NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION This aqueduct is on Israel’s Mediterranean coast between Haifa and Tel Aviv
DIMENSIONS Length:
2,296 ft (700 m); height: 23 ft (7 m)
CONSTRUCTED 37 BC.
Another one was built circa AD 110
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES
Jan: 55°F (13°C); Apr: 66°F (19°C); Jul: 81°F (27°C); Oct: 75°F (24°C)
There are few more seductive sights than bronzed bodies playing beach volleyball against the backdrop of this Roman aqueduct, built by Herod the Great for his new port of Caesarea Maritima.
The lack of fresh water at the site forced the city’s architects to bring water from Mount Carmel. You can see traces of that aqueduct on the road between Caesarea and Haifa and even walk a section that goes beneath Mount Carmel almost 10 miles (17 km) away. However, the most impressive section lies west of Caesarea, rolling for several (interrupted) miles over golden sands and almost taking a dip in the Mediterranean.
Practical Information
Getting There and Around Caesarea Maritima is a 40-minute train ride from both Tel Aviv and Haifa, but it’s a long walk to the area. You may want to consider an organized tour.
When to Go May and June offer the most pleasant temperatures and you can swim in the white, sandy lagoons almost all year round. Avoid July and August, the months of the major holidays in Israel, October festivals and Passover week (usually in April).