TEL AVIV - JAFFA
Tel Aviv is the economical capital of Israel. Located on the seashore of the Mediteranean the city was founded in 1909 as an alternative to the old city of Jaffa, then the vision of its founders was to create the first "modern hebrew city that would be Israel's New York...". And indeed Tel Aviv definitely kept that spirit and nonstop creativity where cafés spill onto Boulevard like Rotschild and Tech startups rise among Bauhaus buildings that made White Tel Aviv a Unesco World Heritage site. The "City that never stops" is known for it cutting edge cuisine together with street food, colourful markets, a vibrant culture scene and of course beaches, sport and night life.
In contrast Jaffa, the 4,000 years old city feels slower and more intimate with old stone from Ottoman period, archeology remains dated Egyptian Pharoh Ramses II and its colourful Flee market. Here old churches, mosques and synagogues contrast with the skyline of Tel Aviv while the old town breathes centuries of history and a blend of divers cultures.
Tel Aviv was born in 1909 when the first pionneers led by Arieh Akiva Weiss who had the vision and took the initiative. The goal of Akiva as he expressed it was "to build hebrew urban center in a healthy environment, planned according to the rules of aesthetics and modern hygiene", which was in contrast of Jaffa the old and crowdy city which was an arab environment in which life for Jews was becoming difficult. In April 1909 the first 60 families earned a desolated dune of sand by the sea, each one got a plot by lottery. Tel Aviv was born and will become the economic engine of the country. During the tour we will follow the steps of the pioners seen the very first house and learn about the history of the city.
"Tel Aviv White city" is the name given to the center of Tel Aviv where are found some 5,000 buildings of Bauhaus style or more exactley International style. In fact Tel Aviv hosts several different style of architecture from different periods of time during the 20th century among them European red tiled house style from the early 20th century, the Ecclectic including Orientalist style from the 1920's, Art Deco a bit later and the International style which was introduced by Jewish architects who fled the Nazi regime in Germay who closed the Bahaus scool. During our tour we will enjoy those beautiul building and learn about this style which makes Tel Aviv identity.
In contrast with Tel Aviv, Jaffa or Yaffo in hebrew and arabic is an old city, at least 4,000 years old. the hill of Jaffa called the Old Jaffa is the oldest neighborhood of Tel Aviv - Jaffa and home to artists galleries, few restaurants and trendy shops. In fact the hill is an archeological site with remains from Ramses II period when he ruled the area. The tour will take as through the narrow paved alleys andtypical stone houses through historical times, we will learn about the different cultures as we will go by ancient churches like Peter's church mentionned in the Gospel, old Synagogue from the 18th century and old mosque by the Sea. We will hear about Jonas story that took place here and greel legends as well as the siege by Napoleon who took Jaffa from the Ottomans in 1799. A stop by in the Flee market for some shopping or a coffe break in one of the trendy espresso bar in the market to rest would arrive at the perfect moment.