Old Jaffa Museum of Antiquities, Tel Aviv

The Old Jaffa Museum of Antiquities stands on a hill in the historic core of Jaffa, and its setting already tells much of its story. The museum is housed in the so-called “Ancient Saraya,” an Ottoman-era government building constructed on top of the remains of an 11th-century Crusader fortress. Over the centuries, as Jaffa passed through repeated conquests, the structure itself was rebuilt and repurposed—serving at different times as an administrative centre, a post office, and even a prison—before becoming a museum in the 20th century.

Inside, the museum offers a compact yet evocative collection focused on the deep archaeological past of Jaffa. The permanent displays trace the succession of civilizations that shaped the city, beginning with the Stone Age and continuing through the Canaanites, Egyptians, Persians, Philistines, Phoenicians, Greeks, Hasmoneans, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, and the British.

The central excavation area is located within the ground floor of the museum, often visible through glass-protected sections of the floor. It reveals the foundations of Jaffa from the 3rd century BC Hellenistic period through to the Roman period of the 2nd century AD. Visitors can see the remains of three distinct buildings, including a three-room basement complex and walls from a Jewish dwelling that was abandoned during the Great Revolt in 67 AD.

Beneath the main museum levels, large vaulted chambers represent relics of an olive-oil soap factory. After the Ottoman government moved its headquarters, the building was purchased by the Damiani family, who converted the space and began producing “clean” soap. As it was devoid of pig fat, the soap became a major export from Jaffa to the rest of the Ottoman Empire. Once you find yourself underground, look for the original stone troughs and vaults once used for mixing raw materials and storing the finished soap blocks.

Other notable pieces include a reproduction of the 8th-century BC annals of the Assyrian king Sennacherib, authentic Egyptian gate inscriptions from the reign of Ramses II, and personal items from a Jewish family who lived here during the Roman period, around 2,000 years ago. Alongside these antiquities, the museum also hosts rotating contemporary art exhibitions. Visitors should note that the museum has recently faced periods of closure and reorganization, so checking ahead is advisable.