Discover Ramla through its historical landmarks: an underground reservoir, a 30-metre-high tower, a museum in a former administrative building and several religious buildings.
Places to visit to guide your accommodation search
First consider whether you mainly want to visit Ramla’s old city and historical sights, or whether you also want to include the Lod Mosaic. In Roman and Byzantine times, the mosaic served as the floor of the reception hall of a villa in a wealthy district of Lod. Its visitor centre is in northeast Lod, near the Givaton junction, and is easily accessible from Ben Gurion Airport and via Highways 1 and 6. If the mosaic is part of your plans, you can take its location into account when choosing a holiday apartment; Ramla’s own historical landmarks are the focus here.
Tower, mosques and changing layers of history
The White Tower complex is in the centre of old Ramla and comprises four historical sites. The tower itself was built by order of the Mamluk Sultan Muhammad Ibn Khalhoun and completed in 1318. At 30 metres high, it is a prominent landmark in Ramla’s history. Its panoramic view extends from the Mediterranean in the west, including Tel Aviv, to the foothills of the Judaean Mountains and Samaria in the east.
The history of the White Mosque also spans several building phases. It was first built in the 8th century; the surviving remains date from a renovation ordered under Sultan Saladin at the end of the 12th century, as well as from the Mamluk period in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Great Mosque of Ramla tells a different historical story: this largely intact Crusader building was constructed as a Christian church in the 12th century. The two buildings can therefore be viewed as distinct records of the city’s history.
Underground reservoir and city museum
The Arches Pool was built in 789 AD as an underground reservoir and is considered the most significant surviving building from the time of the Abbasid caliphs in the Land of Israel. Adults and children can explore the historic underground space in rowboats. Here, the reservoir’s original function meets a special way to experience its interior.
The Ramla Museum opened in 2001 in a historic building dating from 1922. During the British Mandate, the building served as the city administration’s offices. The permanent exhibition takes visitors through Ramla’s history in six rooms—from its founding in the 8th century AD to the present day. Its themes include everyday life, trade and art, as well as the city’s multicultural population. The exhibition’s time span thus offers another perspective on the city, while the tower, mosques and pool bring individual buildings and their periods of origin to life.
Churches and crafts
St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church is in the old city. It was probably built in the 9th century by order of the Byzantine Empress Irene. The word “probably” is important here: its origin is not presented as an established fact. The Franciscan Monastery of St. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea was built in 1396 and served pilgrims travelling from Jaffa to Jerusalem. The monastery contains sculptures of Nicodemus and Joseph, as well as Titian’s painting “The Deposition of Christ.”
Once a month, on the first Shabbat of each Gregorian month from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., a craft market is held in the old city. Artisans display and sell their work there. The date rule can help you plan your visit. The relevant date is the first Shabbat of the Gregorian month in question.
Market traditions and flavours
Ramla’s bazaar offers a wide selection of produce and spices, as well as fresh lemonade. Individual stalls and offerings may change. Markets are also part of the city’s history: the Wednesday market was first held in Ramla and Lod before spreading to other parts of Israel. Its present-day form may vary. When planning, you can therefore focus on different aspects—a craft market on a specific date, the bazaar or Ramla’s longer market tradition.
When choosing a holiday apartment, you can match these interests to Ramla’s landmarks and consider Lod as a separate destination if the mosaic is part of your plans. The tower and old city history, underground space, museum and markets offer different points of interest, without requiring every visitor to choose the same itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Mishmar HaShiv'a, HaSharon, Ramla, Rehovot
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