Tourist Attractions and Museums in Jaffa
Old Jaffa (Jaffa Al-Atiqa or Jaffa Al-Qadime) : The Old City of Jaffa has become a big tourist attraction. It is filled with artists' quarters, studios and art galleries. Shops catering for archaeology, jewelry aid art, line its narrow alleys which are named after the signs of the Zodiac. Visitors from both the country and abroad enjoy dining in its unique restaurants or simply wandering around. People seem to gaze in fascination at the sight of the ancient Port and the rocks, and some are dumbstruck by the beauty of Jaffa harbor set against the back drop of the city of Tel Aviv, which has grown out of Jaffa. Old Jaffa in itself is a quaint city, more picturesque than ever, with romantic paths and gardens. Restored as an artistic and cultural centre. Arabic and Ottoman architecture, ancient excavations, cobbled lanes, galleries, clubs, cafes, shops and restaurants overlooking the Sea. All this, together with the Mediterranean's sun-drenched waves and the special lighting effects at night, serve to excite and arouse the senses and the soul.

Jaffa Port (Mina'a Jaffa) : The Port of Jaffa is the oldest functioning Port in the World. Historians believe that Jaffa is the only Port in the World which can boast uninterrupted inhabitation throughout its entire existence. From Jaffa port, the Bible records that the Prophet Younes (Jonah) set sail for Tarshish, running away when God commanded him to preach in the wicked city of Nineveh. When a storm threatened to wreck the ship the sailors threw Prophet Younes into the water. He was swallowed by a whale, and remained there for three days and three nights. The Biblical account mentions also that the cedars from Lebanon for the construction of Prophet Suleiman's (Solomon) Temple in Jerusalem came in through Jaffa Port. The Greek legend tells of the chaining of the beautiful goddess Andromeda to the rocks facing Jaffa's shore. The Port of Jaffa was serving the sailors in their sea voyages thousands of years ago. Until 1934 the Jaffa Port was the most important port in Palestine, but it was eventually to be eclipsed by the newly constructed Haifa Port. During the Palestinian uprising of 1936, Jaffa port was closed; an alternate port was hastily constructed in Tel Aviv at the north end of Hayarkon Street. The Jaffa port was closed in 1965 to merchant shipping, when the port of Ashdod was completed. The old Jaffa Port which is now a picturesque fishing harbor and a marina for modern boats is the backdrop for several fish restaurants. Sailing from Jaffa Port are two big ships "Sababa 5" and "Kef" for tourist group Sailing.

Andromeda's Rock (Sakhret Andromeda) : One of the reefs in Jaffa Bay is known from the Greek mythology as "Andromeda's Rock". Andromeda, daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia was said by her mother to be fairer than the sea-nymphs. The Nereids, insulted, demanded punishment. So the sea-god Poseidon sent a tidal wave and sea monster to scourge the land of the Philistines. The Oracle of Ammon told Cepheus that Poseidon could only be appeased by the sacrifice of Andromeda to the monster. Urged by the people of Joppa (Jaffa), the king had his daughter chained to a huge rock opposite the city and left to her fate. This was how Perseus, son of Danae and Zeus, found her after slaying the Medusa. Promised Andromeda's hand in marriage if he rescued her, Perseus donned Hermes' winged sandals; approaching the monster with godlike speed, he beheaded it from behind. As it fell into the sea, the monster's head became the Joppa reefs. Unchaining Andromeda from the rock, Perseus bore her back triumphantly to Joppa, where they were wed and lived happily ever after.

The Jaffa Clock Tower (Al-Saa'a) : By the end of the 19th century, the present Clock Tower Square (Sahet Al-Saa'a or Midan Al-Saa'a) had become Jaffa's main plaza. The tower, begun in 1901 to mark the 25th anniversary of Sultan Abdul Hamid II's accession to the throne of the Ottoman Empire. In 1965, the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality carried out extensive repairs on the Clock Tower, including the installation of new clocks and stained glass windows, depicting events in Jaffa's history.

The Big Mahmoudiyeh Mosque (Jame'a Al-Mahmoudiyeh Al-Kabir) : The Big Mahmoudiyeh Mosque, as it stands today at Russlan Street, overlays the foundations of an earlier mosque which belonged to the Bibi family. Between 1812 and 1814 the mosque underwent extensive rebuilding and renovation by Mohammed "Abu Nabut" Agha, the Othmani governor of Jaffa, and was subsequently renamed in his honor. Some time later, further work was carried out and the building enlarged, attested to by the numerous inscriptions adorning the edifice. Incorporated within the courtyard are pillars, Corinthian capitals (mistakenly used as pillar bases) and stone blocks brought to Jaffa from the country's ancient coastal cities as part of Abu Nabut's building operations. Today, the Big Mosque serves as the central house of prayer for Jaffa's Muslem community.

The Maritime Mosque (Jame'a Al-Bahar) : The Maritime Mosque is located near the eastern entrance to the Jaffa port area from the Jerusalem Gateway, and was the mosque of the local fishermen.

Franciscan Church and Monastery of Saint Peter (Kenisset Al-Qal'a) : St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church was established by the Franciscan Order between 1888 and 1894 on the summit of Jaffa's ancient tell (mound). It was built over the ruins of a Crusader citadel, dating to the Seventh Crusade led by Louis, the 9th, King of France. A monument to St. Louis stands today at the entrance to the friary. According to local tradition, Napoleon was accommodated in its rooms during his Jaffa military campaign of 1799. St. Peter's Church which was built in Latin American Baroque style by Brothers Serafin of Palermo and Bernadin of Rome, was officially dedicated in 1891. It remained Jaffa's principal Roman Catholic church until the Church of San Antonio was built in 1932. The Citadel Church (Kenisset Al-Qal'a in Arabic) is marked by its bell tower, and is situated in the old city of Jaffa. (Opening Hours: 08.00 - 12.00, 15.00 - 18.00 or - 17.00 in winter).

House of Simon the Tanner : This house is traditionally identified as that of Simon the Tanner, who hosted Peter the Apostle on his visit to Jaffa. For a number of generations, it has been in the possession of the Armenian Zakarian family. It is said that on the roof of this very house, Peter had a revelation that accepting non-Jews into the Christian fold was permissible. This old house is situated in the old city of Jaffa (Shimon Habursaki Street).

The Lighthouse of Jaffa (Manaret Jaffa) : Adjacent to the house of Simon the Tanner is a small lighthouse built during the British Mandate period. It stands atop the remains of an earlier one built in 1865 and operated by members of the Zakarian family. The mosque close by was built in 1730-31, and is called Jame'a Al-Butros (St. Peter's Mosque) or Jame'a Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Tabia. Alongside was a watchtower known as Burj Al-Bahar (Watchtower of the Sea), which guarded the western approaches to the city.

Jaffa Police Station (Kishleh) : The Jaffa Detention Center was first located inside the city walls in a wing of the Old Ottoman Government House (now Jaffa Museum). The Ottoman style new lockup was built near the Mahmoudiyeh Mosque (Al-Jame'a Al-Kabir) during the 1870s, about the time demolition work began on the city walls. From that time until the present, the building has functioned continuosly as a Detention Center and Police Station. Clock Tower Square, 20 Raziel (Bustros) Street .

The Flea Market (Souk Sala'hi) : This market area was formerly known as Souk Sala'hi after the family that owned it. It was one of many such markets and bazaars which surrounded the Clock Tower Square from the 19th century onward. After 1948, this market gradually took on the form of a "flea market" in the Oriental tradition, where one can buy and sell objects old and new, spending many pleasant hours in bargaining. The Flea Market lies between Beth Eshel Street (Jerusalem Road or Al-Siksik Street) and Olei Zion Street.

Saint Louis French Hospital : The hospital was established by French Roman Catholic nuns from the order of St. Joseph of the Revelation. They also built a girls' school opposite the hospital, which is situated at 36 Yefet Street (corner of Pasteur Street). St. Louis Hospital began as a modest pharmacy, which later expanded to become Jaffa's first modern hospital. The building stood at the southwest corner of Jaffa's encircling wall, above the remains of a large fort. Known as the "English Fort", it was built at the beginning of the 19th century by General Sidney Smith, as part of the city's fortification system, following Napoleon's retreat. The hospital was named in honor of Louis the 9th, King of France, leader of the Seventh Crusade (1248-1254), who stayed in Jaffa during his campaign. The edifice is a combination of neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance architecture - a style most popular in Europe during the 19th century.

Old Jaffa Archaeological Site : The excavation site is a popular attraction for tourists in Old Jaffa's main Square (Kedumim Square). It reveals structural remains from the Hellenistic period (3rd century BCE) and the Roman period (2nd century CE). Above these, remains from the Byzantine period (4th century CE) may be seen. Many of the artifacts discovered in the excavations are on display at the nearby Jaffa Museum.

The Rameses II Archaeological Garden : The Garden is named after the Egyptian Pharoah Rameses II (1304-1237 BCE) and is located on part of the Jaffa tell (mound) which the Jaffa Museum has been systematically excavating since 1955. It lies in the region of the ancient citadel. It reveals different structural remains from the second half of the 17th century BCE till the 1st century BCE, belonging to different periods (Egyptian, Philistine, Phoenician, Hasmonean).

Remains of Jaffa City Walls : What may be seen in the Pasteur Street is only the rubble-stone filling of the inner side of the wall which surrounded Jaffa during the 19th century. In 1799, the wall was breached by Napoleon's forces, but following his retreat it was repaired and strengthened by General Sidney Smith and Mohammed "Abu Nabut" Agha at the beginning of the 19th century. With the expansion of the city outside the walls, and the rescission of Jaffa's official status as a "fortified city", the gradual dismantling of the walls began in 1874 and was completed in 1879. These remains are but a small segment of Jaffa's western wall,which extended from the "English Fort" down to the port.

Antiquities Museum of Tel Aviv-Jaffa (Mathaf Jaffa or Jaffa Museum) : In the Old Government House of the Othmani administration (Al-Saraya Al-Atiqa) from the 18th century, above the remains of an earlier structure from the Crusader period. The museum displays many archaeological finds unearthed during the excavations in the Jaffa area since 1948, showing various facets of the city's existence since ancient times, and of the many cultures that left their marks on its history. The displays include archaeological finds from Jaffa from the Neolithic period onwards, the most spectacular of which are the inscribed stone door jambs of the Egyptian ruler, Ramses II, which in the 13C were part of an imposing entrance to the Egyptian citadel of Jaffa, and were excavated under the bath house next to the museum. Opening Hours: Sun. - Tues., Thurs. 9am - 2pm; Wed. 9am - 7pm; Sat. 10am - 2pm. 8-10 Mifratz Shlomo St. Tel: 03-6825375.

The Collection Houses Museum of the History of the Israel Defense Forces (I.D.F.) : The museum, located at the site of Jaffa's old railway station, portrays by means of films, maps, models, historic documents and authentic weapons, the history of the I.D.F. up to the present day. 35 Eilat St. Tel: 03-5161346.

Etzel Museum : The museum portrays the history of the Etzel movement during the War (1947-1948). The highlight of the exhibition is the Passover 1948 campaign to occupy Jaffa.South Herbert Samuel Promenade, Jaffa. Tel: 03-5172044.

Ilana Goor Museum : Located on 3 floors of the artist's residence in Old Jaffa. Opening Hours: Sun., Thurs., Fri.,: 10am - 4pm. Mon. - Wed., and Sat. 10am - 10pm; 4 Mazal Dagim St. Tel: 03-6837676.

Tel Qasile : Ancient Tel (at Ramat Aviv, North of Jaffa), the site of a Philistine settlement. Reconstructed dwellings, marked excavations, and ancient artifacts on display. Eretz Israel Museum complex. Tel: 03-6415244.

Zoological Gardens and Farms around Jaffa :
The Safari - the zoological center of Tel Aviv-Jaffa and Ramat Gan.The animals roam freely. Visiting by cars only, either by private cars or by the Center's cars. Dan bus 30 from 114 Levinsky Street, 4th floor exit from Central Bus Station.Tel: 03-631-2181.
Chai Kef Zoo in Rishon LeZion (a city near Jaffa).Tel: 03-961-3360.
Monkey Park in Ben Shemen forest (30 minutes from Jaffa).Tel: (08) 923-7888.
Bee's Life Center in Moshav Kidron (guided tour for groups).Tel: (08) 859-2057.
Zoological & Botanical Gardens, 155 Hertzl St.Tel: (03) 682-2352.
Petting Farm, Moshav Havatzelet Hasharon.Tel: (09) 866-3098.
Bee and Honey Farm, Moshav Mishmeret.Tel: (09) 796-1260.
Parrot Farm, rare parrots petting farm and pony riding, Kfar Hess.Tel: (09) 796-1773.

Historic Photo taken by Dalman from the north of Jaffa in 1906, showing a Palestinian riding a Camel.

Jaffa Restaurants and Online Booking (Flights, Hotels, Cars) and other sites
Jaffa Restaurants Jaffa Restaurants recommended by Daniel Rogov.
Virtual Tourist in Jaffa Flight Reservations, Hotel Rooms and Car Rental Rates in Jaffa.
The Battle for Jaffa The Battle for Jaffa. By : Aref Al-Aref (in Arabic).
The Jaffa Institute The Institute for the Advancement of Education in Jaffa was founded in 1982.

Sites about Jaffa
Jaffa : Ghost City The Last sight of Jaffa in 1948 , by Abdel-Qader Yassin.
Jaffa : Land of Oranges Features the short story (Jaffa : Land of Oranges) and a brief biography of the Palestinian Author Ghassan Kanafani.
Returning to Jaffa Virtual Returns to Jaffa, by Salim Tamari and Rema Hammami.
Jaffa : After the Matriculation After the matriculation in Jaffa, by Ibrahim Abu Lughod.
Electronic Return to Jaffa Treacherous memories : Electronic return to Jaffa , by Salim Tamari.
Cleansing Jaffa Cleansing Jaffa : detailed eye witness account, by Shukri Salameh.
Villages of Jaffa District Information about the Villages of Jaffa District (from Palestine Remembered).
The Fall of Jaffa Arab Jaffa seized before Israel's creation in 1948, by Donald Neff.
Old Jaffa Development Co.Israel An Israeli Presentation of Old Jaffa.