The clock tower was built in the very beginning of the XX century. on donations from the townspeople, both Arabs and Jews. Its construction was timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the coronation of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, ruler of the Ottoman Empire, of which Eretz Israel was part at that time. It became one of the seven clock towers built during this period in the territory of modern Israel. In total, more than a hundred chiming towers were erected on the territory of the empire. The shape of the clock tower in Jaffa resembles a chapel. In the upper part of the tower, under a dome lined with copper sheets, there is a clock and a bell that rings every half hour. Despite its resemblance to a Christian temple, the clock tower in Jaffa is not associated with any religious denomination. Moreover, its appearance, according to historians, is associated with a significant shift in society at that time towards secularism, and the construction of a "civic tower" with money raised by Jews and Muslims is proof of this. The clock tower has undergone several restoration works over more than a century of its existence. The most significant reconstruction of the tower was carried out in 1965, when its openings were decorated with figured grilles depicting historical scenes associated with the city of Jaffa. Then the tower was restored again in 2001, when, after several years of inactivity, the clockwork was started up again.It's worth a look! If you ever happen to be in the old Jaffa of Tel Aviv...think about the TIME...

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Иосиф Красильщик

Level 16 Local Expert

The elegant, well-proportioned tower of the early 30th century is worth admiring

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The Jaffa Clock Tower

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