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Israel

Cultural sightseeing in Israel. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

tel aviv at sunset Israel is a Middle Eastern country with a rich history. Half of the territory washed by the Mediterranean and Red Seas is desert, while the other is characterized by a variety of natural landscapes and architectural monuments. Most attractions and places of cultural significance are of great value to believing Israelis. The main part of such attractions is concentrated in the Capital of the Country, Jerusalem. There are many religious buildings in the city including the world’s oldest temples and mosques.
Many colorful festivals and festive events take place in Israel year after year. One of the most important festivities in the country is the Jewish …
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A vivid example is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. According to legend, this ancient complex was erected on the spot where the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ took place. It contains some significant relics. Being the sacred place of the six directions of Christianity, it is the main place of pilgrimage visits of Christians from all over the world. An indestructible ladder standing on the ledge of the Greek Orthodox Church and leaning against the window opening of the Armenian Apostolic Church, symbolizes interdenominational unity. On the day of the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, the Holy Fire appears in the temple’s hall. Another religious landmark of Israel is the Wailing Wall. It is a section of the wall preserved from the ancient temple. Today, it is a general Judaic shrine, a place of pilgrimage visits and prayers. Notes containing the wishes of tourists from all over the world are left in the cracks of the Wall.
One of the most ancient Jerusalem settlements is the old town of Jaffa. Being a part of modern Tel Aviv, it retained the status of an autonomous cultural center. The City has a large number of museums, art galleries and other tourism facilities. In old Jerusalem, lies the street Via Dolorosa along which Jesus was led to the place of His execution carrying the cross. On the street, you will find nine stands of the Way of the Cross. There is a tower ensemble in Tel Aviv – the Azrieli Center. It includes three towers – Round, Triangular and Square. Each of them was built based on an individual architectural design. Together however, they represent a single complex. The highest is the Round Tower, which is 182 meters in height. It has an observation platform from which a wonderful view of the city can be appreciated. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Israel is located on the border of two parts of the world and belongs to the Middle East region. The western coast of the country is washed by the …
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One of the most pretentious buildings in Tel Aviv is the Pagoda House. It is a combination of references to Chinese architecture with elements of other styles. This unusual building is a historical and architectural monument of Israel. It is about one hundred years old. In the Judaean Desert, there is another ancient structure, the Masada Fortress, located on top of a high cliff. Since ancient times, this fortress not only served a protective function, but also served as a home for the ruler and his family. There were ancient buildings in the ruins of the fortress valuable for their historical past. The oldest mosque in the world, Al-Aqsa is located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The building of the mosque was constructed in the 7th century and has since been rebuilt more than once. On the inside are contained seven majestic galleries whose walls are decorated with marble and mosaic.
On the same hill is located the striking mosque Dome of the Rock, at the base of which lies the holy of holies – the legendary Foundation Stone. The construction is distinguished by a huge golden dome and rich decor. In the city of Nazareth, it is worth paying attention to the Catholic Church, the Basilica of the Annunciation. Today, it is a relatively new building erected on the territory of an ancient City. According to legend, it was here that the angel brought Mary good news. On the birthplace of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem is located one of the two central temples of the Holy Land “the Basilica of the Nativity of Christ”. The first services were conducted here in the 4th century.
These spots really worth the attention of a real traveler-researcher. …
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The landmark of the city of Haifa, the Baha’i World Center, is located on the slope of Mount Carmel. It is the Administrative and Spiritual Center of all followers of the Baha’i faith. On its territory, surrounded by picturesque Persian gardens is built a temple. Near the hill of Gravit-Ram, in the west of Jerusalem, stands the Shrine of the book which contains the oldest manuscripts. It has the form of a white stupa temple with a white dome, opposite to which stretches a black wall constructed from basalt. The combination of colors symbolizes the eternal confrontation of light and darkness. The external design and interior of the temple is reproduced according to the conditions of the scrolls.
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Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Israel

Reference information
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Israel
♥   Art museum 'Bauhaus Center' Tel Aviv. On the map   Photos
♥   Art museum 'Bible Lands Museum' Jerusalem. On the map   Photos
♥   Art museum 'Design Museum Holon' Tel Aviv. On the map   Photos
♥   Art museum 'Haifa Museum of Art' Haifa. On the map   Photos
♥   Art museum 'Hecht Museum' Haifa. On the map   Photos
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas in Israel
♥   Church of Our Lady of the Spasm, Jerusalem. On the map   Photos
♥   St. Anne’s Church, Jerusalem. On the map   Photos
♥   Church of St. Thomas, Jerusalem. On the map   Photos
♥   Basilica of St. Stephen, Jerusalem. On the map   Photos
♥   Basilica of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor. On the map   Photos
♥   Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth. On the map   Photos
♥   St. Elijah Greek-Melkite Cathedral, Haifa. On the map   Photos

Extreme Guinness-type places in Israel

The Red Sea Star

From the series “The Most Extraordinary Bars and Café on the Planet”
The original bar with romantic name "The Red Sea Star" is situated in Eilat and attracts visitors by its location. The bar is under the water. It is built in the starfish form and decorated in the sea style. During the relaxation, the visitors of the bar can sit by the tables and look at dwellers of the ocean. This outstanding restaurant-bar has several stores over the water and an open-air space.

The underwater bar is in 70 meters from the coastline. The lowest part of the bat is located for 6 meters in the water. It is interesting that the bar is drastically safe from the ecological point of view. It was built from eco-safe materials and located near the big corral rife. The contraction protects the rife from the streams and accidental damages of the navigable vessel. That's why the … Read all

Al-Aqsa Mosque

From the series “Top Surviving Artifacts of Muslim Civilization”
In Jerusalem on the Temple Mount, there is another great Muslim shrine - the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This mosque is not distinguished by its impressive scale and luxury of decoration, but for the adherents of the Muslim religion, it is a permanent symbol of faith. The founder of the mosque is Caliph Umar, its construction was completed in the middle of the 7th century. According to the legend, before the ascension to Allah, the Prophet Muhammad prayed on the place where today the mosque is located. At the same time, up to 5,000 believers can pray in the walls of this mosque, which is crowned by a huge dome of lead.

Over the years, the oldest mosque witnessed many outstanding historical events, in 1099 the Crusaders converted it to their headquarters, and later to the church. The status of the … Read all
All unique sightseeing Israel
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Map of cities Cities map of Israel
Map of sights Map of sights in Israel

Preferred to Open 9 New Hotels in 2022

In September 2022, the Sommerro hotel in Oslo will start operating in a carefully restored 1930s Art Deco building. This building is a true landmark of Frogner, a historic neighborhood of the Norwegian capital. A multi-million-dollar renovation carefully turned the largest preservation project in Norway into a modern hotel with 231 rooms, including 56 residences. Preferred will open five more hotels in 2022, namely, The Wall Street Hotel in New York, Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences on Singer Island (Florida, the US), TOA Hotel & Spa in Zanzibar, Pendry hotel in Washington, and Pendry Park City hotel in Utah. Read this

29.03.2024

Famous sites of culture and history of Israel in photoset

Culture and monuments in popular cities of Israel

Tel Aviv
Speaking of cultural institutions in Tel Aviv, it’s certainly worth to mention the Beit Gidi Etzel Museum. Its exposition is dedicated to the period of Jewish struggle for the independence. No less interesting is the collection of the Museum of the Jewish Diaspora (Hagana Museum), which occupies one of the buildings of the local university. The most ambitious scientific and historical center of the city is the Museum Eretz Yisrael, which name translates as the ‘Museum of the Land of … Read more
Jerusalem
The age of the wall is more than two thousand years. There are also many interesting excursion sites near Wailing Wall. Hasmonean Tunnels are one of them. This is an extensive system of underground tunnels that stretch along the wall. The scale of the underground structure is simply striking. Here people will find huge public facilities, an aqueduct, as well as fragments of ancient streets. Excursions to the tunnel are so popular that people have to book them several months in advance. Holy … Read more
Acre
An ancient prison is one of the most interesting parts of the citadel. Hundreds of years ago, this was a prison for religious or political criminals. This part of the fortress still has its original look. Today, a thematic museum is open in the former prison. Visitors can explore the most secret parts of the citadel and see the military equipment that is still stored here. A walk on the fortress wall is one of the most exciting activities in the citadel because of the striking view of the … Read more
Haifa
A good place to explore is the Lower Town area, where you can see interesting modern buildings and ancient structures. A true piece of modern architecture is the Sail skyscraper; its height is more than 134 meters. The name of the construction speaks for itself, as the outline of a spectacular skyscraper really looks like a sail. Next to it there is the Muslim cemetery and a mosque founded in the era of the Ottoman Empire. Among other attractions of the Lower City, the Railroad Museum with a … Read more
Netanya
One of the beautiful historic buildings on the outskirts of the city houses the Jewish Legion Museum. The main part of its exposition is dedicated to the period of the First World War. The museum has an interesting collection of artillery of this period. Visitors will also be able to see collections of cold steel and firearms, old documents and military maps, as well as other military-related exhibits. Within the city, you can visit the Municipal Gallery, which occupies the City Hall … Read more
Nazareth
The city has an interesting ethnographic museum called Nazareth Village. It is a reconstructed village created on the model of typical villages of the 1st century BC. In this open-air museum, the main "exhibits" are examples of ancient dwellings and outbuildings. Each one contains an interesting collection of historical artifacts. Visitors to the museum can get inside typical houses and see how people lived here in the time of Jesus. The museum's vast area accommodates several agricultural … Read more
Eilat
King’s City Eilat is a popular amusement center that, however, has managed to become a true architectural landmark of Eilat. The complex is open on the popular waterfront that is nearly always crowded. The center, indeed, looks like a luxurious royal castle. Behind impenetrable walls of the castle, visitors will find many amusements and rides that are worth giving a try. Perhaps, Underwater Observatory Marine Park is one of the most unusual landmarks in Eilat. The underwater observatory … Read more

Israel map of cultural and historical sites

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