Caesarea is a city in its own right, with a lot of interest factors, but without a doubt the highlight is the National Park and its antiques, which give visitors a unique view of the world of luxury enjoyed by ancient Romans. It’s not that Israel of today lacks luxurious places but guests often choose Caesarea as a place to relax and enjoy the classy indulgence offered by the region. The same was true of the ancient world: people would come from the world over to enjoy the city which, in the opinion of many, was the peak of Roman prestige and luxury in Israel at the time.
If you'd like to get to know cancerous better, and the important roles it played in the ancient world, first get to know King Herod, the man who renovated the city. At the time it held a tiny seaport, gifted to Herod by the Roman Caesar.
Herod was a cruel king, and mentioned as such in historical records, but he was also a visionary builder. Many of his structural projects stand to this day in modern Israel, rousing appreciation and wonder.
Among the castles, fortresses and other structures he built, Caesarea is a unique wonder: a luxurious port city, known throughout the ancient world because of its beauty, its cultural events, it resplendent Roman architecture and artworks, and the advanced services enjoyed by the locals. In Caesarea, as in other locations, Herod showed that with suitable resources, stunning architectural works can be achieved even when they don’t correlate with the site’s natural conditions. So don’t miss out on these when you visit the National Park:
The Reef Palace
The reef palace is noteworthy for its sweet-water pool, the pillared court facing the sea, and other areas typical of Roman castles at the time. Currently you can see the remains of the pool’s perimeter, some of the mosaic works, and the palace’s overall layout.
The Hippodrome
One of the favorite entertainment options among nobles in ancient Rome was watching the horse and chariot races, as well as the occasional creative killings carried out. As befits a king fully invested in showing off, Herod built a magnificent hippodrome on the shore, half of which can be seen to this day. Take a seat and look into the area where these races were held. In fact, once in a while equestrian shows are still held there.
The Theater
Even if you’ve been at a Caesarea performance its worth spending some time visiting the National Park to take a closer look at the Roman theater and appreciating its size and beauty. The theater served the ancient city’s residents and guests as one of its main entertainment hotspots.
