Masada is one of Israel's great historic sites: a desert fortress on a high plateau above the Dead Sea. It is best known for the Roman siege during the First Jewish-Roman War, when the last defenders held out after Jerusalem had fallen.
The site is powerful even before the history catches up with you. You can climb before dawn for sunrise or take the cable car during operating hours. At the top are palace remains, cisterns, fortifications, and wide views over the Dead Sea and the surrounding desert.