Hi,
We didn’t know where we are heading to when we started driving this morning. We ended up walking the Independence trail on Rothschild boulevard in Tel Aviv.
Well, we were looking for something good to eat and we know the area is with high potential to find worth eating food. But as we walked the boulevard and came across an info station for the trail. The guy did try to convince us take a tablet for 10 Shekels but we enjoyed just walking. Atzva and would not agree on the voice who will read to us anyway ).
The Independence trail walks among important location for the city of Tel Aviv (the first new Hebrew city in the world): some of the 66 original buildings of Tel Aviv, the home of the first Mayor, a statue of the first Mayor, the location of the first school (now middle east first skyscraper), the first kiosk, the founders monument.
It also walks along important sites for the Independence of Israel: HaHagana museum, The hall in which the Independence ceremony took place and first location of the Bank of Israel.
It easy to follow it as it marks with embedded Bronze plates in the sidewalks, and there are signs in each site. It took us about 2 hours in easy walking, but without visiting the HaHagana Museum and thd Bank of Israsl Visitor center.
We ended up eating in one favorite places – Maison Kaiser, who opened a new branch in the middle of the trail.
We added some additional sites to the tour; construction site 🙂. Most of those were construction sites that the soil consultant office in charge is the office Atzva working in – new buildings in foundation stage and, more interesting, old building with excavation underneath.
Take Care
Gad
The bronze embed plate marking Independence Trail on Rothschild Boulevard
Independence Hall (under preservation and upgrade works). One of Atzva office works
Statue of Meir Dizengoff (Tel Aviv mayor for 25 years) standing in front Independence Hall (which was Meir and Zina Dizengoff historic home)
Independence trail kiosk info
Preservation project of about 10 historic building im the corner of Hertzel st. and Rothschild blvd. Another Atzva office work.
Tel Aviv first Kiosk
Maison Keiser branch on Rothschild blvd. on the French institute building
Nahum Gutman fountain, representative milestones from thousands of years of Jaffa’s history and of young Tel Aviv. The artist designed the city symbol.
Front sides of the walls
Back sides of the walls
The scenes on the mosaic on the curve around the fountain
The mosaic explanation sign on Nachum Gutman fountain
Marks on the location of 2 out of 66 Tel Aviv original buildings
Alfred Dreyfus statue
Akiva Arie Weiss House, the first floor was built on 1909, the only building left intact from the establishment of the city.
The building across the street from Akiva Weiss house.
The location of the first Hebrew speaking high school in the world, Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium. In this location now stands the Shalom Mayer Tower, first skyscraper in the Middle East.
Litvinsky house on Ahad Ha’am 22, built on 1909
The Edler house (for preservation) with the tower above it. Huge cantilever and a column in the old building made it work.
New tower foundation along the trail, Atzva office work as well
Platin hotel, built on 1926, was the most fashionable hotel at that time
Nice building along the way
And another one
Tel Aviv Great Synagogue, built on 1925, sought to unite all the citizens of the new city under one roof. The Lehi uses the basement and attic of the place as secret arms cache (you can see more locations as this on this post)
Shalom Ash was built on 1925 and renovated on 2013
Ledeberg house built on 1924
One of the many buildings of Benin family
A nice building on Rothschild blvd.
HaHagana Museum, located on Eliyahu Golomb, one of the organization founders. It also served as the organization secret headquarters.
Another building of Benin family, which was one the affluent families in the Jewish community of Aden in Yemen.
The trail back on Rothschild
Tel Aviv Founders Monument, installed in 1949, on the 40th anniversary of Tel Aviv. It is set on the location of the neighborhood committee offices and the first water tower.
Bachar brothers house built on 1922, now hosts an hotel
Bank of Israel visitor center (free of charge, about an hour tour). Built on 1930, it housed the British Mandate Income offices. It was blown on 1944 by the Etzel (more operations can be seen in this post)
A guided tour along the trail
Kushiner Eliakim house built on 1938 for commerce and office. Renovated on 2011-2013
Built on 1935 as a bank (2nd branch of Mizrahi bank in Tel Aviv), renovated on 2015.
Tel Aviv light rail Allenby station. It will be so easy to get from here from home once it start running
Another construction site, this is not belong to Atzva, with a new tower over a building for preservation (like Edler building we show earlier)
Independence trail brochure – Independence trail
The route in IsraelHiking map