A private tour of Jaffa, Tel-Aviv and Caesarea offers a perfect combination of significant ancient and modern sites along the Mediterranean coast. On one hand the cosmopolitical city of Tel-Aviv, the most vibrant city in Israel, followed by old Jaffa and its port, and Caesarea, a metropolis in Roman times.
Tel-Aviv was founded on a sand dune outside Jaffa in 1909 by 60 Jewish families. Today, Rothschild boulevard, the most prime real-estate in all of Israel, marks that spot. We drive along the boulevard and review its historical buildings, and visit the ‘Independence Hall‘, on Rothschild 16. Here, on May 14th 1948, David Ben-Gurion read the declaration of the state of Israel, renewing Jewish sovereignty after 2,000 years. We will continue to Neve Tsedek, the well regentrified Jewish colony that preceded Tel-Aviv, and then head to Jaffa.
Contrary to modern Tel-Aviv, Jaffa has over 4000 years of history. At the Ramses II’s Gate garden we learn about Jaffa in Pharaonic times, and then stroll through its cobbled alleys, appreciating a myriad of arts and crafts galleries. At Jaffa’s port we could stop for a coffee break, and learn facing Andromeda’s Rock, we learn about Jaffa’s roll in Greek Mythology. Nearby, the traditional site of house of Simon the tanner is a good place to realize Jaffa’s pivotal roll in Christian history as well.
A 45 minutes’ drive from Tel-Aviv will get us to the national park of Caesarea. Here, in the 1st century BCE, King Herod ‘the Great’ founded a new city and port, naming it after his Imperial patron – the Romans. The city thrived for over a millennia before its final abandonment. Today, Caesarea’s rich remains are only partially uncovered, and yet they present a genuine testimony to its rich and long past. We start with a visit to Caesarea’s port, where we can also have a lunch break. When built, it was the biggest man-made port in the Roman empire. Today, most of the city’s port is sunken, but it can be appreciated by snorkeling or scuba-diving. Some of the port’s former warehouses were recently developed into a modern-style visitor center, and there are also a few popular arts and crafts galleries. South of the port, some of Caesarea’s popular ancient entertainment facilities are well exposed today. They include the City’s main bath house, a unique hippo-stadium, and a fully restored theatre. At its southern end is also Herod’s promontory palace, which may have been also the location of Paul’s prison. Great way to end a great day of touring!
If you wish to add some special activities in Caesarea we can offer the following:
EZRaider – A 2-hour extreme tour experience of driving in special mini ATV apt for sand dunes. The tour mostly explores mostly the perimeter of the Caesarea’s national park, including the Birds Mosaic Mansion, the aqueduct, The Synagogue, the Eastern Hippodrome, ending near Caesarea’s golf course.
Snorkeling – The submerged port of Caesarea can still be appreciated by snorkeling or scuba diving along the sunken harbor. Caesarea’s underwater archaeological park, the first of its kind in the world, is about 40 acres in size. It contains 25 points of interest, that includes ruins of the port, ancient anchors, and a sunken ship from the early 20th century.
Powered parachute flights – The ultimate extreme tour experience for Caesarea! The special aircraft takes off from the sites’ parking lot and flies low and slow above Caesarea’s antiquities and along the coastline. This experience guarantees an adrenalin rush and stunning views of one of the most beautiful views in Israel!
Te-Aviv is named after the Hebrew title of Theodor Herzl’s utopic manifest about a Jewish state. The name ‘Tel-Aviv’ is first mentioned in Ezekiel 3:15 as a placename somewhere in today’s modern Iraq.
