Tel Aviv Photo Gallery - Jaffa's Sights

Tel Aviv's story begins at the old port of Jaffa, which has a long history including being ruled by a number of ancient peoples from the Egyptians to the Greeks. It became a major trading port in the 19th century, serving as an export centre for oranges and a gateway for pilgrims heading to Jerusalem. My visit to Jaffa begins at the Clock Tower, which was completed in 1906 to celebrate Sultan Abdul Hamid II's 30th anniversary. From Tel Aviv to the north, everyone pretty much starts their visit from here. The El-Majmoudiye Mosque is just around the corner and is easily recognizable by the minaret. There is a path heading uphill through a park to a nice view of the city, although parts of the journey don't seem very appetizing. It's not a long or tough climb at all. HaPisgah Gardens offers the best free view in the city. St. Peter's Monastery was built in the 1890s on what was once a citadel. Rumour has it that Napoleon stayed here in 1799 during his Middle Eastern conquest. I believed the church had just opened for the day, and I had the place all to myself. The Wishing Bridge achieves just as its name suggests, and you just need to find your zodiac animal on the railing to do the deed. Many tourist groups were gathering around Kedumim Square, a large open space where the visitor's centre is located and where the catacombs once stood. In between buildings, I saw a path leading to a viewpoint, although the metal cage took a bit of the sparkle out of the view. On the other side of Jaffa, some crumbling and restored buildings lined along Yefet Street. A flea market sprawls just south of here, with a chaotic mix of everything including carpets strewn across the road.