High-altitude Safed or Safed (Tzfat, Safed) - a city of Kabbalists and mystics, causing great interest not only for pilgrims from different countries, but also for tourists..Safed is located at the very top of the mountain, at an altitude of about 900 meters above sea level, in Upper Galilee .A rich historical, mostly religious, heritage, the Quarter of Artists and stunning landscapes make up the main value of the city .Here you can simultaneously observe both the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea .A mild climate provides warm summers and a cold snowy winter..It should be remembered that the intricate labyrinths of cobblestone streets - the residence of many orthodox Jews, which means that the presence of closed hands and feet when visiting local shrines is necessary .You also need to be careful when taking pictures of .Safed is one of the four sacred cities for Israelis, along with Jerusalem, Tiberias and Hebron .
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How to get
It is most convenient and cheaper to get to Zefat by bus. This can be done from many large Israeli cities. In particular, from Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem and Tiberias.
From Haifa, the journey time by bus No. 361 will be about two hours. The fare is 36 shekels. From Tiberias it is necessary to go with one change, and from Tel Aviv there is only one bus № 846 per day, in the evening. Travel time is three and a half hours. The fare is 45 shekels. From the Central Station in Jerusalem, bus number 982 will take to Zefat in three and a half hours. Buses run regularly. The fare is 40 shekels.
Search flights to Tel Aviv (nearest a / n to Safedu)
Climate
| Average monthly temperature, ° C | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| in the daytime | + 8 | + 9 | + 11 | + 18 | + 23 | + 27 | + 29 | + 30 | + 27 | + 26 | + 20 | + 12 |
| night | + 4 | + 3 | + 4 | + 8 | + 13 | + 15 | + 17 | + 18 | + 16 | + 15 | + 12 | + 6 |
History and culture
Apparently, the name of the city came from the verb "observe", so in translation from Hebrew "tzfat" means "observation point" .This was for a long time, serving in the era of the Second Temple built on the site of the destroyed Temple of Solomon, a border fortress, mention of which is also in the famous ancient text of Josephus Flavius "The Jewish War" .During the Crusades, the city is captured by the Crusaders, and in the 11th century Safed becomes a strategically important point in the territory of the Kingdom of Jerusalem..In addition to the crusaders, the fortress was in the hands of Muslims .The local population, despite constant military action, has been steadily growing, and as a result, thanks to its activity, the city has become a notable trading center .After the expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal, in the 16th century Safed was chosen by the Sephardi .It is at this time that one can talk about forming an idea of the city as the main center of the study of Kabbalah .In the 18th century, Hasis from Central Europe joined the Sephardim..
In addition to the fact that behind Safed was the reputation of a religious center, in the 20th century it became a stronghold of culture. In 1930, a community of artists is formed here, which today owns many art galleries.
How to navigate in the city
The central part of Safed, whose heart is the old quarters, is small enough not to use public transportation for transportation..It is located at an elevation of .In the eastern part there is a bus stop, in the western, exactly opposite, - Jerusalem (Jerusalem), where there is a tour desk and several restaurants .Here you can find the oldest buildings .The synagogue quarter and the Quarter of artists are compulsory, but entering any synagogue for someone who does not share the religious beliefs of the local population can be difficult..
Shopping and shopping
First of all, it is worth to visit the famous Quarter of Artists, where the studio studios present the author's works of art, which can be purchased in memory of this wonderful city. Also in the territory of Safed is a plant for the production of wax candles and dairies, where different high-quality cheeses are made. Both are local attractions. Before you buy a local cheese production, you can try it in the same place, in a dairy.
Entertainment, sightseeing and sightseeing
The main attraction of Safed is the synagogue .There are a lot of them, and each of them is the owner of history covered with legends .The most famous is the Ashkenazi synagogue Ari, built in the 16th century by the Sephardi .It is believed that Rabbi Yitzhak Luria, who created one of the directions in Kabbalah, on the eve of the Shabbat ±$.The second synagogue is Rabbi Yosef Karo's synagogue, also built in the 16th century as the House for the Study of the Torah .According to legend, under this holy place there is a cellar in which the angel-instructor passed on the secrets of the Kabbalah .
The ruins of Safte Fortress, left from the Crusades, date back to the 12th century. Originally there was a solitary tower, which was well fortified. The fortress served faithfully and truthfully to the Knights Templar. From the hill there is a beautiful view of the city. Also worth seeing is the famous Quarter of Artists. Photos of Safed (8)