Netanya

Netanya was founded in 1928 by citrus farmers.  Its name commemorates the Jewish American philanthropist Nathan Strauss, the owner of Macy's Department Store in New York at the turn of the century.

Since it doesn't have any major tourist attractions, the city is sometimes overlooked.  Today it is primarily a center for tourism and the diamond trade.  Israel is one of the world's largest exporters of diamonds.  Netanya is situated just thirty minutes north of Tel Aviv, twenty minutes south of Caesarea and just one hour from Jerusalem.

Netanya is home to the Poleg Nature Reserve which contains the world's largest population of iris Atropurpurea which blossoms between February and April.

Netanya's beautiful gardens run along the cliffs overlooking the beaches. During the summer months there is free entertainment at the amphitheater and the Promenade facing the sea.

 Beaches and Sports
Netanya has 13.5 kilometers of golden-sandy beaches and five promenades. For those who do not wish to walk down the cliff steps to the beach, take the elevator, which is the first of its kind in Israel which facilitates the approach to the beach.

Along the sea-shore you can enjoy volley ball, basket ball and mini football facilities.  National and International sport events and festivals, including surfing championships, are held annually.

Netanya has a diving club, courses for paragliding, tandem flights and horseback riding along the sea-shore and cliffs.

 Beach Promenades
Netanya boasts five Promenades, each bears a different style characterized with sculpture and design:

Cliff Promenade along Ben Ami Blvd. rises over the cliffs and offers recreation corners facing the suites.  There is a children's playground and a paragliding site.

Harishonim Promenade is a continuation to Ha'atzmaut Square.  The nine pergolas of wood and stone, each in a different color and geometric shape, make them very unique.   Cafes, restaurants, playgrounds and the elevator to the beach can be found at this promenade.

Nitza Promenade will be 350 meters long and the character of the promenade will be large pergola in the shape of the sail, and like an observatory above the beach.

Hama'pallim Promenade an art area, with private galleries and a municipal gallery exhibiting works of some of Israel's best artists can be found here.  There is also a tiled skating rink and recreation corner.

Shaked Promenade enjoy a magnificent view of the beach from the cliff balcony.  There is also an amphitheater with an acoustic shell seating 100 people. 

 Leisure and Shopping:
There are a number of shopping malls in Netanya with some of Israel's leading chains of shops.  The Pedestrian Mall is close to the seashore and hotels.  Sit at one of the local coffee shops or restaurants or enjoy shopping. During the summer months, there is entertainment suitable for all ages.

There's no problem finding plenty of things to do around Netanya after a day at the beach. Everything in Ha-Atzma'ut Square is open until around midnight or later, and the square is alive with people.

 Visiting a Diamond Factory
Israel is the number-one spot in the world for cutting and polishing diamonds, and Netanya is Israel's number-one diamond center, with two large factories.  Interesting and "pressure-free" tours are available free of charge.

What to see:

The Poleg Nature Reserve is 8 kilometers south of Netanya and offers an interesting hike along the Poleg River, upstream to the point it meets the sea. The riverbanks are lined with eucalyptus trees, planted almost a century ago to help drain the swamps.   In winter and early spring, the wildflowers along the route have made the Poleg Reserve a favorite destination for botanist.

The Iris Nature Reserve at the southern edge of Netanya is a sanctuary for wild and cultured irises.  There is an adjacent pond that attracts birds.

The Iris Reserve from the end of January till April, situated on either side of Ben Gurion Blvd, the southern exit of Netanya.

Moshav Avihail, 2 kms north of Netanya, was established by veterans of the Jewish Legion of World War I and has a museum.

Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sport, outside of Netanya is Israel's National Center for training national teams and visiting overseas sports groups.  It has an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool, a stadium with a 400 meter running track, five gymnasiums and sports fields.  The Institute houses the Israel Archives of Physical Education and Sports and the International Sports Hall of Fame.

Netanya
Netanya was founded in 1928 and is primarily a center for tourism and the diamond trade.

Key words:  Netanya, Poleg Nature Reserve, Iris Nature Reserve, Wingate, Netanya Beach Promenades, Diamond Factory