Zfat in Israel is a small city on top of a mountain located in the northeast of the country. Travelers looking for a mixture of history, tradition, spirituality and art will love visiting Safed, which is referred to as the "City of the Kabbalah" and is one of the four sacred sites of Judaism.
Historic Sites
Since the history of Safed dates back thousands of years, it naturally has many historical places that deserve the attention of tourists:
- Tzfat Cemetery. It is located in the lower part of the city. It may seem a little strange that one of the main attractions of the city is a cemetery, but this place is filled with visitors on a daily basis. The remains of famous Kabbalistic masters are kept here: Rabbi Ari and Joseph Caro (died 1573). The famous mikveh (ritual bath) Ari is located at the Safed cemetery. The ice water tank is still used by the bravest.
- Citadel (Metsuda). It is a beautiful park with a picturesque view, and it is also the remains of a historic Crusader castle. The citadel is located at the highest point of Safed inIsrael. This is the place where battles were fought from Roman times until the Israeli War of Independence. There is a monument here in honor of those who gave their lives to defend Safed in 1948. The highlight of this park is its beautiful shrubs and trees, as well as breathtaking views.
- Davidka. Not far from the beginning of the Midrachova shopping street and the top of the Great Stairs, the Davidka cannon is visible. She played a decisive role during the Israeli War of Independence. Opposite her, bullet holes and shell holes in the buildings are still visible.
- The Great Staircase. It was used by the British to divide the city of Safed into two parts: the Arab and Jewish quarters of the Old City until 1948. Today, this staircase is a great starting point for visiting the Artists' Quarter and the historic synagogues of the Jewish Quarter.
Walking around the city
Certainly, the best way to see the city is on a walking tour of Safed. Most of the best places can only be reached on foot:
- Candle factory. Not far from the Kadosh Dairy Factory on Yud Alef Street is the Safed Candle Factory, where wax art reaches incredible heights. It sells traditional Shabbat and Havdala candles in beautiful colors and wax dioramas representing biblical scenes are unique.
- Hameiri House Museum. It documents the Jewish life of Safed in Israel for the last 200 years. Born in the fifth generation, who passed away in 1989, Yechezkel Hameyri spent decades turning this building into a museum,based on two large halls, each 150 years old. At one time these rooms were used as the headquarters of the rabbinical court of Safed. And during the First World War, they became home to hundreds of children who became orphans as a result of a typhus epidemic that claimed the lives of two-thirds of the city's population. Today, paintings, documents and common utensils used by later generations of Safed are exhibited in these vaulted rooms.
- Memorial Museum of Hungarian-speaking Jews. Another little-known, but worth visiting attraction of Safed is located on a hilltop near Aliya Bet Street. The museum is part of the Saraya complex. Today it is known as the Edith Community Center and is also home to the former khan (traveler's hostel) and the Noam Synagogue. You can also see the charming Ottoman clock tower here.
Synagogues of Safed
Among the modern galleries and picturesque limestone lanes of Safed are a number of historic synagogues that will help visitors traveling through Israel connect with the holy city's untold mystique:
- Sephardic Synagogue of Ari. She is the oldest in Safed. In the 16th century, it was a favorite place of prayer for Arizal (Rabbi Isaac Luria), who especially appreciated the view of the mountain.
- The Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue also dates back to the 16th century. The aforementioned Rabbi Isaac Luria prayed at this place on Shabbat. Many people know that Shabbat is the most important holy day in the Jewish calendar. Later, a synagogue was built here. Holy Ark made from olivetree, is also located in this location.
- Yosef Karo Synagogue. Originally founded in the 16th century, like many buildings in Safed, it was destroyed twice by earthquakes and rebuilt each time. An Italian philanthropist named Guetta installed a marble floor here. Local legend says that half of the renovation budget was spent on construction, while the other half was buried underground to be used when the messiah came.
- Abuhav Synagogue. It was built in 1490. Here is the oldest Torah scroll in all of Safed. It is kept under lock and key. Only 3 times a year it is read: on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Shavuot.
Shopping in Safed
A mandatory stop for all visitors to Safed is HaMeiri Cheese Shop, whose recipes have been used for 168 years. And if you take a loaf of bread and some cheese, you can enjoy a picnic somewhere nearby.
Walking along Gallery Street, tourists will find many art shops, souvenir shops and places to eat, as well as banks and post offices.
Walking through the Artist's Quarter, you can see beautiful old stone houses. Cute little restaurants tucked away in picturesque side streets. To buy gifts and art, you must visit the Art Market, which has a lot of wonderful jewelry, calligraphic art, paintings and ceramics.
Food inSafed
When hungry, tourists can head to Jerusalem Street for some street food or dine at one of the decent restaurants overlooking the Old City and the Meron Hills.
While in Safed on a Wednesday morning, the shuk (open-air market) is a lively place to buy great local food and snack on olives, sweets or pastries.
Midrachov is the point where the ancient spiritual Safed meets the bustling modern city. Shops and cafes here are located opposite the most breathtaking views, unique only to the mystical city of Safed in Israel. Tourists can sip a refreshing drink or enjoy a meal while admiring the view of the historic Mount Meron and its surroundings. This unique and colorful street has local shops selling everything from fruits and vegetables to household goods, clothes and souvenirs.
Off the beaten path
If you want to go behind the scenes and get to know the real Safed, you can move away from the beaten path and visit the Tree of Life by the artist Shtender, as well as the Shemen Tov natural path, which promotes healing.
Nature lovers and tourists alike will enjoy the wadi, a gently sloping canyon that leads to Tiberias.
Local buses run regularly and there are several reliable taxi ranks. Fixed-route taxis - sheruts - pick up passengers along bus routes and charge them similar to buses, bringing tourists along the route.
