Israel pictures (Caesarea and Zichron Ya´aqov)

Finally, after working many years with IAESTE trainees in Rostock, I managed to find time for an IAESTE traineeship myself. In August and September 2003 I spent 6 weeks at the Engineering Faculty of the Tel Aviv University at coast of the south-eastern Mediterranean Sea. While working in the group of Prof. Avi Gover on optical design problems, I tried to get to know as much of Israel as possible in the short time of my stay.

The pictures below are from Caesarea, the old harbour city of the Romans and the crusaders and from Zichron Ya´aqov famous for its vineyards and orchards. Click on the other Israel categories above to see pictures from other places in Israel.

Jiri Vass, an IAESTE trainee from Czechia staying in Haifa, has taken a large number of pics which you can browse on his site.

Click on the picture to see the full-size images.

These large chambers served as the fundament for the palass of the procurator and were used as storage rooms. Later a hall in front was added and used together with the chambers as warehouse.
The city of Caesarea stretched along the shore and used to be an important harbour in the Roman times when it was first built and for the crusaders. The fortress like building at the end of the beach is from the beginning of the 20th century when fled Bosnian muslims settled here.
The long structure here with rows of seats used to be a u-shaped amphitheater for carriage horse races and other sports activities. It was built to seat up to 10000 spectators.

Another view of the amphitheater (to the right), the market buildings in the middle and the mosque from the beginning of the 20th century.
Sketch of the original look of the theatre. Today, only the seats are there while most of the rest is missing.
The famous Caesarea theatre with seats for 4000 people was restorated and is now used for open-air concerts during the summer.

View from the top of the theatre towards the rest of the city.
One of the entrances that were still preserved.
Only one side of the theatre had to be rebuilt, most of the other parts of the seats were preserved. At some places there are remnants of the galleries that surrounded the seats (see sketch above).

The wall of the arena of the amphitheatre was decorated with animal and hunting scenes. Today, only traces are left from these paintings.
Mosaic floor in the market quarter of Caesarea.
View into the public bath house of the city. The children are playing in a pool in the middle.

At some places one can see very nicely how the underground floor heating was constructed using many small pillars to support the floor.
The refektorium where the people could exercise before going to the bath house.
Another view of the market quarter.

On the northern end of the city, Muslims fleeing Bosnia in the beginning of the 20th century where given land by the Turkish governor. His administrational building is on the left, built on remnants of fortifications from the crusaders and towards you can see the mosque from this time.
The crusaders built a medium sized church in Caesarea. Unfortunately, the building suffered from static insufficiencies, collapsed partially during the construction and was never really finished.
The remnants of the crusader´s church. The large round walls of the choir are still very prominent.

Remains of the buildings close to the crusader´s church.
The crusaders built a heavy and impressing fortification at Caesaera...
...which was finally destroyed in the 13th century by the Ottomans to prevent the crusaders from coming back.

One of the gates of the fortification from the crusaders.

Finally these two pictures are from Zichron Ya´aqov, a village on a large hill close to the sea north-east of Caesarea. It is famous for its vineyards and has a very nice center with beautiful houses, lots of greens and a number of small restaurants.
The air is a little cooler than down at the sea and the whole atmosphere reminds me a bit of the south of France. Unless many places in Tel Aviv, one really sees that the people take care of their houses and their street.

These large chambers served as the fundament for the palass of the procurator and were used as storage rooms. Later a hall in front was added and used together with the chambers as warehouse.	The city of Caesarea stretched along the shore and used to be an important harbour in the Roman times when it was first built and for the crusaders. The fortress like building at the end of the beach is from the beginning of the 20th century when fled Bosnian muslims settled here.	The long structure here with rows of seats used to be a u-shaped amphitheater for carriage horse races and other sports activities. It was built to seat up to 10000 spectators.
Another view of the amphitheater (to the right), the market buildings in the middle and the mosque from the beginning of the 20th century.	Sketch of the original look of the theatre. Today, only the seats are there while most of the rest is missing.	The famous Caesarea theatre with seats for 4000 people was restorated and is now used for open-air concerts during the summer.
View from the top of the theatre towards the rest of the city.	One of the entrances that were still preserved.	Only one side of the theatre had to be rebuilt, most of the other parts of the seats were preserved. At some places there are remnants of the galleries that surrounded the seats (see sketch above).
The wall of the arena of the amphitheatre was decorated with animal and hunting scenes. Today, only traces are left from these paintings.	Mosaic floor in the market quarter of Caesarea.	View into the public bath house of the city. The children are playing in a pool in the middle.
At some places one can see very nicely how the underground floor heating was constructed using many small pillars to support the floor.	The refektorium where the people could exercise before going to the bath house.	Another view of the market quarter.
On the northern end of the city, Muslims fleeing Bosnia in the beginning of the 20th century where given land by the Turkish governor. His administrational building is on the left, built on remnants of fortifications from the crusaders and towards you can see the mosque from this time.	The crusaders built a medium sized church in Caesarea. Unfortunately, the building suffered from static insufficiencies, collapsed partially during the construction and was never really finished.	The remnants of the crusader´s church. The large round walls of the choir are still very prominent.
Remains of the buildings close to the crusader´s church.	The crusaders built a heavy and impressing fortification at Caesaera...	...which was finally destroyed in the 13th century by the Ottomans to prevent the crusaders from coming back.
One of the gates of the fortification from the crusaders.
Finally these two pictures are from Zichron Ya´aqov, a village on a large hill close to the sea north-east of Caesarea. It is famous for its vineyards and has a very nice center with beautiful houses, lots of greens and a number of small restaurants.	The air is a little cooler than down at the sea and the whole atmosphere reminds me a bit of the south of France. Unless many places in Tel Aviv, one really sees that the people take care of their houses and their street.