Haifa is a northern Israeli port city built in tiers extending from the Mediterranean up the north slope of Mount Carmel. The city’s most iconic sites are the immaculately landscaped terraces of the Bahai Gardens and, at their heart, the gold-domed Shrine of the Bab. At the foot of the gardens lies the German Colony, with shops, galleries and restaurants in 19th-century buildings.
The history of Haifa dates back before the 3rd century BCE. Since then it has been controlled by several civilizations, including the Canaanites, Israelites, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Kurds, the Mamluks, and the Ottoman Turks. It is currently a major city in Israel.
