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Promenades have been constructed in many places throughout Israel, allowing visitors to enjoy their free time and take pleasure in viewing unique landscapes. Examples of such are Tel Aviv's beachfront promenade (which was featured on a stamp in 1983) or the Louis Promenade in Haifa, overlooking the Haifa Bay.
Capernaum-Tabgha Promenade, Sea of Galilee
This promenade was built in 2000 in honor of Pope John Paul 1 I's visit to the Land of Israel. Extending along the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee, the promenade is some 3.5 kilometers in length, and connects between Capernaum and Tabgha, two of the most important sites along the Christian pilgrimage route to the Land of Israel.
According to the New Testament, Jesus was active in Capernaum for a lengthy period of time and some of the apostles lived there. The "Miracle of the Loaves and Fish", when Jesus was able to feed five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, took place in Tabgha, which is Ein Sheva. The church depicted on the stamp was erected in Tabgha to mark the occurrence of the miracle.
The promenade allows pilgrims to make their way between the two holy Christian sites while taking in the view of the Sea of Galilee. The seating corners located along the promenade provide believers with the opportunity to stop and reflect, as well as to observe the breathtaking vistas of ancient times across the way.
The promenade was designed by landscape architect Gideon Sarig, with the coordination and construction carried out by the Israel Government Tourist Corporation.
Armon Hanatziv Promenade, Jerusalem
An impressive promenade was built on the Armon Hanatziv ridge to the south of the Old City of Jerusalem, overlooking "The Holy Basin", with the Temple Mount and the Kidron Valley at its center. Visitors may visually follow the development of Jerusalem from this vantage point - from the City of David from on the First Temple period through the walled David City to the modern construction of the new city.
The Armon Hanatziv Promenade is made up of a number of separate promenades: Haas, Gabriel Sherover, Trotner and Goldman, which were incorporated to create one overall complex, providing visitors with brilliant observation points facing both northward toward Jerusalem and eastward toward the Judean Desert. The idea to preserve the ridge as open public space was formulated by a team of architects, including Lawrence Halperin and others, and adopted by Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek. The Jerusalem Foundation and The Gabriel Sherover Foundation realized their vision during the last two decades of the 20th century.
Fragrant plants, stone and archways were used extensively in designing the promenade. Observation points with wooden trellises were incorporated all along its length. The Promenade follows the line of the mountainous terrain and has staircases and paths on multiple levels.
The main section of the Promenade was designed by architect Shlomo Aronson.
The Netanya coastline, which extends for some 13.5 kilometers, is one of the most beautiful sections of beach along the Israeli Mediterranean coast. The Rishonim Promenade was erected in the center of this area, adjacent to Netanya's main hotels as well as, further along, to the pedestrian mall and Independence Square.
The Promenade is built as a series of plazas, to which the adjacent streets connect, and it serves as the city's veranda overlooking the sea. The beach is easily accessible from the Promenade via two staircases and a public elevator, which itself is accessed by a unique observation bridge, the first of its kind in Israel.
The Promenade was designed to serve as a gathering place for the city's residents and visiting tourists. Restaurants and cafes opened to the east, while the western side remains open, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Trellises of varying designs were erected along the Promenade, incorporating interesting Mediterranean features and components, such as colorful floors, latticed sides and gravel pillars covered with plants.
The Promenade was designed by architect Nettanel Ben Itshak and built at the initiative of the Israel Government Tourist Corporation and the Netanya Municipality.