Nachlaot Neighborhood, Jerusalem
‘Nachlaot’ (in Hebrew: ‘Colonies’) is the collective name for over 23 neighborhoods formed in western Jerusalem in the late 19th and early 20th centuries CE. These early Jewish neighborhoods outside Jerusalem’s Old City are historical landmarks. They represent an essential chapter in the history of the Zionist Movement and the history of Jerusalem.
History of Nachlaot
The first neighborhood of Nachlaot was formed in 1875 on the side of the main road from Jerusalem to Jaffa (Jaffa road). Gradually, more properties were purchased along the road, grouping them into one big region callen Nachlaot. Its commercial center, Mahane Yudah Market, is now a popular tourist attraction.
Touring Nachlaot
Due to its central location and gentrification, housing prices in Nachlaot are rising. Nevertheless, a strict conservation policy preserves its original appearance – narrow lanes among stone-built structures, hidden courtyards, and several small-scale synagogues. Nachlaot is a popular tourist destination, especially on the high Jewish holidays of Yom-Kippur and Hannukah.
A tour of Nachlaot can be combined with a guided day tour of Jerusalem.
