JERUSALEM
It is in the state of Israel, is the ancient Jewish capital, a city considered sacred by the Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions. The ancient city is the destination of numerous pilgrimages and visits every year, even by non-believers. In fact, it is very rich in historical and architectural places very important for the history of all humanity, and full of suggestive itineraries.
Walking through the old city of Jerusalem, getting lost in its alleys, means exploring different worlds in a few meters. This area, in fact, is divided between the Jewish, Muslim, Armenian and Christian neighborhoods. But the divisions are not visible, the small streets intertwine, so it is easy to find yourself, after a few steps, from the colorful chaos of the Muslim quarter to the tranquility and order of the Jewish quarter.
The best choice is definitely a tour with a local guide, for a first approach to the city and to identify the landmarks. If you have the time, it is simply to get lost in the Old City of Jerusalem and enjoy the culture that transpires from every stone building and alley. Stop to taste street food and visit bazaars of all kinds.he center is divided into 4 districts that create a whole, it is in fact very difficult to understand where one ends and where the other begins.
The largest and most populated is the Muslim one characterized by crowded streets and lively bazaars. Here the strong link with Islam is clearly perceptible. The Via Dolorosa starts from the Arab quarter, the path that Jesus took to reach Golgotha, the place of the crucifixion.The Jewish quarter is recognized for its more orderly streets and shops with typical Jewish clothing and sacred objects.
It is separated from the Muslim area by a narrow street.
Finally, the Armenian quarter is the smallest. Very quiet, about 2,000 people live there.
The neighborhood is more like a fortress in the city, where the only accessible doors are those of the pottery workshops.It is the symbol, as well as a place of pilgrimage, for the faithful of the Jewish religion from all over the world. The Western Wall is the remains of the ancient temple destroyed by the Romans. It is a truly suggestive experience, which we recommend to face with the right spirit and respect.
The faithful, in fact, go to the Wall to pray and cry for the diaspora of the Jewish people and the destruction of the sacred temple, usually the atmosphere is full of mysticism. Each of them writes prayers on sheets of paper and sticks them into the cracks in the wall. If you are lucky, you can also attend some Jewish celebration, such as the Sokkut, to celebrate the liberation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.
You can choose a different category and type of hotels and rooms.
JERUSALEM
3 Stars Hotels
∗ The Colony Hotel – from € 103, https://www.thecolonyhotel.co.il/t-en
∗ Three Arches Hotel – from € 135, https://www.ymca3arches.com/
4 Stars Hotels
∗ Prima Hotel – from € 155, https://www.prima-hotels-israel.com/prima-royal-jerusalem-hotel
∗ Caesar Hotel – from € 195, https://www.caesarhotels.co.il/caesar-jerusalem-hotel
5 Stars Hotels
∗ The Inbal – from € 266, https://inbalhotel.co.il/
∗ Mamilla Hotel – from € 284, https://www.mamillahotel.co.il/
TEL AVIV
Tel Aviv has a lot to offer tourists and locals alike. Charming neighborhoods, beaches, markets and newly developed areas are just some of the many possibilities. This energetic city is surrounded by beautiful nature and there are many urban areas to discover.The Carmel Market and the Yemeni Quarter
This dynamic market in the heart of Tel Aviv is located opposite the busy intersection of King George and Sheinkin and between the pedestrianized Nachalat Binyamin Street and the Yemeni neighborhood. The whole market area is thriving and full of color. During the daylight hours the air is charged with the scent of fruit and spices as the crowds push through the noisy market stalls sipping freshly squeezed fruit juices. The market sells fresh produce, local foods and other merchandise. The Yemeni neighborhood, called Kerem HaTeimanim, is filled with traditional house-style restaurants that dot its old winding streets.
Tayelet – the seafront. On the Tel Aviv waterfront, or Tayelet in Hebrew, every day you can have the impression of being on vacation. The combination of sea breeze, the scenic landscape, the shining sun, the energy of the people who want to have fun, the beach restaurants and its liveliness bring a good mood on summer and winter days.
Neve Tzedek and HaTachana. This charming area is Tel Aviv’s oldest Jewish quarter. In Neve Tzedek it feels like a village and its main street, Shabazi Street, is full of cute shops, cafes and wine bars. Next to it is an area called HaTahana (the train station complex) which has been rebuilt and developed around a former historic railway. In HaTahana you can find boutiques, art galleries, food markets, restaurants, fairs, exhibitions and events for children.
Old Jaffa and the Flea Market.The ancient port city of Jaffa, with its rich historical and cultural heritage, winding streets, stone arches and dome-shaped structures is a sight not to be missed. The sound of prayer songs coming from the mosque forms an intoxicating blend together with the spicy smells and saltiness of the sea breeze. The flea market, or Shuk Hapishpashim in Hebrew, has developed into one of the coolest areas of Tel Aviv-Jaffo. There you can find rugs, antique furniture and a variety of period objects often sold to elegant restaurants, bars and new shops throughout the area.
The Tel Aviv Port.The port of Tel Aviv, or Namal Tel Aviv in Hebrew, has been the protagonist of an important transformation since its use by sailors and merchants. Now it is an elegant area in continuous development, full of classy restaurants, shops, nightlife, exclusive parties and shows. The former harbor hangars are now used as art galleries, night clubs and concert halls.
You can choose a different category and type of hotels and rooms.
TEL AVIV
3 Stars Hotels
∗ Sea.Net Tel Aviv Hotel- from € 92, https://www.seanethotel.com/
∗ Bell Hotel – from € 129, https://www.bhtlv.com/
4 Stars Hotels
∗ Mishkenot Hotel – from € 110, https://www.mishkenot-jaffa.co.il/
∗ Atlas Hotel – from € 135, https://www.atlas.co.il/cinema-hotel-tel-aviv-israel
∗ Leonardo Art Tel Aviv – from € 152, https://www.fattal-hotels.com/hotels_in_israel/tel_aviv_hotels/
5 Stars Hotels
∗ Renaissance Tel Aviv – from € 228, https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tlvbr-renaissance-tel-aviv-hotel/
∗ Sheraton – from € 330, https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tlvsi-sheraton-tel-aviv/
PETRA
Petra is probably the best known and most attractive of Jordan: beautiful landscapes, archeology, architecture, history and, why not, cinema. Who can forget Indiana Jones’s entry into the Treasury of Petra and the final ride across the Siq?
Visiting Petra is one of the experiences that anyone should have in life, precisely because of its ability to satisfy the most diverse passions: lovers of archeology, trekking, photography, excursions on horseback or on the back of a muleUpon entering Petra, the first monuments you will see are the House of the Djiin (1st century AD) and the Tomb of the Obelisk (1st century AD), but what will first take your breath away is the Siq. It is a long canyon, a narrow passage between two stone walls which with its play of light and shadow illuminates the bas-reliefs depicting caravans of camels and busts of kings: it was up to these figures that tower over us, and it is all up to now, the task of accompanying merchants and visitors inside the city, of making known immediately the greatness and magnificence of Petra, its wealth and its power.
The Siq takes us in front of the Treasury, a monumental structure carved in stone between 100 BC. and 200 A.D. perhaps to house the tombs of Areta III or his successors. The facade shows the influences of Greek art: it is unprecedented in Petra and only the Corinthian Tomb and the Monastery, or Temple of El Deir, recall its shape. The structure recalls a Hellenistic temple with four columns leading to a pronaos, a sacred space that introduces the actual temple. Above the columns we find entablature (a horizontal member that dominates the vertical elements and supports the upper ones), pediment and tympanum (respectively the triangular frame placed above the entablature and the surface that fills it) with the head of Gorgon, all elements of the temples greeks. The same forms are recalled in the higher order, interrupted in the center by a tholos, or a small circular temple, surmounted by an urn that is said to contain the Pharaoh’s treasure because Isis is depicted on the tholos. The capitals recall the Corinthian order, but the floral decoration and style recall those of the Nabataeans. On the sides, on both orders, we see figures on horseback and nike, that is, winged victories, recurrent in Greek art.
If you proceed, you will enter the street of the facades, along which there are about forty tombs carved into the fortress in a style reminiscent of Assyrian architecture. One in particular is not carved into the rock, but surmounted by a ziqqurat structure. From here you have two choices.
You will go up a steep climb on the red rocks of Petra until you reach the top of Jebel Madbah that the Nabataeans leveled to obtain a platform for sacrifices and drains for blood. If you continue further you will find yourself at the end of the hill from where you can enjoy the spectacular view of the Roman part of the site. From High Place (the hill of sacrifice is also so called), you can descend by an alternative road that will take you to a series of tombs, triclinia and temples, including the source of the lion (the Nabataeans were very skilled in capturing water through canals and cisterns and thus managed to make a desert area green with gardens and sources, it is even said that on the sides of one of the Royal Tombs there were two waterfalls), the tomb of the broken pediment, the tomb of the Renaissance. Interesting is the tomb of the Roman soldier, connected in antiquity to the triclinium that stood in front of it through a colonnaded garden. The architectural style and the figures resembling Roman soldiers suggest that it was built following the Roman conquest, that is, after 106 AD. The sculptures of legionaries give the tomb its name, while the triclinium is the only one to be decorated inside. The road goes down and leads behind the Palace of the Daughter of the Pharaoh.
You can choose a different category and type of hotels and rooms.
PETRA
3 Stars Hotels
∗ Lamaison Hotel – from € 60, http://www.lamaisonhotel.com.jo/
∗ Petra Guest House – from € 115, https://www.petraguesthousehotel.com/
4 Stars Hotels
∗ Petra Sella Hote – form € 60, http://www.sellahotel.com/home/index.html
∗ Hyatt Zaman Hotel & Resort – from € 99, http://www.hayatzaman.com/en/
5 Stars Hotels
∗ Mövenpick Nabatean Castle Hotel – from € 105, https://www.movenpick.com/en/middle-east/jordan/petra/hotel-petra-nabatean-castle/
∗ Movenpick Resort Petra – from € 188, https://www.movenpick.com/en/middle-east/jordan/petra/resort-petra/overview/
∗ Petra Marriott Hotel – from € 188, https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mpqmc-petra-marriott-hotel/
Please Note:
The prices are per person in double room, B&B or only B. The prices are variable according to the season and the demand.
If the hotel choose by you is not avalible. We are happy to offer you the similar hotel.
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