Page 20 - Discover Israel Magazine - 2015 Edition
P. 20
galleries, an assortment of specialty shops
and a home to famous and unique fashion
houses and boutiques.
If you close your eyes, you can easily be
transported back to a time of elegance and
fantastic stories. Sarona is a place where
yesterday, today and tomorrow converge
and create an intangible magic.
A few steps away from the bustle of the city is
an oasis of relaxation that hasn't been seen
since the days of the Templars themselves.
Above all, Sarona ofers its visitors freedom
and options. Its vast open spaces make it
an island of green in the heart of the city,
providing a wealth of leisure options. For
those interested in history, the visitor center
ofers exhibitions that reveal the little and
not-so-little stories that make up the riveting
history that is known as Sarona.
For those seeking a colorful and vibrant urban
experience, they are sure to ind a wealth
of options such as the farmer's market,
street shows, book fairs and current cultural
events that the Sarona team are constantly
History and cofee... developing for the public's pleasure.
Photos: Eyal Merilus
Sarona is a respite for those wanting to
escape the city's concrete jungle. In contrast,
it ofers lush green botanical gardens that
replicate the agricultural nature of the
As the Nazi party rose to power in Germany, Nowadays, the Sarona compound is used original Templar settlement and provides
peace, quiet and inspiration.
some of the Templers began engaging in
as a center for culture, leisure and shopping,
political activities involved with the Nazis As the sun sets, the space is transformed
and its visitors’ center tells the story of its
and a few became members of the Nazi into an elegant destination for city revelers
turbulent history and its important place as a
party. With the outbreak of World War II, looking to let of steam after a hard day’s
national heritage site.
in September 1939, the British declared work. Here, you will ind the city's top
the German Templars ‘enemy nationals’; restaurants, smart bars or retail options to
Restoration
satisfy your shopping cravings.
the colony became a detention camp and Sarona embodies the pinnacle of urban
its residents were exiled to Germany and
renovation and restoration, both in Israel and
Australia. Tel Aviv. After many years behind barbed-
wire (due to its governmental and military
At the beginning of World War II, British
designation), Sarona is inally showing of
security forces began occupying the colony. its charm. The immense cultural and historic
After the war, the fortiied camp became values of the colony are recognized while
a military base for the British forces and
each and every detail has been evaluated,
naturally became a favored target for
catalogued and handled by the best
attacks by the various Jewish underground craftspeople available. Special detail was
organizations — the Haganah, Irgun, and
given to the architecture and environment
Lehi — and eventually a symbol of the armed in order to maintain the utmost historic
struggle against the British rule. accuracy.
In December 1947, the British handed over The complex engineering operation combined
the Sarona camp to the Jewish leadership. modern technology and a thorough knowledge
The new camp was called ‘Mahaneh
of the past, artistic sensibilities and signiicant
Yehoshua’ (Camp Yehoshua). architectural skill. One of the biggest
challenges involved moving complete
In May 1948, the government ministries were historical buildings after it was decided Sarona, where historical
temporarily housed in some of the Templar to expand Kaplan Street. This ambitious Templar design comes alive.
homes as Jerusalem was under siege. The project required concrete trays to be case
name ‘Sarona’ was changed by David Ben- beneath each structure and lifting them on
Gurion to the ‘Kiryah’ (the Compound). ski-like structures so they could be moved Ecological pool
In December 1949, the government decided and kept intact.
to relocate its oices to Jerusalem, the
nation’s capital. Sarona Today
Sarona combines a unique architectural
history with a dynamic urban experience.
In 2006, a plan to preserve 33 historical
Together they create a center of shopping,
buildings, returning them to their former
façades from the time of the Templar
leisure and a relaxed and upscale
settlement, was approved. The rest of
atmosphere. The renewed colony includes
an urban park and the accurately restored
the buildings were demolished. To allow
city planners to expand Kaplan Street,
original 33 buildings of the Templar
ive Templar buildings were relocated in a settlement. These have been transformed
complex feat of engineering. into elegant cafes, ritzy restaurants, art
20
DISCOVER ISRAEL
and a home to famous and unique fashion
houses and boutiques.
If you close your eyes, you can easily be
transported back to a time of elegance and
fantastic stories. Sarona is a place where
yesterday, today and tomorrow converge
and create an intangible magic.
A few steps away from the bustle of the city is
an oasis of relaxation that hasn't been seen
since the days of the Templars themselves.
Above all, Sarona ofers its visitors freedom
and options. Its vast open spaces make it
an island of green in the heart of the city,
providing a wealth of leisure options. For
those interested in history, the visitor center
ofers exhibitions that reveal the little and
not-so-little stories that make up the riveting
history that is known as Sarona.
For those seeking a colorful and vibrant urban
experience, they are sure to ind a wealth
of options such as the farmer's market,
street shows, book fairs and current cultural
events that the Sarona team are constantly
History and cofee... developing for the public's pleasure.
Photos: Eyal Merilus
Sarona is a respite for those wanting to
escape the city's concrete jungle. In contrast,
it ofers lush green botanical gardens that
replicate the agricultural nature of the
As the Nazi party rose to power in Germany, Nowadays, the Sarona compound is used original Templar settlement and provides
peace, quiet and inspiration.
some of the Templers began engaging in
as a center for culture, leisure and shopping,
political activities involved with the Nazis As the sun sets, the space is transformed
and its visitors’ center tells the story of its
and a few became members of the Nazi into an elegant destination for city revelers
turbulent history and its important place as a
party. With the outbreak of World War II, looking to let of steam after a hard day’s
national heritage site.
in September 1939, the British declared work. Here, you will ind the city's top
the German Templars ‘enemy nationals’; restaurants, smart bars or retail options to
Restoration
satisfy your shopping cravings.
the colony became a detention camp and Sarona embodies the pinnacle of urban
its residents were exiled to Germany and
renovation and restoration, both in Israel and
Australia. Tel Aviv. After many years behind barbed-
wire (due to its governmental and military
At the beginning of World War II, British
designation), Sarona is inally showing of
security forces began occupying the colony. its charm. The immense cultural and historic
After the war, the fortiied camp became values of the colony are recognized while
a military base for the British forces and
each and every detail has been evaluated,
naturally became a favored target for
catalogued and handled by the best
attacks by the various Jewish underground craftspeople available. Special detail was
organizations — the Haganah, Irgun, and
given to the architecture and environment
Lehi — and eventually a symbol of the armed in order to maintain the utmost historic
struggle against the British rule. accuracy.
In December 1947, the British handed over The complex engineering operation combined
the Sarona camp to the Jewish leadership. modern technology and a thorough knowledge
The new camp was called ‘Mahaneh
of the past, artistic sensibilities and signiicant
Yehoshua’ (Camp Yehoshua). architectural skill. One of the biggest
challenges involved moving complete
In May 1948, the government ministries were historical buildings after it was decided Sarona, where historical
temporarily housed in some of the Templar to expand Kaplan Street. This ambitious Templar design comes alive.
homes as Jerusalem was under siege. The project required concrete trays to be case
name ‘Sarona’ was changed by David Ben- beneath each structure and lifting them on
Gurion to the ‘Kiryah’ (the Compound). ski-like structures so they could be moved Ecological pool
In December 1949, the government decided and kept intact.
to relocate its oices to Jerusalem, the
nation’s capital. Sarona Today
Sarona combines a unique architectural
history with a dynamic urban experience.
In 2006, a plan to preserve 33 historical
Together they create a center of shopping,
buildings, returning them to their former
façades from the time of the Templar
leisure and a relaxed and upscale
settlement, was approved. The rest of
atmosphere. The renewed colony includes
an urban park and the accurately restored
the buildings were demolished. To allow
city planners to expand Kaplan Street,
original 33 buildings of the Templar
ive Templar buildings were relocated in a settlement. These have been transformed
complex feat of engineering. into elegant cafes, ritzy restaurants, art
20
DISCOVER ISRAEL
