Jericho, lies in the Jordan Valley, about 390 m. below sea level and has warm and pleasant winters. It was, chosen as the site for the winter palaces of King Herod, in the Second Temple period.
The remains of the palaces, cover an extensive area on both sides of Wadi Qelt. Excavations conducted over a period of 15 years beginning in 1973, revealed a series of royal palaces, built successively one on top of the other, or adjacent to earlier structures. The excavations uncovered the complex plans of the palaces, as well as evidence of the opulent life at court.