Jaffa Flea Market, Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, District, Israel

Jaffa is the ancient port out of which modern day Tel Aviv has grown. Next to Jaffa’s picturesque Old City is Shuk HaPishpushim Fleamarket.

Jaffa’s Shuk HaPishpushim, or Flea Market, is an outdoor secondhand and antique shopping extravaganza. Founded in the early part of the 20th century, the Jaffa Flea Market has, in recent years, become a trendy spot for fashionistas, artisans and lovers of all things old or handmade.

Today’s sprawling streets and central market area are an eclectic mix of indoor restaurants, stop by eateries, outdoor junk vendors, and shops with refurbished furniture, household items from earlier periods, and second hand clothes. Today a local nonprofit also holds cultural festivals where local artisans and students collaborate on public art works, the profits of which benefit youth at-risk in nearby Jaffa.

With the Ottoman Empire’s rule over parts of the Middle East in the early 1900s, Jaffa was renovated and used as its commercial and political center. A central export through the Jaffa port was oranges from the nearby groves, what came to be known today as ‘Jaffa Oranges’. And through the port, Jaffa rose to power as a trade station for local and foreign merchants. A Turkish market was set up near the port and below the close-by mosque and Greek Orthodox church to offer food, mementos and other wares to traveling pilgrims and tradesmen.

Visit Israel. Epic Israel Adventure route © Monika & Simon Newbound. All rights reserved 2017

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