Jaffa

Jaffa is a historic port city on the Mediterranean coast that today forms part of the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality in Israel. It is one of the oldest port cities in the region, with evidence of habitation dating back to the Bronze Age. In Hebrew it is Yafo, and in Greek sources it is known as Joppa.

Throughout ancient and medieval times, Jaffa served as a major trading hub linking the Mediterranean with inland routes toward Jerusalem. The city is mentioned in biblical texts and later historical records. It endured repeated sieges and changes of control, including periods under Crusader and Ottoman rule. A notable event in its more recent history was Napoleon Bonaparte’s siege of Jaffa in 1799.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Jaffa developed as a center for citrus cultivation and export, contributing to the global recognition of the fruit known as the Jaffa orange. In 1950, the municipalities of Tel Aviv and Yafo were merged to form the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality, integrating Jaffa into the larger urban area.

Today, Jaffa comprises the historic Old City with its narrow alleys, the restored Jaffa Port, and a modern neighborhood that hosts galleries, restaurants, and shops. Shuk HaPishpeshim, the flea market, is a well-known destination. The area remains a mixed Jewish-Arab district with cultural and religious sites, including St. Peter’s Church. The Port continues to serve fishing and tourism, and the district is connected to central Tel Aviv by road and rail.