At times, Israel can seem like a country obsessed by spirituality. In Jerusalem, you may hear the Muslim call to prayer competing with the clanging of bells from Christian churches and the prayers of Jews before the Western Wall. In other parts of the country, you'll find yourself walking in the exact places where the events of the Bible unfolded. Everywhere you turn, you'll see reminders of the three religions - Islam, Judaism and Christianity - that have shaped this part of the world.

The Holy Land is about the size of New Jersey in the USA or Wales in the UK. It is quite a small country. The main features are a coastal plain including Haifa and Tel Aviv. Parallel to this runs a range of mountains with Jerusalem and Bethlehem, rising to about 750m or 3000 feet. This is followed by the rift of the Jordan Valley, dropping to around 400 m below sea level.