Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Where to Shop in the Holy
Land
Jerusalem's souks are the first place to look for many
of the items produced in this region (for shopping in
Jerusalem, see pages 148-9), but there is also pl
e
nty
of other good shopping in the Holy Land. Tel Aviv is
C
a
rmel
in Rehovot, near
R Tel
T
Aviv, specializes in Carmel rugs.
A
JEWELLERY
Some of the region's most
distinctive jewellery is made by
the Bedouin. It is sold at the
street markets of Nakhalat
B
i
nyamin
(see p172)
in Tel
Aviv, in many of the boutiques
A
in Jaffa and at the Thursday
market in Beersheva.
For more contemporary
pieces
Agas and Tamar
is an
upmarket boutique selling
exquisite own-designed, one-
off pieces. Even if your budget
doesn't stretch this far, it's a
b
e
autiful shop in one of Tel
Aviv's most interesting
A
neighbourhoods.
A
probably Israel's finest shopping city, with several malls
and markets, and lots of great boutique stores on and
off Dizengoff Street. Amman, in Jordan, has lots of
great arts and crafts items, a lot of which can also be
found at stores in the more popular tourist destinations
such as Madaba, Petra and Jerash.
HEBRON GLASSWARE
In Jerusalem, the first three
shops on the left-hand side of
David Street, going from Jaffa
Gate, have the best selection of
glassware. However, much
lower prices are offered in
the souk at Hebron. At
Madaba in Jordan,
Madaba
Oriental Gifts
has a good
range of Hebron glassware,
often at prices even lower than
those in Hebron.
Jewish menorahs for sale in the Old City of Jerusalem
RELIGIOUS ARTICLES
Also in Amman,
Silsal
Ceramics
is another good
sales studio specializing in
modern pottery.
For something really chic,
visit
B
lue Bandana
in northern
Tel Aviv, which stocks a fine
A
array of beautiful tableware,
much of which is designed
specially for the store.
For Christian religious items
there are any number of
shops in Jerusalem's Old City
(see p149)
. However, prices
are generally lower in
Bethlehem, which is where
many of these items are made.
One place worth visiting here
is the
Holy Land Arts Museum
on Milk Grotto Street, which
specializes in wooden objects
with mother-of-pearl inlay, and
inlaid metalwork (damascene).
For Judaica, visit the Jewish
Quarter in Jerusalem's Old
City and along central Ben
Yehuda Street in Tel
COSMETICS
The Arab town of Nablus is
famed for its olive-oil soap,
available at almost any East
Jerusalem grocer's and in the
Old City souks, especially on
Khan el-Zeit Street. In Galilee
the soap is sold in many
souvenir shops, particularly in
Nazareth, but at higher prices.
The reputed
health-
giving
properties
of the Dead
Sea are
exploited in the
TEXTILES AND RUGS
The shops and market in the
centre of Ramallah are a
good place to look for densely
embroidered Palestinian
textiles. Cushions and bags
made from Bedouin textiles
are found in most souvenir
shops in Israel. Prices vary
little, but for Bedouin rugs,
you would do better to buy
in Jordan. Madaba
(see p216)
,
in particular, is famous for its
colourful rugs. These can
be bought around town,
but one recommended
place is
Madaba
Oriental Gifts
,
which is
opposite St
George's
Church.
Shtihei
A Visit
Pninat-ha'kesef
in Tel Aviv for
A
Avi
v
.
a wide selection of
candlesticks and paintings.
CERAMICS
Jerusalem is the place
for beautifully coloured
Armenian ceramics, but there
are other styles produced
elsewhere in the region.
Beit
el-Badawi
in Amman sells the
designs of local craftspeople
who work in both traditional
and modern styles. Pieces
incorporate Arab calligraphy.
Craftsman hand-knotting the fringe of a rug
