Ein Karem, revered as the birthplace of Saint John the Baptist and the site of Mary's visitation to Elizabeth, blends deep religious heritage with the charm of a picturesque, pastoral village favored by visitors today. Set in a wooded valley on the western edge of Jerusalem and now within the city's boundaries, it takes its name from the spring at its centre, long known to pilgrims as Mary's Spring. Churches and convents of the Franciscan, Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox traditions occupy the surrounding slopes, among them the Church of Saint John the Baptist and the Church of the Visitation. Stone houses, terraced gardens and cypress-lined lanes have made the village a favourite of artists and walkers as well as pilgrims.
