Mentioned in the Talmud as a place of idol worship, this Gentile fishing village – discovered by chance in the early 1970s – is where Jesus is believed to have cast a contingent of demon spirits out of two men and into a herd of swine (Mark 5:1-13, Luke 8:26-39). The beautifully conserved ruins feature an impressive 5th-century Byzantine monastery.
Near the entrance, an audioguide gadget with buttons for English and Hebrew provides excellent historical background. The site should be fully wheelchair accessible by the end of 2015. This is considered a Christian holy site, so dress modestly (no bathing suits). Situated 30km from Tiberias if you go around the southern side of the Sea of Galilee and 33km if you take the highway along the northern side.
