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The Carmel market

Attractions travel guide

The Carmel Market is the largest open market in Tel Aviv and the best place to buy fresh food and wonder around. Next to the market lies the Yemenite Vineyard, a small neighborhood with charming little streets and typical Yemenite restaurants.

The Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel) is the biggest marketplace in Tel Aviv and a fun place to visit. In the Carmel market you can find just about anything for the lowest prices in town, including different kinds of bread, olives, dried fruits, spices and so on. It is also the best place to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as fish and poultry. The clothing section is located next to Allenby Street, and you can surely find there a bargain or two.

Just off the Carmel Market lies one of the most special neighborhoods in Tel Aviv. It is called Yemenite Vineyard (Kerem Hateymanim), originally formed in the beginning of the 20th century by the Jewish immigrants from Yemen. The municipality started renovating this area some 15 years ago, and walking through its narrow alleys and small houses is pretty inspiring. Accept for a walk in these charming little streets, you can make a stop in one of the small neighborhood restaurants. All of them serve traditional Yemenite cuisine, spiced with Hawhyedge, the most characteristic spice in the Yemenite kitchen. The neighborhood is located very close to the sea, so it can be a good stop on your way to or from the beach.

Hotel Metropolitan at 11 Trumpeldor St. is just few minutes walk from the Carmel Market to the north. It is an affordable yet elegant lodging option next to the beach and the city center. Another nice hotel in this area is Sun City hotel at 9 Trumpeldor St., which is very well kept and quite intimate. It has a great location – next to the city’s lively markets and shopping areas, and only 500 meters from the Mediterranean.
Galileo Hotel, located in the heart of the Yemenite Quarter, one of Tel Aviv’s first neighborhoods, is a picturesque hotel which will provide you with all the facilities of a budget accommodation in the best location.

It is easy to find your way around the Carmel Market area using public transportation, because most buses have stops in the central Allenby Street. It is also located right off Shenkin St., which is another landmark you mustn’t miss on your Tel Aviv visit.

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Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem's Old City

The Hurva Synagogue is located in the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem's Old City. The synagogue was built in the 18th century, and has gone through many upheavals: It was destroyed by Muslims, rebuilt in the 19th century, destroyed again, and in 1948 - after the Old City was occupied - it was renovated yet again, and it was reopened in March 2010. A sound and light show is screened on the structure's eastern wall, surveying the synagogue's 800-year history (the show is presented free of charge in the evening hours). The Hurva Synagogue is named after Rabbi Yehuda he-Hasid, who headed Poland's Jewish community in the 18th century. Rabbi Yehuda he-Hasid immigrated to the land of Israel, with his students, some 300 years ago, to advance the Messianic Era. The rabbi and his students bought an abandoned plot on which to build a synagogue, financed by loans which they used to pay the landowners. Rabbi Yehuda he-Hasid died just days after an acquisition agreement was reached; his students remained a flock without a shepherd, but were able to raise funds from the Diaspora and take out loans from local Arab residents in order to continue the plan to construct a splendid synagogue. After some twenty years, Muslims set the synagogue and the Torah scrolls in it ablaze, claiming that they were not paid what they had been owed, and that the place had become The Ruin of Yehuda he-Hasid. Because of the debt, the Ashkenazi Jews were expelled from Jerusalem and those who wanted to enter the city had to disguise themselves as Sephardic Jews - in dress and style - so as not to be identified. After 140 years, during Turkish rule, the decree against Ashkenazi Jews was reversed and construction of the synagogue was renewed, funded by Moses Montefiore and Baron Alphonse, a brother of Baron Edmond Benjamin James de Rothschild. The structure of the splendid synagogue was planned in the neo-Byzantine style, which characterized many houses of worship throughout the Ottoman Empire and included four square towers with four 16-meters arches between them. Over the arches rose a large, spectacular dome. The synagogue became a spiritual center in Jerusalem's Old City, until the 1948 War of Independence. During the war, the synagogue was bombed, the structure collapsed and was destroyed, and only two pillars remained standing. After the 1967 Six Day War, as part of renovation activities in the Jewish Quarter, wide-spread construction work commenced, alongside archaeological digs in which artifacts from different eras were discovered, including: Mikvehs (ritual baths) from the time of the Second Temple and a street from the Byzantine Period, which are displayed in the synagogue basement. The synagogue was inaugurated and reopened on March 15, 2010.

Dor Tantaura Beach in Israel

The Dor Tantaura Beach in Israel is a beautiful stretch of beach with lagoons in Central Israel. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, Dor Tantaura beach is a picturesque paradise with plenty of sun and water activities. The beach of Dor - Tantura is one of the most beautiful and interesting beaches in Israel thanks to a group of islands located in front of the beach, one of which can also be reached on foot with the children in a short walk in the shallow waters, swim in the relatively calm waters, go kayaking, hang out at one of the beach restaurants and also stay overnight at a campsite or in a village the nearby resort. On the beach there are several natural bays in front of a chain of islands within swimming and walking distance from the beach and in the southern part, in the photo, a bay with an ancient structure (which you must not enter) in front of which colorful fishing boats are anchored, which is always interesting to go there with the children and see the boats, especially when the fishermen return from the sea. Adjacent to the beach are the holiday villages of Kibbutz Nahsholim and Dor that allow accommodation in igloo-shaped buildings or other regular rooms. Adjacent to the beach in Kibbutz Nahsholim is the Hamizgaga Museum, where you can visit and see the treasures that were washed up from the sea near the beach from the remains of shipwrecks that are on the seabed. During the holidays, children's activities are occasionally held at the museum. Whether you’re planning on spending just one day or staying longer with a stay at The Dor Hotel or Nahsholim Holiday Village, there’s something for everyone at Dor Tantaura Beach in Israel. From lounging under an umbrella on the beach to exploring nearby attractions like Mount Carmel National Park and visit Zichron Yaacov or neighbouring towns.

Churches in Israel

Christian Pilgrims have been visiting Israel for centuries. No wonder: the land where Jesus and the disciples lived is filled with historical sites and ancient churches that hold a tremendous importance for Christian believers. Many important churches in Israel are spread throughout the country, and are visited by thousands of believers every year.   The following is a shortlist of some of the most significant churches in Israel: The Church of the Holy Sepulcher The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, is the first among the Christian shrines. According to Christian belief, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (refereed to as Golgotha, the Hill of Calvary, by most Christians) is where Jesus was crucified and buried. The resurrection has been celebrated there for many centuries as the most sacred place in all of Christendom. The Chapel of the Ascension The Chapel of the Ascension in Jerusalem is believed by Christians to be where Jesus ascended into heaven. It is a holy site for Muslims as well, and serves as a church and a mosque. The first church was built there in 390 AD., the current chapel was built in 1150 AD., and the mosque was added in 1620 AD. It is located just south of the Mount of Olives. The Church of the Nativity The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is one of the most ancient churches in the world, and one of the most important churches in Israel. It was built over the supposed birth place of Jesus, and is considered sacred to Muslims as well. The Church of the Annunciation The Church of the Annunciation, sometimes referred to as the Basilica of the Annunciation, is located in Nazareth, where - according to Roman Catholic tradition – Mary was told by Gabriel that she will be the mother of Jesus. The Church of the Annunciation is a pilgrims' must-see and a tourists' long time favorite. Church of St. Gabriel According to the apocryphal Gospel, the Church of St. Gabriel (St. Mary's well) is the actual place where Gabriel made the announcement to Mary. It is also located in Nazareth.   The Church of St. Joseph is another main Christian attraction in Nazareth. Known as the supposed location of Joseph's carpentry shop, the Church of St. Joseph is visited by many believers every year. The lower level contains the Grotto of the Annunciation, believed by many Christians to be the remains of the original childhood home of Mary.

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