- Address: Safed, Israel;
- Sightseeing: synagogues - Abokhav, Banai and Karo.
A small area of Israel is home to many archaeological sites, historic buildings and Christian shrines. For one visit it is impossible to see all the splendor of the country, but among the first places to visit is Safed - the old city.
What is interesting for the old city of Safed for tourists?
In Russian, the name of the city is different - Safed. Safed was famous in the 16th and 17th centuries, when mystic rabbis moved to this place. This city is the center of the spread of Kabbalah. Here the spiritual father of this teaching, Rabbi Yitzhak Luria, lived and died.
The city also has an earlier history, which remembers the Zheolot insurgents who built a fortress here, also crusaders, Mamelukes passed through the territory. Safed flourished until the Turkish rule was over.
Most of the architectural monuments and buildings suffered due to seismic activity, but modern tourists can still see many monuments that have remained in good condition to our days. They are concentrated in the old part of the city.
Sights of the Old City
Tourists who want to feel the true spirit of Israel, it is necessary to visit in Safed. The settlement, called the city of Kabbalists and mystics, and not without reason, since this place is shrouded in a mysterious atmosphere. Many associate this with the poor rabbis who came here in the 16th-18th centuries from Spain and Portugal.
Safed was a multinational city and was built by many peoples. These can be explained by the special style of its architectural buildings, in which many cultures are reflected.
Safed can be conditionally divided into two parts: the old city, where the ancient monuments of architecture are concentrated, and the new modern part. For tourists, the value is primarily the old part, where you can feel the spirit of the past.
In the old town the main attraction is its streets, they are not located as usual, but across, that is, they go from top to bottom. They are almost entirely composed of stairs, and the width can be so narrow that for some of them it is impossible to disperse to two people.
An interesting fact is that many parts of the buildings are painted blue. This is no accident, because according to the beliefs this shade protects from the evil eye.
The main life is concentrated on the main street of Jerusalem, which runs around the mountain. To get to the small streets of Hatam Sofer and Sukkok Shalom, you need to go to the end along the street of Jerushalaim. It is at the intersection of these streets is the synagogue quarter, and an interesting fact is also connected with them.
According to Judaic traditions, all synagogues should be turned to the east, and these look to the south. This is due to the fact that residents of the city expect it from the south of the parish of the Messiah. Each synagogue has its own unique features. The most famous of them is the Sephardi synagogue, and'Ari, the interior, which is incredibly luxurious. In Safed, there are also ancient synagogues like Abokhav, Banai and Karo, to which many pilgrims come every year. They can be reached by the street of Jerushalaim.
In the old town there is also a quarter of artists, here you can get a special atmosphere of creativity. In the quarter of artists are very interesting decorated house. Here there are forged gates, quaint lanterns. Tourists can calmly go to any courtyard and observe how an artist works or buy something from works of art and painting in the workshops.
How to get there?
Once in Safed , you can get to the old part from anywhere in the world. The city is located at an altitude of 900 m above sea level, on one of the mountains of Upper Galilee. You can reach it either from Jerusalem , but having covered a distance of 200 km, or from Tel Aviv. If you get from the last settlement, then you have to overcome about 160 km.
Safed is at the smallest distance from Haifa , only 75 km. You can get there by using one of the bus routes: from Haifa there is a bus № 361, from Tel Aviv - № 846, and from Jerusalem - № 982.