I take pictures of signs to remember where I went (and how to spell it)
The number of stunning places you see along the coast of Israel is surreal. Caesarea is an ancient city, built by Herod as a maritime and commercial center, and it survived as a capital city until its conquest my Muslims in the 7th century. It remained abandoned until the 1880s, when the fishing village was repopulated by immigrants. In the 1950s, the modern city of Caesarea was built nearby, and the ruins were preserved as a national park.
The old amphitheater reminds me of the ruins you’d find in Italy, which makes sense given the Roman rule over the region back then. It’s impossible to get a photo that conveys the size of the space – it is truly awe-inspiring. Apparently they do host some modern concerts here, and they were setting for an orchestra event when we visited. It must be beyond impressive at night.
I’ve always had a fascination for archaeology, and I love to walk among the ruins – I try to imagine what life would have been like and whether I would have appreciated my life if I had lived during that period. If I have time to sit quietly for just a few minutes, I feel for the vibrations of the place, the energy of lives spent there, the legacy they’ve left behind. For me, I love to experience the connection to our shared histories.
Because Caesarea was a port city, some of the ruins have been swallowed by the sea. This space used to be central rooms in the palace – it’s almost fitting that the waves lap against what’s left of the private spaces of the most elevated and royal members of this ancient community. The fact that tiles remain intact is a testament to the craftsmanship and dedication of the old artisans. I wish there were drawings of the old palace for comparison.
There’s something tangible about seeing where people gathered for sporting events. I don’t know why this feels more real than the amphitheater – perhaps because sport was such a central activity? If you’re quiet, you can almost hear the cheering from the crowd and the stomping of the racing horses as they came around the curve.
Israel is full of wonderful archaeological finds and is truly the intersection of the world’s religious and historical centers. Caesarea is such a cool place to hear a small part of the country’s colorful past!