The Ralli Museums in Caesarea
For a change of pace from ancient history, the Ralli Museums in Caesarea are well worth a visit. They occupy two adjacent buildings and are aimed, together with three other Ralli museums in Uruguay, Chile and Spain, to disseminate knowledge about contemporary Latin American art. They are considered one of the most culturally significant art complexes in Israel.
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Directions: Enter “Ralli Museum” into Waze and click on “Ralli Museum, Caesarea.”
Admission: : The museums are closed Sunday and Wednesday and are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., Friday 10.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. and holiday eves 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Entrance is free. Their phone number is 04 626 1013. This is one of their websites.
Public transport: Enter “Ralli Museum” into Moovit. There is a bus stop close to the Museum. Bus 80 goes infrequently from Binyamina train station.
El Circo 1989. Painted by six artists from South American.
Both Rali museums were founded by Harry Recanati, a notable Israeli banker, philanthropist, and art collector. The name "Ralli" is his tribute to his wife, Ruth Recanati, whose nickname was "Ralli," Thus, the Ralli Museums reflect both Harry’s love for art and his deep personal devotion to his wife, as well as his broader philanthropic vision.
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Harry was born in 1919 in Salonica (then part of the Ottoman Empire, now Thessaloniki in Greece) and he died in 2011 at age 92. He is best known as a member of the prominent Recanati family, which was instrumental in the development of banking and finance in Israel. He was a passionate art collector and was known for supporting Latin American artists and promoting international cultural exchanges.
The focus of one of the museums is modern Latin American art and sculpture, and it features paintings. and sculptures by leading Latin American artists. These paintings are colorful and expressive and are quite different from the art of many Israeli artists. There are also works by Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall, and René Magritte, and an outdoor sculpture garden with large bronze sculptures, often on biblical or historical themes. The architecture of the building is Spanish colonial style, reflecting a Latin American influence. This building also contains an excellent exhibit on the archeology of Herod’s Caesarea.
The second museum is dedicated to the memory of Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal during the period of the Inquisition. The architectural style of the building mimics Andalusian palaces, with white walls, red roofs, and graceful arches. The fountain in the courtyard is surrounded by marble statues of Maimonides, Ibn Gabirol, Yehuda Halevi and Spinoza. The museum contains four stories of paintings of women mentioned in the Bible and were created by European artists in the 16th to 18th centuries.
This one of the two museums is in a Spanish colonial style
Painting by Arnold Delkin, the last great Mexican muralist, to commemorate the 1942 discovery of America, the Inquisition and the Jewish exodus from Spain.
This statue by Salvador Dali is one of many statues by this artist in the museum's collection
The courtyard of his second museum contains statutes of famous sages of Spanish Jewry. The architecture of the bulding is that of Andalusian palaces.
Finding of Moses, Valerio Castello (1624-1659)
OTHER SITES OF INTEREST IN CAESAREA
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Caesarea National Park
Caesarea National Park is an impressive archeological site. With a bit of preparation, it is possible to make this ancient and partially reconstructed city come to life in a meaningful way in just a few hours (see Caesaarea National Park).
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Beaches and waterpark in Caesarea
Caesarea has 15 beaches. Two particularly worthy of consideration are the beach within Caesarea National Park and Hof Shonit. A swim in the park can, of course, be conveniently combined with the rest of the archeological park and can be a nice incentive for the kids.
This beach is in a calm cove in the ancient harbor. It has a lifeguard on duty in season, showers, chairs and umbrellas. There is no extra charge other than the park admission. Restrooms are those for the entire park and are close by. The closest entrance is via the northern entrance to the park.
A popular beach is Hof Shonit or Reef Beach. It has a lifeguard, restrooms and cold showers, a refreshment stand, restaurant, and structures providing shade.
There is also the nearby Neve Yam Waterpark with jacuzzies, large waterslides, children’s world with slide and pools for toddlers, lawn, and sun beds. There is an admission charge. The phone number for the waterpark is 04 984 1885. This is their Hebrew website:
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The Caesarea Antiquity Museum and The Anna Szenes House
These two museums are in Kibbutz Sdot Yam. Anna Szenes was a member of the kibbutz.
The Antiquity Museum features an extensive collection of archaeological finds from Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader periods. It houses unique artifacts discovered by kibbutz members and in local excavations, including marble statues, ancient coins, pottery, sarcophagi, and mosaics. There is also a large Roman-style courtyard with columns, capitals, sarcophagi, large marble statutes, and architectural findings from Caesarea and the surrounding area.
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The Anna Szenes House is dedicated to commemorating the character and story of poet and parachutist Anna Szenes. The exhibition which includes a movie, tells her story starting from her rich, privileged childhood in Budapest, her immigration to the Land of Israel, her time spent in Israel in Nahalal and Sdot Yam, her enlistment in the British Army, and her mission in Hungary, which resulted in her capture and death. Finally, her funeral procession in Israel.
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Tickets are available for either museum or a combined ticket for both. The museums is usually open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. However, it is recommended to check for current operating hours as they may vary. Their phone number is 04 636 4548. This is their website:​​​​​​​
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