Apollonia

Herzliya, Israel

Apollonia, known in the Early Islamic period as Arsuf and in the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem as Arsur, was an ancient city on the Mediterranean coast of today's Israel. Founded by the Phoenicians during the Persian period in the late sixth century BCE, it was inhabited continuously until the Crusader period, through the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods, during the latter being renamed to Sozusa. It was situated on a sandy area ending towards the sea with a cliff.

It fell to the Muslims in 640, was fortified against Byzantine attacks and became known as Arsuf. In 1101 it was conquered by the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, and was a strategically important stronghold in the Third Crusade, during which the Battle of Arsuf (1191) was fought nearby. The fortified city and the castle fell to the Mamluks in 1265, when both were completely destroyed.

The site of Apollonia–Arsuf was excavated in the 1990s and opened for visitors as Apollonia National Park in 2002. The above-ground remains before the excavations included the medieval city wall and moat, enclosing an area of about 90 dunam, a Crusader castle with a double-wall system with an area of about 4 dunam, a port with built jetties and a sheltered anchorage, protected by a sandstone reef.

Large amounts of pottery were recovered in the area surrounding the city, mostly of the Byzantine and early Islamic period, indicating that the city extended significantly beyond its old walls in the 7th century. A large Roman-era villa maritima was uncovered to the south of the site.

References:

Comments

Your name



Address

Herzliya, Israel
See all sites in Herzliya

Details

Founded: 4th century BCE
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Israel

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Eli Ben Ari (5 months ago)
One of my favorite National Parks in Israel. It is located only a 30 minute drive from Tel Aviv and makes a great spot for a picnic. It is family friendly and has remains of a Roman villa, a fortress & Byzantine glass kilns. Have fun!
Elke A. (6 months ago)
One of the most beautiful places in Israel, a short 20 minutes drive from Tel Aviv. Easy had shaded parking, cheap entrance ticket, and accessibility impeccable. The kids loved it, it was not packed with tourists (we were there on Saturday) , and the view... Not enough words to describe it. I have lived in Israel for 14+ years and was stunned.
Opal Fish (7 months ago)
It's gorgeous and a must-see location. Great for the whole family, for a quick stop or for a long day trip. Bring some food and have a picnic. Lovely spot!
Victor Wang (8 months ago)
Definitely a must-see attraction in the Herzliya area. Plenty of ancient history, beautiful views from the top, woven in some fun activities for the kids but enjoyable for adults too. Catapult demonstration is kind of interesting. Lots of different walking paths to spend time on different paths. Plenty of shaded spots with tables for picnics, water fountains, and restrooms as well. Entrance fee is reasonable and the sunsets are amazing. Access via foot path is not bad, walked up from the city center (Acadia beach) via the trail/community roads along the coastline.
Eran Tzinamon (10 months ago)
A well designed and maintained national park with ruins of a crusader fort and sea port. The various archaeological relics, some dating back to the Phoenicians, are accompanied by informative plaques. The site offers beautiful views of the coast and sea as well as local animal and plant wildlife.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Manarola

Manarola is a small town, a frazione of the comune of Riomaggiore. It is the second-smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns frequented by tourists, with a population of 353.

Manarola may be the oldest of the towns in the Cinque Terre, with the cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dating from 1338. The local dialect is Manarolese, which is marginally different from the dialects in the nearby area. The name 'Manarola' is probably a dialectical evolution of the Latin, 'magna rota'. In the Manarolese dialect this was changed to 'magna roea' which means 'large wheel', in reference to the mill wheel in the town.

Manarola's primary industries have traditionally been fishing and wine-making. The local wine, called Sciacchetrà, is especially renowned; references from Roman writings mention the high quality of the wine produced in the region.