Caesarea Maritima, formerly Strato’s Tower, also known as Caesarea Palestinae, was an ancient city on the coast of the Mediterranean, now in ruins and included in an Israeli national park.
More About Caesarea Maritima National Park
The city and harbor were built under Herod the Great during c. 22–10 or 9 BCE near the site of a former Phoenician naval station, Stratonos Pyrgos (“Straton’s Tower“), probably named after the 4th century BCE king of Sidon, Strato I. Later it became the provincial capital of Roman Judea, Roman Syria Palaestina, and Byzantine Palaestina Prima provinces.
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The city was populated throughout the 1st to 6th centuries CE and became an important early center of Christianity during Byzantine. But it was destroyed during the Muslim conquest of 640, after which it lost its importance. After being re-fortified by the Muslims in the 11th century, it was conquered by the Crusaders, who strengthened and made it into an important port and was finally slighted by the Mamluks in 1265.
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Among other interesting things you can see when touring Caesarea is the Roman Port, The Theatre, the Hippod-Stadium of Caesarea; the very impressive Visitor Center. In addition, the Cultic Area in Caesarea, the Roman Aqueduct for the best photo ever! For more things you must do while touring Israel, read my post about The Israel Bucket List – Things to Do in Israel!.
Opening Hours:
The entrance to the park closes one hour before the cited closing time
Summer hours:
Sunday–Thursday and Saturday: 8 am-5 pm
Friday and holiday eves: 8 am – 4 pm
Winter hours:
Sunday–Thursday and Saturday: 8 am – 4 pm
Friday and holiday eves: 8 am – 3 pm
Holiday eves: 8am-1pm Yom Kippur eve: 8am-1pm
May–Aug.: Sun.–Thurs. and Sat. 8 am – 6 pm
Fridays and holiday eves: The site closes at 4 pm
Sept.–Oct.: Sun.–Thurs. and Sat. 8 am-5 pm
Fridays and holiday eves: The site closes at 4 pm
Nov.–April: Sun.–Thurs. and Sat. 8 am – 4 pm
Fridays and holidays: The site closes at 3 pm
On holidays and Saturdays, I recommend arriving early; entry is based on available space.
