Rafidia Village

Description of the site: a small village located on the western side of the city of Nablus and part of its modern suburbs, built on the northwestern slopes of Mount Gerizim on a semi-flat land. Its fertile agricultural lands and many springs, including Ein Al-Bassa, Ein Awida, Al-Ein Al-Sharqiya, and others, distinguish it as those springs helped in the diversity of plantations, crops such as olive trees, citrus fruits, and vegetables of all kinds. Then agriculture declined and disappeared entirely due to the urban expansion of all the village lands. The oldest archaeological evidence in the village dates back to the Byzantine period, represented by the remains of mosaic floors, some pottery shards, and tombs dating back to that period. The village witnessed extensive reconstruction during the Crusader period, including a church and other buildings.The historical center includes several traditional buildings dating back to the Ottoman period, the most important of which are the old Rafidia Mosque, Musa al-Habashi Church, and several heritage residential houses, some of them have been recently restored and rehabilitated, such as Al-Hamam Al-Shami, the Guesthouse of Rafidia, and Dar Al-Dawan which was rehabilitated as Awtar Cultural Center.The village witnessed an early educational renaissance in the 1940s, represented by the establishment of several schools for boys and girls, some affiliated with Christian associations. The village's lands currently embrace the most prominent Palestinian university, An-Najah National University. Rafidia has become the most important residential, and commercial center for Nablus.Rafidia village community consists of Muslims and Christians. Among the oldest Muslim families are the Hassouna and the Abu Al-Saud families, whose origins go back to the village of Kafr Qaddum. The Christian families are composed of three families: the Hazeem family, the Awida family, and the Fouda family. Several historic buildings were restored and rehabilitated as modern restaurants and cafes.