Jaffa is one of the oldest port cities in the world. Jaffa has a place in Greek mythology in the story of Andromeda, in the Hebrew Bible as the place from which Jonah sailed before being swallowed by the whale, and in the New Testament as where the miracle of rising of Tabitha took place and the home of Simon the Tanner. The city has been conquered and ruled by ancient Egyptians, Canaanites, Israelites, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Mamelukes, Turks, British and the State of Israel. Why, even Napoleon conquered the city for a time. With all these cultures leaving their mark on the city there sure is a lot to see.

During this tour we will visit the following sites:

Clock Tower Circle – The Clock Tower has become one of the best-known sites in Jaffa. We’ll talk about who built it and why. We’ll also talk about the surrounding buildings such as the Turkish administrative center and jail and the events that took place here.

Between the Clock Tower and the Sea – We’ll visit the Turkish Sabil and see the remains of the city’s walls and gates. This is where pilgrims, both Christian and Jewish, disembarked and started their journey in the Holy Land in days gone by.

Walk Along the Sea Front – Besides the great view of Tel Aviv to the north, the sea front is the place to hear why the rocks in the ocean are connected to Andromeda, a lovely Greek princess. We’ll pass by the Mosque of the Sea and the Armenian Monastery, which is connected to Napoléon’s capture of the city in 1799.

The Port – This is the best place to talk about the part Jaffa played in the Hebrew Bible’s narrative about Jonah and the Whale and Kings Solomon’s Temple. We’ll discuss the part the port played during the British Mandate and War of Independence. Besides history, the port area boasts many fish restaurants, a theater run by deaf and blind individuals and a lighthouse.

The Old City - We’ll wander around the old Turkish era buildings were we can visit some of the art galleries and see how the artist create their masterpieces. We’ll talk about St Peter, Tabitha and Simon the Tanner near the locations where the events are said to have taken place.

Tel Yafo – Dominating the old city is the tel, a high hill, the oldest part of Jaffa, where we can see ruins of Canaanite structures and Egyptian city gates. There’s also a wishing bridge and a modern gate sculpted by an Israeli artist here.

Kedumim Square – The central square of Old Jaffa. We’ll see the Zodiac Fountain and visit the beautiful Church of St. Peter , one of the nicest churches in Israel. There is also an option to go underground for the Jaffa Tales show which takes place among the archeological finding below the square.

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