City of Jaffa, Israel: attractions, photo

The city of Jaffa, Israel (it is also called Jaffa), is one of the oldest in the country. Once upon a time, back in antiquity, it was the main port of the state to the Mediterranean. The history of the city begins during the reign of Egyptian kings and Roman authorities. Today, in Jaffa, mainly, the Arab-speaking population lives. In addition, the city itself is currently included in Tel Aviv. Jaffa (Israel) allows you to relax from the bustle of modern life, as well as get acquainted with local attractions. There is a wonderful view of the sea. In the suburbs you can find many cozy restaurants and cafes, atmospheric narrow streets and architectural monuments. All this creates a unique color of the seaside Jaffa. What else is famous for this town in Israel? About his legends and sights, we will tell in this publication.

Legends of the city

With Jaffa (Israel), a photo of which you can see below, there are several legends. Some explain the name of the city, while in others it is about the history of local sights. So, there are several variants of the origin of the word "Jaffa". According to one version of the legend, the name comes from the name of Japhet, who was the son of the biblical Noah. According to ancient Greek myths, some associate the history of the word with the mother of Andromeda, called Cassiopeia. However, in our time, the most reliable option seems to be that the name was borrowed from the old Jewish language. And the word is translated as "beautiful".

There is also a belief that if a person touches his zodiacal symbol on the local bridge of desires, then he looks afar, then his dream will come true.

How to get to Jaffa from Tel Aviv?

From the central part of Tel Aviv, you can get here by taxi. Up to Jaffa it will cost from 30 to 40 ILS. In addition, you can get there by public transport. For example, from the station of Hahagan or central Merkazit station there is a bus number 46. The journey will cost 13 ILS. Route taxi number 16 takes you to the waterfront, where you will have to walk a little more to the old suburbs. It is best to go to the station called Arlozorov.

There is also another option: to walk along the coast from the central part of Tel Aviv to Jaffa. But this is relevant only for those who do not seem burdensome to walk the whole 2.5 km.

Old and New Town

Jaffa is divided into two parts. It's Old and New City. Most tourists like the first part, in which you can admire the famous architectural monuments, visit the galleries and interesting shops. Mostly, it's the west of Jepheth Street, which is on the dais. From here you can see the sea coast. The new part of the city is located in the east of the same street. Here you can travel by bus, but most travelers prefer to travel on foot to view the sights, and travel only to the suburbs.

Historical reference

For the first time the city is mentioned in sources that existed before BC. E. For example, Jaffa is found in the chronicles of the time of the Egyptian pharaoh named Thutmose III.

There are legends that it was in these parts of Noah that the legendary ark was built, and King Solomon set up wood supplies to build the famous First Temple in the future. It was he who was the only place at that time in which the faithful Jews could pray. The present Kotel is the remnants of the Second Temple, which has survived in this form to the present day. For a long period of time, Jaffa submitted to Rome, then to Egypt (including during the time of Cleopatra), to the Arabs, and Napoleon also visited this city.

Obviously, it is because of the incessant wars and conquests that the historical appearance of these places is lost. However, what has come to us is valuable from a cultural point of view. At first Tel Aviv was considered a suburb, but later it became the center, and the old city entered in 1949 into a single settlement.

Jaffa, Israel: attractions that deserve everyone's attention

In the 90s, a large-scale restoration was carried out here, galleries and theaters, shops and cafes were opened, and several streets for pedestrians were built. Old Jaffa (Israel) has become an atmospheric romantic suburb on the sea coast. The city has a lot of historical and cultural attractions, attracting the attention of numerous tourists and even pilgrims.

For example, the Al-Bahr mosque, which appeared in the painting by an artist named Lebrun in the last third of the 17th century. It is the oldest in the village. The hourly square is famous for its picturesque clock tower, which was built in 1906, and it was done in honor of Abdul-Hamid II. Later, he was deposed during the events of the Young Turk revolution.

Most of the found by archaeologists in this area lay in the land of the Jaffa hill. Here the Egyptian gates were restored, the age of which is estimated at 3500 years. In the house of the XVIII century, which was built on the remnants of the fortress structure of the Crusaders, today is the local museum.

What to do for tourists in the city?

In the private gallery of Farkash, there is the largest collection of historical posters in Israel. Fans of such things can visit this place and discover a lot of new things.

In addition to viewing historical monuments, the traveler can also visit the local flea market. Buy here, like antiques, and cheap clothing made of natural cotton fabric. On the other, the port market you can buy fresh seafood. Also, Jaffa is famous for famous hummus, which according to the population of Tel Aviv, can be considered the most delicious in the country.

Orthodox Church of St. Peter

In Jaffa, there is a Russian church that obeys the Moscow Patriarchate. The temple was built on the ground, which was bought with the assistance of A. Kapustin (archimandrite) in the second half of the 19th century.

But even before the erection of the church on this site there was a house for pilgrims, in which pilgrims who professed Orthodoxy were received.

The walls of the temple are painted with scenes from the life of saints. For example, the level of the choirs and the top of the altar pillars are decorated with images of ten of the twelve apostles, and the rest of the church - paintings with Paul and Peter.

Excavations in the garden area under the leadership of Archimandrite and architect from Jerusalem K. Shick helped find the burial of the righteous Tabitha, which preserved a mosaic of the Byzantine times from the 5th to 6th centuries. Later on this place was built a chapel.

Catholic Church

In Jaffa (Israel), the Church of St. Peter was built not only by Orthodox Christians. There is also the Catholic Church of the Order of the Franciscans. It was built in the 17th century. Then more than a hundred years later the temple was destroyed, and later it was two times restored.

The modern view of the church was given in the period 1888-1894, and the last renovation dates back to 1903.

Today the temple is open every day. Divine services are held in different languages - Spanish, Latin, and many others. The church is visited by a large number of workers from Poland, who travel here on Saturday (that is, on weekends).

The facade of the temple has a bright orange color, and the belltower is distinguished by a high altitude. That is why the church of St. Peter is, in a way, the landmarks in an ancient suburb.

Apart from the murals with the righteous Tavitha and Francis of Assisi, many of the stained glass windows depict scenes from the life of saints from Spain. This is due to the fact that the current construction was built on the money of this country. The Church of St. Peter the Apostle includes the territory with the ruins of the fortress of St. Louis of the 13th century.

There is evidence that it was here that Napoleon himself stopped during the Egyptian campaigns.

The temple was built on this site because Old Jaffa means a lot to Christians around the world. Here, according to tradition, the righteous Tabitha (or Tabitha, as they are also called), who was a disciple of Jesus Christ, was resurrected by St. Peter.