Ramla’s cultural life spans everything from the city museum to historic buildings and water systems, as well as the long-established bazaar. When looking for a hotel in Ramla, your trip’s main focus is a good starting point: city history, architecture or market life.
Museums and City History
The Ramla Museum traces the city’s history from its founding in the 8th century AD to the present day. Its permanent exhibition is spread across six rooms. Finds from everyday life, trade and art also offer a glimpse of the population’s multicultural ethnic makeup. A particular highlight is a hoard containing 376 gold coins and six gold bars. It was discovered in 1964 near the White Tower complex.
Another museum dedicated to the history of the area is located on the grounds of the British police complex. Its exhibits include a British postbox and a police car from the 1970s. A basement is also part of the historic site: the British, and until not so long ago the State of Israel as well, used it to burn documents. You must make arrangements in advance to visit the museum.
The White Tower and Historic Water Systems
The White Tower complex is located in the center of old Ramla and dates back to the period when the city flourished. The tower is 30 meters high. From the top, panoramic views stretch from the Mediterranean coast in the west, including Tel Aviv, to the foothills of the Judean Mountains and Samaria in the east. Within the complex, three dry underground water reservoirs lie between the square tower and the remains of the White Mosque. Their total capacity is about 6,400 cubic meters.
Another historic water structure is the Pool of Arches, an underground reservoir dating to 789 AD. Rowboats are available there for adults and children. Published visiting hours list 08:00 to 16:00, Sunday through Thursday; in July and August, hours are listed as 08:00 to 18:00 on Wednesdays and Thursdays. According to the published schedule, hours are 08:00 to 14:00 on Fridays and the eves of holidays, and 08:00 to 16:00 on Shabbat and holidays. Check the hours and rowboat availability before your trip.
Buildings in the Old City
The Great Mosque of Ramla is one of the few Crusader buildings in Israel that has survived almost completely intact. Ramla is also connected with Franciscan history: in 1396, the Terra Santa organization established a monastery here to serve pilgrims traveling from Jaffa to Jerusalem. The Greek Orthodox Church of St. George is in the heart of the Old City. It is said to have been built in the 9th century AD on the orders of Byzantine Empress Irene.
The Radwan Hammam is an Ottoman-era bathhouse in the center of the Old City. The site is fenced off; the building can be viewed through openings, and the central pool is visible. This offers a view of the building from the outside, but does not indicate whether the interior is accessible.
Bazaar and Market Life
Ramla’s bazaar has been around for well over a hundred years. Its offerings include spices not found in ordinary supermarkets. Fresh lemonade is sold at the Limonero stall. The goods on offer and the stall’s staffing may change; check what is currently available before your visit. Alongside the museums and buildings, the bazaar offers a different perspective on Ramla: here, the focus is on the city’s market life rather than its architectural history.
When planning your trip, you can weigh these different interests against one another: exhibitions and finds, historic architecture and water engineering, or the bazaar.
Discover more destinations: Lod, Ramla, Rehovot, HaSharon.
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