Basilica of the Annunciation
The Basilica of the Annunciation is a Catholic minor basilica in Nazareth, Israel. Designed by Giovanni Muzio in a modern architectural style, the structure stands 49 meters high. It is one of the most looked-up sights in Israel on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The climate in Nazareth varies by season. The warmest months are July and August, when daily highs reach 32 °C and lows are around 20 or 21 °C. June and September also have highs of 30 to 31 °C. The driest period is from May to September, with very little rainfall. The wettest months are January and February, which see between 136 and 173 mm of rain and daily highs between 14 and 15 °C. December also has significant rain at 136 mm.
Travelers can reach the site from Jerusalem, which is 103 km away. The nearest airport is Uri Michaeli Haifa International Airport in Haifa, located 27 km from the basilica, while Ben Gurion International Airport is 86 km away. The site is close to Mary's Well (0.6 km) and the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation (0.7 km). Other nearby locations include Sepphoris, about 6 km away, Mount Tabor, about 9 km away, and the Beit She'arim necropolis, about 16 km away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 33 °C. The wettest is January, with about 173 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 14 | 15 | 18 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 27 | 21 | 16 |
| Average low, °C | 5 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 11 | 7 |
| Rainfall, mm | 173 | 136 | 78 | 27 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 28 | 94 | 136 |
| Rainy days | 14 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 11 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
