Caesarea

The port city of Caesarea was built by King Herod in 20 BC. It had a very attractive harbour, and the uncommonly large amphitheater accommodated 10,000 spectators. In its golden years Caesarea was one of the largest cities in historical Palestine, with more than 100,000 inhabitants and an area of 3.7 kmē.

Caesarea served Jews and Christians as an important cultural center for more than thousand years, until Islamic Mameluks demolished the city in 1265 (fearing that Christian Crusaders would try to recapture the city as long as it exists).

More information:

• official website of Caesarea national park
• Wikipedia article about Caesarea

Photos:

• Model of the ancient harbour of Caesarea
  
   
• 360° panorama of Caesarea
  
   
• Power station and coal terminal south of Caesarea
  
   
• more travel photos of Caesarea

For some strange reason Israel caused a complete disaster to the southern landscape of this historical site in the 1980’s and 1990’s, by building a coal terminal and power station in Haderah, only a few kilometers south of Caesarea. The coal terminal spoils several hundred meters of the view to the Mediterranean Sea, but the quay is not high, and could easily be hidden behind a chain of artificial islands. A greater problem are the 300 m high chimneys of Haderah power station — too high to be hidden behind any wall, hill or building (other than a skyscraper).

Should historical Caesarea be renovated to its Herodian glory one day, making the chimneys disappear from the southern horizon would probably be possible only by demolishing the chimneys and replacing them with a less tall or more remote alternative.