Caesarea

Understand

250px|thumb|An aerial photo of the remains of the Roman archeological site Caesarea became known in the first century BCE, when Herod the Great built one of the largest ports in the eastern Mediterranean on the spot. The city continued to flourish through the Byzantine era. For most of the Muslim period it was a notable city, and the Crusaders built impressive city walls which still stand. However, by the Ottoman period Caesarea was either uninhabited or home only to a small village.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Baron Edmond James de Rothschild purchased much of the land around Caesarea. With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the Rothschild family gifted these holdings to the Caesarea Foundation. Caesarea is therefore the only locality in Israel which is managed by a private organization (the Caesarea Development Corporation), rather than a municipal governmental organization. Today Caesarea is considered one of the most upscale residential developments in Israel. The current Baron de Rothschild still maintains a home in Caesarea, as do many other wealthy and influential individuals and foreign residents. It is also home to Israel’s only 18-hole golf course, a luxury hotel, a vacation village, miles of sandy beaches, and a series of attractive restaurants, galleries and boutiques huddled around the Mediterranean cove.

And, of course, visitors marvel at its extraordinary archeological attractions, not least of which is the Roman theatre, where c…

Get in

Hitchhiking to or Caesarea is possible and rather easy.

Get around

The main ruins form a single national park which is easy to walk around (though lacking in shade, so bring a hat).

The other sites are far enough apart that a vehicle can be useful, particularly on a hot day. But walking between them is also a reasonable option. Even the distance between Caesarea and Jisr az-Zarqa, if you stay there, can be managed on foot - 5 km along the beach.

See

thumb|250px|A portion of the Crusader walls and moat still standing today

Do

Surfing is possible here - ask at Juha's Guesthouse.

Buy

Some small shops can be found in Jisr az-Zarqa and a supermarket right next to Juha's Guesthouse.

Eat

The Caesarea National Park holiday area has several restaurants that cater for the visiting folks.

In Jisr az-Zarqa inexpensive falafel (₪8) and shawarma can be found.

Drink

Juha's Guesthouse has got beer in the fridge for its guests, even though the town is pretty much alcohol free due to being Muslim.

Go next

Haifa – The second-holiest city in the Bahai faith, including its great garden down the northern slope of the city. Nazareth – The largest Arab city in Israel and best known as the home of Joseph and Mary. Jezreel Valley – Famous for Tel Megiddo (Armageddon) National Park and Mount Gilboa overlooking it. Reachable by bus via Olga Junction (e.g. bus 947, then 825). Druze Villages in the Carmel Range: 30min by service taxi (monit sherut) or longer by bus, line number 37א, to the closer village of Isifya or the more distant village of Daliyat el-Carmel. The tourist-oriented bazaar has inexpensive shops and you can top off the visit in one of the excellent Mid-Eastern restaurants. Tel Aviv – A big and the most cosmopolitan city in Israel, well known for its club culture.