The magic of old Jaffa
Some say that the city of Jaffa was established around 7500 BCE, some say it’s 4000 years old, in any case, that’s a long time ago. During the years, rulers and kings, sultans and generals conquered the city and left it but one thing stayed – The magic of Jaffa.
old Jaffa
Only people that visited this wonderful place can truly understand it’s unique charm and ambiance, even in our days where progress and technology combine with the past.
We thought of bringing you some “must see” places in Jaffa, some more known than others but all very special.
1. St. Anthony’s Catholic Church
St. Anthony’s Church on 51 Yefet Street belongs to the Franciscan Order in the Catholic Church which the pope assigned the task of preserving the Holy Places in Israel to.
The church was built in 1932 to serve the Christian Catholic community that lived outside Old Jaffa. At Christmas, there is also a mass that combines Hebrew and Arabic.
2. The old train inside the “Hatahana” area
In 1892 the construction of the first railway line in Palestine, which connected the port city of Jaffa with Jerusalem, was completed. The initiative to build the train was made by the Turkish government, which sought to improve the infrastructure in Israel and thus promote its economy.
Among the famous travelers are Benjamin Ze’ev Herzl and Kaiser Wilhelm II.
The old station was restored recently and today you can enjoy many restaurants and shops around it.
3. “Gesher” theater and Noga neighborhood:
During the British Mandate, Jerusalem Boulevard (then King George Boulevard) became the main commercial and entertainment area of Jaffa and one of the main attractions was a building that is today the home of “Gesher Theater”, which is considered one of the pillars of modern Israeli theater.
In this magical area, there are a lot of restaurants and coffee shops so enjoy a good meal or coffee while you’re there.
4. The hanging tree
An environmental sculpture from artist Ran Morin. The sculpture is located between the narrow allies of the old city (in which only artists are permitted to live in).
By portraying a tree that is both hanging from the air and almost bursting in its vase, Morin is looking to symbolize the detachment of men from nature.
5. Anna Loulou bar
A chill, hipster bar with great atmosphere. The special thing about Hanalulu is that everybody is invited. Jews, Palestinians, gays and straight, you can find them all there. A few time a week they have local live bands and the vibe is cool.
Hope you’ll visit those cool historical places and enjoy a good story.