At the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in the marvelous country of Israel, tourists can visit the most important port in the region during the ancient times – Jaffa. Currently, this is a modern city with a mostly Arabian-speaking population. Do you want to enjoy a vacation away from the noise and urban stress? Jaffa is an ideal choice in this case. Moreover, the settlement itself is an important landmark that is worth exploring. It is incredibly pleasant to admire the breathtaking sea views, visit charming cafes, and eat delicious fish dishes in local restaurants. The city is active but it hasn’t lost its cozy atmosphere.
The first settlement on the site of modern Jaffa appeared before the 18th century BC. According to the archaeological excavations, during the invasion of the Hyksos to Egypt, there were already fortifications in this area. Written sources mentioned Jaffa already in the 15th century BC. The city was developing actively during the Roman Empire period. However, the settlement was completely destroyed during the Jewish-Roman war. Soon after that Titus Flavius Vespasianus became an emperor and the city returned to life, changing its name to Flavia Ioppa. Arabs captured the city in the 7th century. Starting from that period, Jaffa was losing its importance.
Having arrived in Jaffa, you will quickly notice that the coast of this city until Tel-Aviv is a long and never-ending beach divided into different sectors. The area with a poetic name, Alma Beach, is the closest to Jaffa. The area is quite calm and usually doesn’t have many people. However, this is not the best place for swimming because waves in Alma are usually high and the coastline is mostly concrete. As a rule, people visit Alma to take a stroll and watch how waves crash into the concrete wall. The closer you are to Tel-Aviv, the more comfortable beaches you will find.
The next beach, which borders with Alma, is the Charles Clore Beach. It borders the park that has the same name. This is a fantastic place to enjoy beach recreation and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. The coastal area has showers where visitors can wash off the sea salt. Contrary to the neighboring beach, there are rescue team stations at the Charles Clore Beach. Besides that, visitors can rent sun loungers and umbrellas. Finally, tented areas offer the much-needed shadow in the midst of a hot day. It is important to mention that all the beaches are sandy so it is comfortable to sunbathe using a beach towel. Hours spent at the Charles Clore Beach promise to be calm and trouble-free because there are usually not many people here.
The city port is a true landmark of Jaffa. What is so peculiar about it? First of all, the port is a historic landmark of this fabulous city. For many years, Jaffa was able to survive and flourish only because of its active port. This was the main center of trade in Jaffa. Numerous ships were docking in the port to trade and bring supplies to local people and the Crusaders who lived in the city. Nowadays, the port is a loud place where voices of merchants mix with the sound of the sea waves, making the area active and alive. If you are not scared of the fish smell, you can enjoy a breath-taking view of the sea from the coast.
There is a cluster of blackened rocks near the coast. These formations have a name - Andromeda Rock. According to a local legend, a powerful king and his wife Cassiopeia ruled the city many years ago. The queen was very boastful about her unrivaled beauty and made the Greek gods angry. They decided to punish her and made her daughter, Andromeda, pay for the mother’s sins. The girl was chained to a stone and left as a meal to a sea monster. Perseus saw the beautiful girl and decided to save her. Using the Gorgon Medusa’s head, he defeated the monster. Andromeda became his wife, and the rocks have got her name since that time.
There are two ways to get to Jaffa from Tel Aviv. If you don’t mind walking two and a half kilometers, you can take a stroll along the seaside and walk to Jaffa. The other way is significantly faster – use a taxi or public bus. If you have arrived in Tel Aviv by train, it is better to get on a bus in this case. It will take you to the capital’s neighborhood in minutes. Travelers can also use a public bus to the waterfront and then walk to Jaffa.