Photo Elia is an old-school photography shop in the Christian Quarter. An Armenian family has run it for three generations, and it is mainly known for its unique old prints of Jerusalem.

History of Photo Elia

Elia Photo was founded by Elia Kahvedjian, an Armenian orphaned as a child during the First World War and brought to Nazareth by the ANERF – the American Near East Relief Foundation. In his school in Nazareth, Elia developed photography and photo development skills. He eventually became a Photography teacher apprentice. As an adult, Elia moved to Jerusalem, and by 1947, he ran three photography shops. Elia took photos of Jerusalem and its environs in his free time, capturing Jerusalem’s memorable moments and daily life. In 1948, Elia moved to a single shop in the old city, the one owned by the family to this day.

In the 1990s, Elia’s son, George, started selling framed prints of his father’s photos. The shop became known for its exceptional photographic art works, and it is the shop’s main attraction today.

Visiting Photo Elia Shop

Today, the shop is run by Eli, Elia’s grandson. He is very friendly and passionately presents his grandfather’s work and talent.

A visit to Elia Photo photography shop can be integrated into a day tour of Jerusalem.