| Tel Aviv-Yafo, referred more commonly to as Tel Aviv, is the second most populous city in Israel. With a population of 384,600, it is exceeded in size by Jerusalem, the modern day capital of Israel. The city is located on Israel's Mediterranean coastline over an area covering 51.8 square kilometers, and is the main city of the largest and most populous metropolitan area in Israel, the Gush Dan (Dan Bloc), whose population numbers 3.15 million as of 2007. Tel Aviv is recognized as a strong candidate global city, and has been named the most expensive Middle Eastern city to live in. Furthermore, the city is nicknamed "the city which never sleeps" due to its internationally renowned nightlife.
Tel Aviv was originally founded in 1909 by Jewish immigrants as an alternative to expensive housing in the neighboring historic port city of Jaffa, which has been populated for over 4,000 years and is thought to be the oldest port in the world. Extensive growth of Tel Aviv eventually engulfed its Arab-majority neighbor, and the two towns were united into the municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo in 1950, two years after the establishment of the State of Israel. Tel Aviv is today considered the center of Israel's international economy, and is the hub of the area popularly known as "Silicon Wadi". It is also considered Israel's cultural capital due to its open, modern, cosmopolitan environment. The city's Bauhaus architectured White City was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
Tel Aviv is a major tourist destination with a Mediterranean feel as well as culture and complexity. The city has several public parks and gardens, the largest being The Yarkon Park. Gan Meir, named after the first mayor, Meir Dizengoff, is on King George Street. Tel Aviv is known for its openness as well as its thriving night life. It holds many malls, such as Dizengoff Center (Israel's first mall) and the Azrieli Center. The city has many hotels, such as the Crowne Plaza, Sheraton, Dan, and Hilton. There is also a mall inside the Opera Tower. The city is known in Israel as, "The city that never sleeps". As well as having a vast array of museums for tourists to visit, and interesting quarters to explore, many tours of the city are available in different languages focusing on different aspects of the city. A bus tour of the city was launched in 2007, whilst the city also has architectural tours and segway tours as well as walking tours of many varieties.
Tel Aviv is also known for its lively nightlife and around the clock culture. Its beachfront promenades are especially a focal point of that atmosphere due to its myriad nightclubs and bars. |
