A Jaffa Tour: The Story of its American-German Colony

(4 reviews)

Tel Aviv audio tour: A Jaffa Tour: The Story of its American-German Colony

This is a 0.5mi walking tour

It takes an average of 45 mins to complete.

Tel Aviv

Israel

$7.99

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About the Tour

Explore one of the most beautifully restored parts of Jaffa that’s been largely ignored and has laid dormant for years. On this walking tour, you’ll stroll through Noga, the neighbourhood where Americans, and later, Germans settled in the port city. As you make your way from Gesher Theater into the heart of the former American-German colony, I’ll point out the tell-tale signs of the area’s rich history.

Let me, Tomer Chelouche – a Tel Aviv city guide, take you off the beaten track as you explore the very first neighbourhood built outside the walls of the ancient city. Along the way, I’ll reveal how the area’s wooden-looking balconies represent the first makeshift timber homes created by the Americans when they arrived in 1866. You’ll learn about Rolla Floyd, one of the American colony’s first settlers. You’ll see the houses left by Americans and purchased by German settlers and the Beit Immanuel Guesthouse, once Hôtel du Parc where Kaiser Wilhelm II stayed when he visited Jaffa’s German colony. As you stroll the colony’s pretty streets, you’ll be captivated by the characters who shaped the area. You’ll hear about their naivety, jealousy, love and devotion and how it transformed the area.

On this 45-minute Jaffa walking tour, you’ll have a chance to:

Visit Jaffa's famous Jerusalem Boulevard and hear how its creation was sparked from a fit of jealousy
See and touch the original wooden houses of the American settlers, including Maine Friendship House and Norton House
Be amazed by Immanuel Church’s neo-gothic architecture, which is one of its kind in the area
Marvel at an old ficus tree in the Baron's Garden of Beit Immanuel guest house
Appreciate the renovated Drisco hotel and see the restored drawings on the walls of its historical beer cellar
Meander through the streets of up-and-coming Noga and visit artisan galleries and workshops

This tour tells the unusual story of devoted American, and later, German Christians who came to settle in the Holy Land in the mid-1800s with the hopes of finding salvation. Their story deviates from the mainstream narrative told at Jaffa’s more touristic sites so join me on this stroll as we see a different side of the port city.

Tour Producer

Tomer Chelouche

7 tours

Father of two and Tel Aviv tour guide since 2008.

My family was one of the founding families of Tel Aviv. Unfortunately, they didn't leave me any real estate so I guide tours instead.

I love to tell people about this amazing city. Join me and I hope you'll enjoy all that Tel Aviv has to offer!

Preview Location

Location 9

Immanuel Church

Stop here in front of the church. It’s better to stand a bit further away from it to see the three stained-glass windows facing the street.

Let’s see if you can figure out which biblical scenes are referenced in the stained-glass windows of the church. In the middle - can y... Stop here in front of the church. It’s better to stand a bit further away from it to see the three stained-glass windows facing the street.

Let’s see if you can figure out which biblical scenes are referenced in the stained-glass windows of the church. In the middle - can you spot a cross between two trees reaching to the skies? That’s the scene of the Crucifixion. To the left? A burning bush - that’s when God first appeared to Moses, as depicted in the Book of Exodus. And to the right - can you make out the shape of a whale? And there’s even someone inside the whale - remember this story from the Bible? That’s Jonah the Prophet. He was told to bring the word of God to the people of Nineveh, but he got cold feet, so he hopped on a boat not far from here - at the Jaffa port.

The Land of Israel was exalted come the year 1898. Everyone was preparing for the royal visit of the German Emperor Wilhelm II. Bridges were launched, roads paved, gates built... The Templars, who felt even more of a connection to the Emperor of their former Fatherland, invited him to attend the cornerstone laying ceremony for their new church.

Alas, even Germans are not always punctual. Notice the clock that has no dials above the church’s door. Time slipped away as the preparations for the cornerstone laying ceremony lingered and eventually it was held without the Emperor present. He did send a gift when the church was finally inaugurated in 1904. Look up to the bell tower - one of the bells inside was given as a royal present to the Templars by Kaiser Wilhelm II and his wife Augusta Victoria. It has an inscription in German (and I hope I’m pronouncing it correctly): “Zweifle nicht!” - meaning “doubt nothing”. This phrase was taken from the story of Saint Peter in the New Testament, who is said to have spread the message of Jesus Christ in Jaffa.

The Templars don’t live here anymore (I’ll tell you where they went later), but there are several protestant congregations using the place for mass, prayers and community gatherings. The bells in the bell tower no longer ring on a regular basis.

Now turn your back to the church. The white building with the blue windows right across and to your right was a luxurious hotel called Hôtel du Parc. So luxurious it was that it was chosen to host Kaiser Wilhelm II on his royal visit to the German Colony of Jaffa. Today it’s a guest house called Beit Immanuel serving Messianic Jews - it’s a community of Christians who incorporate some elements of Judaism into their religious customs.

Before you start moving again, I want to explain where is our next stop - it will be around the corner of the white building. With the white building to your left, you will turn left at the intersection and walk down the street until you reach a yellow building that is the Drisco Hotel.

Now you can pop in for a visit at the Beit Immanuel guest house. The place is very welcoming, so feel free to go through the blue gate. The garden that’s behind the hedgerow straight ahead has a magnificent ficus tree sending its giant air roots to the ground. You can also go inside the guesthouse - on the ground floor there’s a permanent exhibition about the American-German colony. The historic photos and documents on display will complement the stories I’ve told you thus far. There’s also a nice coffee place at Beit Immanuel, so feel free to take a break here.

You'll hear from me again at the yellow building around the corner. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Jerusalem Boulevard
תיאטרון גשר
Casino San Remo
Nehama Street
American-German Colony
Maine Friendship House
Immanuel Church
The Drisco Hotel
מתחם נגה
Cafelix - Jaffa

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Jerusalem Blvd 9, Tel Aviv-Yafo, 6811405, Israel
Total distance

829m
Final location
Jerusalem Blvd 3, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Distance back to start location

164.43m

Directions to Starting Point

Start: Gesher Theatre, Jerusalem Blvd 9, Tel Aviv-Yafo, 6811405, Israel

Gesher Theatre is a well known landmark in Jaffa, within walking distance of Ancient Jaffa, Neve TZedek and Florentine neighbourhood. If you’re located in central Tel Aviv, you can be at the starting point in less than half an hour by taking a bus in the direction of Jaffa. The most fashionable way to get around the city these days is to rent an electric scooter. These are scattered all across Tel Aviv-Jaffa and most are fitted with a detachable helmet for you to wear for safety. You can unlock an e-scooter with a few taps on your smartphone. A taxi is another option, but the price is a bit steep, so take it into account.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Casino San Remo is a great restaurant in which to have breakfast before you start this audio tour. It’s conveniently located next to the starting point and its breakfast menu is considered very popular.
If you appreciate urban parks, you can visit Elifelet Park mid-tour. It’s elegantly designed and nearby residents are fond of it. If you come at the right time, you’ll probably see the locals hanging out either at the kids playground or the section of the park that’s dedicated to dogs.
If you appreciate fine dining, consider making a reservation at the George & John restaurant. It’s located at the Drisco Hotel, which is one of the stops on this tour. In January 2023, George & John was ranked 6th in a prestigious list of the best restaurants in the Middle East and North Africa.
At the end of the tour you can have a coffee break at Urban Bakery or Cafelix - two great coffee places at the heart of Noga Neighbourhood.
If you’re into fashion and design you’ll appreciate the art galleries and artisan studios that Noga Neighbourhood has to offer at the end of this tour.

Best time of day

A walking tour in Tel Aviv-Jaffa is best done in the morning hours or late afternoon, to avoid the heat. It’s also possible to take this tour at night for a more romantic atmosphere. All the sites are visible seven days a week with no special plans needed before your arrival. If you arrive during regular hours of the day, you don’t need to prearrange for a visit to the Beit Immanuel guest house or the Drisco Hotel. If you’re especially interested in the Maine Friendship House or Immanuel Church, you need to contact these establishments in advance and they’ll be expecting a donation as a gratitude.

Precautions

During this tour you’ll be asked to climb a flight of about twenty stairs. If you are unable to do so on your own, please make sure there’s someone to help you. The rest of the tour’s route is completely levelled and does not require enhanced physical capabilities.
Be mindful when crossing roads and watch your step when walking on narrow sidewalks. Some of the route goes through pedestrianised streets, but from time to time you’ll share the road with oncoming traffic.
Tel Aviv-Jaffa has about 300 days of sunshine a year. So even without checking the weather in advance, it is almost certain that you’ll experience heat and humidity. For that reason, you should bring a hat and wear sunscreen. Also have a bottle of water with you, preferably not the single-use plastic kind.

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A Jaffa Tour: The Story of its American-German Colony

About the Tour

Tour Producer

Tomer Chelouche

Preview Location

Location 9

Immanuel Church

How VoiceMap Works

Major Landmarks

Jerusalem Boulevard

תיאטרון גשר

Casino San Remo

Nehama Street

American-German Colony

Maine Friendship House

Immanuel Church

The Drisco Hotel

מתחם נגה

Cafelix - Jaffa

Getting There

Route Overview

Directions to Starting Point

Tips

Places to stop along the way

Best time of day

Precautions

Get The App

Questions and Reviews