The Orange Routes
In Tel Aviv there are four routes, known as the
Orange Routes that will help you get acquainted with the city. A
number of the city's smaller museums are located on these routes.
Three of the existing Orange Routes are best
walked, as parking spaces in Tel Aviv are hard to come by. All the
routes start at 5 Shalom Aleichem Street, between Hayarkon and Ben
Yehuda Streets. Along the routes you'll find large orange and green
metal markers that make it easy to identify the specific location as
well as a sign that outlines the location's history.
The Beginnings of a City - Route # 1 The Gem of
the Orange Routes
The First Town Hall, 47 Bialik Street, 03/525-5052
Municipal offices were in this building (until 1965). This building
was built in 1925 as a hotel. In front you'll see a mosaic sculpture
by Nahum Gutman (see separate article).
Beit Bialik (Bialik House), 22 Bialik Street,
03/525-4530 This was the former home of Haim
Nahman Bialik, Israel's national poet. The building combines
eastern and western styles and features beautiful tiles made at
Bezalel. The two-story building is by and large as it was during
Bialik's time and includes original furniture, a 1,000-volume book
collection, and dozens of paintings by the most prominent artists of
Bialik's time. Exhibits are labeled only in Hebrew, however groups
may arrange for an English-speaking guide, by calling in advance.
Beit Rubin (Rubin House), 14 Bialik Street,
03/525-5961 This small museum is located just a few doors down from
Beit Bialik. This was the house where the painter Reuven Rubin, lived
and worked for 30 years. The museum that houses 45 of his paintings
opened to the public in 1983. Featured works include two distinct
periods, a naïve phase that characterizes the 1920's and later a
freer expression of the world, in the 1960's. The artist's studio has
been preserved on the third floor of the museum, as it was during
Rubin's lifetime.
Migdal Shalom, (Shalom Tower), 03/517-7304 This is
the original site of the first high-school, known as Gymnasia
Herzelia . The tower has an observation deck that affords a great
view of the city and mosaics by Nahum Gutman and David Sharir.
Independence Hall, 03/517-3942 This was the former
home of Meir Dizengoff, the city's first mayor and served as the
first site of the Tel Aviv Museum. It was here that Israel's
independence was proclaimed. There are no elaborate exhibits here.
But anyone who's ever seen the black and white footage declaring the
birth of the Jewish state will find it eerie standing in the exhibit
hall that recreates the momentous occasion. This particular museum's
starkness perhaps best provides an accurate representation of both
pre and post-War of Independence days of 1948.
The Haganah Museum, 23 Rothchild Blvd.,
03/560-8624 The museum is located in the former home of Eliyahu
Golomb, one of the leaders of the Haganah.
The museum follows the evolvement of the underground defense force,
from its founding until the beginning of the new State of Israel and
the establishment of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).
Neve Zedek A neighborhood originally built for
Jews that moved from Jaffa at the end of the 19th century. This area
has been undergoing much renovation and restoration in recent years
(while many of the buidlings are still run-down). The Nahum Gutman
museum is located in this area which is becoming increasingly sought
after.
Susan Dalal Center, 03/510-5656 A center for drama
and arts and home of the Bat Sheva dance company.
The Rest of the Orange Routes
Tel Aviv Center - Route # 2
Habimah
National Theater, 03/526-6666, The Mann Auditorium, 03/528-9163,
Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, 03/692-7710, Tel Aviv Museum of Art,
03/695-7361, Monument to the Holocaust and the Resistance, Rabin
Plaza, Tel Aviv Municipality and Rabin Plaza, 03/521-8438
Jaffa (pronounced Yafo in Hebrew) - Route # 3
Beit Gidi (Etzel Museum), 03/517-7180, The Clock
Tower, Ancient Jaffa
Over the Yarkon River - route # 4 (this is a car
route)
The Eretz Israel Tel Aviv Museum, 03/641-5244,
Beth Hatefutsoth (The Museum of the Jewish Diaspora) 03/646-2020,
Yehoshua Gardens - Hayarkon Park, 03/642-2828, The Israel Trade Fair
and Convention Center, 03/646-2401.
The Association for Tourism Tel Aviv-Yafo has two
offices where tourists can receive brochures about the Orange Routes
(brochures are distinctly absent from the locations along the routes
themselves). Also available, a wide array of additional information
and brochures about the various attractions and activities in Tel
Aviv:
Tel Aviv -Yafo City Hall, ground floor. TEL,
03/521-8500 - open Sunday-Thursday from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
New Central Bus Station, TEL 03/639-5660 - 9:00 AM
- 5:00 PM, opposite bus ramp # 603 on 6th foor.
Sources: Copyright � 2000 Gems
in Israel All rights reserved. Reprinted
with Permission. |