Ashkelon National Park
Description:
Ashkelon National Park is an ancient and amazing place. It was found a huge number of historical and archaeological values that belong to various nationalities. The Canaanites, Persians, Byzantines, Greeks, Romans and Crusaders all lived in what is now Ashkelon, in the heart of which is the National Park.
The national park is surrounded by a wall, the construction of which dates back to the middle of the XII century. Initially, the wall was about 2,200 meters long. The eastern and southern parts of the national park have preserved the remains of the walls. The history of the park is as amazing as the park itself. In 1815, Lady Esther Stanhope, using ancient manuscripts to search for a hoard of gold coins allegedly left on the site of the ruins of an Ashkelon mosque, conducted the first excavations in Palestine.
The second day of the excavation gave the result: the foundation of the mosque was found, as well as various household items. The study of the mosque pointed to different periods in the history of construction. At first it was a pagan temple, which soon became a church, and after some time turned into a mosque.
If you are fond of history, Ashkelon will bring you an unforgettable experience.