Last Updated on 27/12/2023 by kami
This coastline town, located at the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, was built around 25-13 BC by Herod the Great. Caesarea quickly became the largest city of Judea region. Its importance also grew rapidly, reaching the peak around the year 132, after the destruction of Jerusalem. It’s been a lively commercial and maritime center, the capital of Byzantine Palestine. The bad period came together with the Arab rule that eventually lead to the destruction by the Mamluks in 1265.
What we could see now is just a small part of the Caesarea greatness. The archaeological works in 1950s and 1960s showed the remains from various periods. The best examples are the Roman theater, the Crusaders fortifications or the hippodrome. Unfortunately the day when I visited Caesareas was rainy and gloomy but even in such conditions I could admire the wonderful history hiding behind each stone and I could easily imagine how magnificent the city used to be in its best period! All the ruins, broken pillars or mosaic’s scratches carried Caesarea’s testimony.
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If you happen to visit Caesarea there’s a short multimedia show that briefly shows the history of the city. It’s a thing that cannot be missed! After watching it I saw the whole area in another perspective and I was even more impressed by it! Impressed how amazing it used to be and impressed how much it was destroyed…
Do you enjoy archaeological sites?
Info: Abraham Tours offer day tour, departing from Jerusalem, that visits Caesarea, Nazareth and Tiberias. It operates every Monday and Thursday, the price is 320NIS per person.
If you think of visiting Israel or just want to read more about the country take a look what else I wrote about it!
Note: My trip to Israel was in partnership with Tourist Israel, Abraham Tours, Juha’s Guesthouse and Abraham Hostel. As always I’m keeping it real and all opinions are 100% mine.
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2 Comments
Jahan
23/11/2016 at 07:37Thank you Kami! An impressive thing about the Greco-Roman culture was their interest in amphitheaters and gathering places as a sign of significance of Humans to them, just contrary to the culture of those who destroy, or are destroying, them.
kami
03/12/2016 at 20:51you’re right!