Kafr Kanna: Churches, Crafts and Olive Oil

Kafr Kanna offers a range of cultural points of interest: an Orthodox and a Catholic church, ancient synagogue remains beneath the Catholic church, and crafts and olive oil at the Sindyanna of Galilee visitor centre. This gives you a choice between religious and historical themes and practical activities when planning your trip. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can then consider which of these interests you want to shape your stay. This makes Kafr Kanna a tangible destination without limiting your view to just one theme.

Churches and historical connections

Among the most important churches in Kafr Kanna are an Orthodox and a Catholic church. The remains of an ancient synagogue lie beneath the Catholic church. This specific spatial relationship makes the historical points of interest distinct: the synagogue remains are not separate at another location, but beneath the Catholic church. At the same time, both churches form part of the town’s religious landscape and may interest visitors to Kafr Kanna. If you want to explore the town’s cultural side, you will therefore find more than a general description of churches here: the connection between the Catholic church and the ancient remains gives the historical perspective a clearly defined focus.

Basket weaving at the visitor centre

At the Sindyanna of Galilee visitor centre, Arab women from Kana and neighbouring villages learn basket weaving. They use traditional and modern styles, as well as palm fronds, olive branches and willow rods. The centre also offers basket-weaving workshops using palm fronds and willow rods. A workshop lasts 60 minutes; special workshops can last up to three hours and are suitable for family and corporate events. This makes it possible to choose a craft activity according to your preferred timeframe: the regular workshop is shorter, while a special workshop can take considerably longer. If taking part is an important part of your stay, check the schedule in advance.

Taste and learn about olive oil

At the same visitor centre, visitors can taste olive oil made from different olive varieties and learn about traditional olive cultivation and oil production. This activity lasts 20 to 30 minutes. It combines tasting with an insight into cultivation and processing, offering a different focus from basket weaving. For travellers particularly interested in local craft techniques or olive oil, these activities offer specific themes around which to plan the day.

Your preferred pace may also play a role when choosing a holiday apartment: the olive oil tasting takes 20 to 30 minutes, the regular basket-weaving workshop 60 minutes, and special workshops up to three hours. This lets you compare the time required for activities with the rest of your travel plans, rather than treating them as interchangeable options. Confirm the schedule in advance for the activity you want to include. When deciding whether Kafr Kanna is right for your stay, you can choose from both cultural themes and a range of craft and culinary interests.

A further look at the Northern District

If you also consider the wider destination of the Northern District, Tel Megiddo adds another historical point of interest. The UNESCO World Heritage description classifies Tel Megiddo among the biblical tels, which are representative of places with significant remains of cities associated with the Bible. This thematic focus on city remains and biblical connections complements the religious and historical points of interest in Kafr Kanna, without equating the two places. When choosing a destination, you can distinguish whether you are more interested in Kafr Kanna’s churches and ancient synagogue remains or in the description of the biblical tels in the Northern District.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Umm el Ghanam, H̱aluẕ, Dishon, Misgav Am, Safsufa, Tsipori, Migdal haEmek, Nazareth Iliit.

For the wider travel overview: Northern District.