part of the proceeds are in fact allocated to the support of the works of charity that are part of the Association's network, or to help the local families directly involved in the management of the facilities.
The five Pro Terra Sancta guesthouses are located one in Jerusalem, two in Bethlehem, and two in two small villages in Samaria.
Guesthouse Dar Mamilla
In Jerusalem there is the Guesthouse Dar Mamilla, the "house of Mamilla", opened inside some renovated rooms of the convent of the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul. The integration of the Guesthouse and the convent is not limited to the sharing of spaces: the goal of the activity, in fact, is not only to host visitors from all over the world, but also to help the work of the nuns of the convent. A part of the proceeds of Dar Mamilla is destined to financing the social projects that the nuns manage in Jerusalem, as well as paying the rent of the premises and contributing to the costs of maintaining and renovating the convent: it is a nursery and a reception and assistance centre for people with disabilities..
Guesthouse Dar al-Majus
In Bethlehem, at the Dar Al-Majus Community Home, a stone's throw from the Basilica of the Nativity, is the Dar al-Majus Guesthouse, the "house of the Magi" ("Majus" is the Arabic word for "Magi", "Dar" for "house"). The location is strategic for visiting the most beautiful areas of the city, and the operation of the structure is guaranteed by the collaboration with two Palestinian families who welcome guests and prepare typical dishes for those who request it. In addition, part of the proceeds will be used to support the local projects of Pro Terra Sancta.
Guesthouse Dar Essideh
Also in Bethlehem it is possible to stay in another structure, the "lady's house" ("Essideh" is the "lady" in Arabic): the name derives from the street in which it is located, linked to Mary. The location of the Guesthouse is in fact very close to the road that leads to the Milk Grotto, identified by some as a place where Mary and Joseph stopped, during their flight to Egypt, to rest and feed the child; the white color of the rocks would derive from the drops of milk that fell, in the haste, from Mary's womb. Also in this structure it is possible to have an authentic experience and financially support the active projects of our Association.
Mosaic Guesthouses
Among the rolling hills of the Samaria region lie the small villages of Sebastia and Nisif Jubeil, where one of the Mosaic Centre's arts and crafts centres is located. Here there are also the two Mosaic Guesthouses, which take their name from the center: immersed in the green of the grassy slopes of Samaria, they welcome visitors in rooms carved directly into the stone, and allow you to comfortably visit the archaeological sites of the area. The two guesthouses support the works of the Mosaic Centre, helping to keep alive a traditional technique of Palestinian art and to support local artisans and artisans.
