Can't get enough of Roman ruins? Crusader fortresses? Byzantine walls? Ancient mosaics? Have I got the place for you. Caesara, located between Haifa and Tel Aviv, has it all. Treasures include a Roman aqueduct bordering the Mediterranean built 2,000 years ago and still standing (top), King Louis IX's citadel dating from 1251 (middle) and beautiful mosaics of animals, fruit trees, and romping Romans (bottom). There are also several theaters, a hippodrome for chariot races, bath houses, and water and sewage systems. Herod built this amazing city and port and named it after his boss, Augustus Caesar. At it's peak, 100,000 people lived here and it was the Roman capital of Palestine for nearly 600 years. It still seems very much connected to Italy, as evidenced by the two dozen priests* having lunch across from us at one of the five restaurants at this national park.
* Yes, that's how many there were, because I counted them. I don't think I've ever seen that many priests gathered together in my life.
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