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ERETZ Magazine

STAYPUT HOME

JERUSALEM

TEL AVIV

YOUTH HOSTELS

UPPER GALILEE

GOLAN

SEFAD, ROSH PINA

LOWER GALILEE

WESTERN GALILEE

TIBERIAS

ACRE

HAIFA

CEASAREA

SHARON

ASHKELON

JUDEAN HILLS

BEERSHEVA

EILAT

KIBBUTZ HOTELS

  

Stayput Ashkelon

The ancient port town of Ashkelon has been a Philistine capital, Hellenistic polis, and fortified Crusader city. Today Ashkelon is a modern town whose gorgeous beaches and nature reserve attract visitors from all over Israel.

Ashkelon, which has been gaining popularity in recent years thanks to its gorgeous beach, is more than just another beach town. This port town is the only ancient city located on the sea coast in the southern coastal plain. Its name is of Western-Semitic origin, from the word shekel, which may be an allusion to one of the Philistine tribes.
Humans first settled in Ashkelon during the Neolithic period. It was ruled by ancient Egypt and mentioned in the El Amarna letters from the nineteenth century BCE. It is mentioned again in the thirteenth century BCE, when Ramses II conquered it after it rebelled against Egypt. It also was mentioned in the Israel Astelae as a city conquered by Merneptah, together with Gezer and Yinoam. During the Israelite Period, it was conquered by the tribe of Judah, according to Judges 1:18, though according to the Septuagint, Ashkelon was not captured.
In the twelfth century BCE, Ashkelon was conquered by its most famous rulers, the Philistines, who also conquered the entire southern coast of the Land of Israel. Ashkelon became one of the five main Philistine cities and was the site where Samson killed 80 Philistines (Judges 14:19).
Excavations in Ashkelon have revealed remains from the Philistine period, as well as from later periods, including the Hellenistic period, when it was an independent polis. The remains of the castle that the Crusaders built are still visible today.

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Bride of Syria

In Muslim tradition, Ashkelon is called Arus e-Sham (Bride of Syria) and is one of only two cities holding this title. (Damascus is the other.) Muslim tradition also grants Ashkelon the distinction of being a gateway to paradise. At the time of the resurrection of the dead, according to this tradition, 70,000 people will be resurrected in Ashkelon, each of them free of the obligation to account for their deeds in their lifetime.
The Muslim rulers of the land encouraged settlement in Ashkelon as a means of defending it against the constant threat of conquest by the Crusaders. A tradition emerged that a Muslim who spends only one day and one night in the town can be considered a shahid, a martyr whose entry to paradise is guaranteed, even if he dies as much as 60 years later in another locale.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Around Ashkelon

Visit Ashkelon Nation Park to check out the biblical Tel Ashkelon and finds from later periods. The most impressive remains are from much later – the Roman Period. Then take Route 35 and drive to Beit Guvrin for a visit to the 7,000 ancient caves and Roman and Crusader city

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Day 2: Caesarea and Megiddo

Take Route 4 to Morasha Junction. Take Route 5 west to Route 2 and follow Route 2 north to Caesarea Junction. Stop at Caesarea to tour Herod’s city on the Mediterranean, complete with a theater and an amphitheater. Take Route 65 to Megiddo Junction, turn left, and drive to Tel Megiddo for a visit to this ancient biblical city. Take Route 66 north to Haifa for a visit to the Bahai Temple (reservations required, Tel. (04) 831-3131). Then take Route 2 south to Route 70 and take Route 70 to Zichron Ya’acov. Walk along the main street of this settlement founded by the Baron Rothschild over 120 years ago. Have dinner at one of the many restaurants along the mall.

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Day 3: Tel Aviv

Take Route 4 north to Tel Aviv. Explore Jaffa and then taste historic Tel Aviv by strolling through Neve Tzedek and Rothschild Boulevard. Take a lunch break on Sheinkin Street and then check out the shops along Dizengoff Street. End the day with dinner on Ibn Gabirol Street.

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Day 4: Jerusalem

Take Route 3 to Route 1 and drive to Jerusalem. Enter the Enter the Old City via the Jaffa Gate and visit the Tower of David Museum, whose main exhibit focuses on the history of Jerusalem. Then walk down David Street, the main souvenir market, to the first intersection. Turn left onto Christian Quarter Street and walk to the alley of Saint Helena that leads down to the Holy Sepulcher. Exit by the small entrance to the courtyard that leads to the Muristan Market. Walk straight ahead until you reach the busy market street of Khan e-Zeit. Turn right and walk down the ancient Crusader markets.  Once out of the market, turn left on David Street and make your way round the corner to Sisileh Street (the Street of the Chain). Walk down the street to the street turning to the Kotel. Walk down to the Kotel. After visiting the Kotel, take the Rabbi Yehudah Halevi steps up to the Jewish Quarter. Make your way through the quarter to Zion Gate, walk out the gate, turn right, and walk along the outside of the wall, around the corner, and back to the Jaffa Gate.

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Day 5: The  Dead Sea

Take Route 35 to Kiryat Gat. Take Route 40 and then Route 31 to Arad. Descend to the Dead Sea and drive north on Route 90 to Masada. Ascend the mountain by cable car and tour the fortress. Descend by foot and then drive northward to visit the Ein Gedi National Park. From the entrance to the Nahal David stream, continue to the entrance to Nahal Arugot. Hike up Nahal Arugot to the Hidden Waterfall. Descend to the waterfall and then hike back either along the way that you came or along the riverbed itself through the small Arugot Canyon. Bring a bathing suit, suitable walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and plenty of water.

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Day 6: To the Negev

Take Routes 34 and 25 to Beersheba. Drive through Beersheba and continue on Route 40 to the ancient town of Avdat. Tour the ruins of this abandoned Nabatean city and then continue to Mitzpe Ramon. At the traffic circle at the entrance to town, drive to the left along a dirt road. The sculptures along the road all stand at the edge of the Ramon Crater. Take a walk along the sculptures – and the massive Ramon cliff (be careful). Return to Mitzpe Ramon and tour the visitors’ center before making a quick visit to the alpaca farm. Then return to Mitzpe Ramon and climb Camel Hill to watch the sun set over the crater. Grab a quick dinner at the restaurant at the visitors’ center and take Route 40 back to Beersheba and from there back to Ashkelon.

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Dan Gardens Ashkelon

The Dan Gardens Ashkelon has long been a popular destination for family vacations – it is comfortable, child friendly, and only minutes from beautiful beaches, a national park rich in both antiquities and hiking trails, and a modern marina. One of the most exciting attractions in Ashkelon is located at the Dan Gardens Ashkelon itself: Magic Land, a 2,000 sq.m. amusement park. Its 1,000 sq.m. outdoor section features go carts and large inflatable structures to climb and jump on. The 400 sq.m. indoor park consists of a series of playrooms with different themes. A room full of trampolines and tunnels and climbing structures caters to the energetic, while the library with books for all ages, story hours, a large puppet theater, and cozy reading corners appeals to others. A mini-cinema screens high-quality children’s movies and the multimedia room has a wide selection of games. Another room, which is set off from the rest, caters to the taste of preteens. It includes computer stations with games and internet access, Sony PlayStations, movies, music, and more. Though Magic Land is designed so that children can enjoy it on their own, while their parents enjoy the hotel’s spa and fitness center, one room of Magic Land is dedicated to family games that parents and children can enjoy together.

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Copyright ERETZ Magazine 2008