Ariela Stem

: Dec. 2025

: 12

Israel

  • Sketches in Old Jaffa, Tel Aviv.

    Sketches in Old Jaffa, Tel Aviv.

    On the shores of the Mediterranean, Old Jaffa has a unique atmosphere. It is a fascinating part of Tel Aviv, very different from the city center. This neighborhood, with its old Oriental-style houses, is located on a high seashore. Some of the old houses and luxurious villas are abandoned and covered with picturesque greenery, while others are still inhabited. Here you will find tall palm trees, cypresses, olive trees, ficus trees, pomegranates, orange trees, thickets of rosemary, an abundance of flowers, cacti, and, of course, cats. Mosques stand side by side with synagogues, Catholic cathedrals, and monasteries. This is the site of one of the most ancient cities in the world: the ancient port of Jaffa, mentioned in the Bible. Perseus saved Andromeda here; Noah used cedar wood from this place to build his ark; the Apostle Peter experienced a miracle here. Alexander the Great passed through Jaffa, Richard the Lionheart built a fortress here, and Napoleon’s army briefly captured the city in the late 18th century. Tel Aviv itself grew out of this place. Old Jaffa amazes with its beauty and Oriental character. It is here that ideas for paintings are born.

    14 December 2025