Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine May 2021 | Page 33

Israel

Jaffa

Israel

Jaffa is an ancient port city in Israel to the south of Tel Aviv , said to date back to the time of the Great Flood . Mythological sources claim its name comes from Noah ’ s son Japheth or from Cassiopeia , the mother of Andromeda . It has both historical and strategic importance , and the passing of years has made it a wonderful tourist attraction .

ANCIENT PORT CITY
Ancient Jaffa ’ s location gave it strategic importance in battles , having a broad view of the coastline . It was established in around 1800 BCE at the very latest . It has been mentioned in an ancient Egyptian letter from 1440 BCE that tells of the conquest of the city by the Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III . It exchanged hands several times between warring factions .
After renovations , the old port of Jaffa now teems with life and activity . It houses several bookstores , cafés , nightclubs and more .
SHOPS
The flea markets of Jaffa are where you can find an eclectic mix of wares . There are Persian carpets , African design shops , amulets to ward off evil , Israeli antiques , Israeli fashion design in the mid-range and inexpensive Middle-eastern clothes . In the Old Jaffa Hostel , you can get a nap in between shopping binges .
RESTAURANTS
The best aspects of Jaffa must be its restaurants where traditional Israeli and Levantine cuisine like hummus , shawarma , shakshuka , kebab or falafel abound . Jaffa residents will swear that the best hummus you ’ ve ever tasted is sold here . Traditional Arabic cooking is prevalent as well . Great fish restaurants are scattered over the port city , alongside Romanian restaurants , European cafés , Tunisian bistros and several places that specialize in high-end fine dining . There are bars for the wine and cocktail lovers , and the bakeries in the city will cater to your dessert cravings .
ARTISANS
Israeli artists have been living in Jaffa ’ s Old City for decades , and the newer generation have moved in to join them . The artisans here sell locally made ceramics as well as crafts , highend wares and fair-trade items .
MUSEUMS
There are several museums and galleries of note to visit in Jaffa . This includes the Frank Meisler Gallery , the Uri Geller Museum , Ilana Goor Museum , the Iris Eshet Cohen Gallery , the Jaffa Art Salon and more . All of these have beautiful art and pieces of Jaffa ’ s history on display for curious art lovers and tourists .
DYNAMIC MIX OF CULTURES
Jaffa is populated by Jews , Christians and Muslims . The Tabeetha School , established in the 1800s offers education to people of every religion and sect . Jaffa is a center of cross-cultural heritage that strikes a balance to ease tensions between the several conflicting sects in Israel . The Jewish Community Center brings Jaffa residents together to share their food , music and traditions .
Jaffa ’ s heterogeneous mix of people and cultures make it perhaps of the most dynamic places on the planet . If you ’ re looking for a good time on your visit to Israel , Jaffa ’ s culture and the variety of attractions here make it the hottest spot you should stop by .
Photo : Dana Friedlander for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism
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