Mater Ecclesiae Centre

Built in 1908, this was the first building outside Tiberias’ city walls. Until World War I the Turks prohibited construction outside the walls lest the buildings be used against the city during a siege. The Catholics overcame the prohibition by bribing Turkish officials. For a time it was used as a girls’ boarding school, then as a pilgrim hostel. During World War I it was converted to a hospital. Today it is run by an American Catholic organisation as a study centre for Asian and African nuns.