Tel Aviv and the Central Coast

The White City of Tel Aviv 

UNESCO Proclamation

"The World Heritage Committee has inscribed The White City of Tel Aviv - The Modern Movement on the World Heritage List. Inscritption on this list confirms the exceptional and universal value of a cultural or natural site which requires protection for the benefit of all humanity."

Overview

Tel Aviv, is the largest city in Israel and is the cosmopolitan center of the country. Dubbed the "White City", it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003 because of its special architectural features that date back to the 1930's. Many of the buildings, squares and avenues in Tel Aviv are built with a unique Bauhaus design and are protected by the UNESCO designation. Tel Aviv represents Israel's first modern city." 

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History of Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 and constructed on sand dunes situated north of the ancient city of Jaffa. EA few dozen people, dressed in fine clothing, joined together on the sand dunes north of Jaffa for a lottery (known as the seashell lottery) in order to divide the land that they had jointly purchased. This was the beginning.

The city's name comes from two words, "Tel" referring to the ancient remains of cities that are situated one on top of the other in many areas in the region and "aviv" meaning "spring" which refers to the rebirth and newness of the modern county. Most of Israel's current population resides within one hour of Tel Aviv and the city is home to much ot the country's business activity.

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Attractions, Entertainment and Culture

The city is also known for its selection of culture, beaches, restaurants, and shopping. Major museums include Tel Aviv Art Museum, Eretz Yisrael Museum, Independence Hall, Palmach Museum, the Children's Museum in nearby Holon and many others.

The cities beaches represent some of the country's finest and dot the western coast of the city. The city offers a number of fantastic shopping experiences. For local handiworks, try the Nachalat Binyamin outdoor mall which is opened on Tuesdays and Fridays. Shuk HaCarmel borders Nachalat Binyamin and is opened Sunday through Friday. This outdoor shuk sells fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, clothing, housewares, luggage, nuts and cheese and many other products. Several major malls are situated throughout the city including the Ramat Aviv Mall, Givatayim Mall, Gan Hair, and Dizengoff Center. For very upscale shopping, the outdoor commercial center, Kikar Hamedina, offers numerous international boutiques and designers.

Tel Aviv Travel Guide