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Caesarea Village

Old ruins of Caesarea village are next to the Crusaders Fortress. On the top of the ruins, church of St. Peter was built which was on the site where an old mosque stood in the past. A wall which may belong to that building has been identified in modern times. Major excavations took place in 1990s and many of the old buildings were found on the site.

Walking towards the old village of Caesarea, beside the path there was a large sarcophagus on display. It has a gabled lid with two triangular handles at both ends. Another sarcophagus has head of Medusa, who is generally described as having the face of a hideous human female with living venomous snakes.

Caesarea was still in ruins till 1884 then Bosnian Muslim came to this area and started a fishing village called Qisarya which still exists today. Most inhabitants of the village left in 1940s amid violence and confusion. There were number of mosques in the village but only one has survived. This mosque had been used as a restaurant and as a gift shop in the past.

Ruins of the Crusader Fortess, seen from the Caesarea village
Ruins of the Crusader Fortess, seen from the Caesarea village
A large sarcophagus on display
A large sarcophagus on display
This sarcophagus has head of Medusa on one side
This sarcophagus has head of Medusa on one side
A mosque at Qisarya Village
A mosque at Qisarya Village
Bosnian Muslim used to live in this village but they all left in 1940s
Bosnian Muslim used to live in this village but they all left in 1940s
Base of the minaret of the mosque at Caesarea
Base of the minaret of the mosque at Caesarea
This mosque had been used as a restaurant and as a gift shop in the past
This mosque had been used as a restaurant and as a gift shop in the past
A gift shop opposite the mosque of Qisarya
A gift shop opposite the mosque of Qisarya
A boat inside the Caesarea harbor
A boat inside the Caesarea harbor
Now sun was out and it was providing spectacular view of the harbor with it's crystal clear water
Now sun was out and it was providing spectacular view of the harbor with it's crystal clear water
A view of the Caesarea Harbor which was main port of the city during King Herod's reign
A view of the Caesarea Harbor which was main port of the city during King Herod's reign
A restaurant beside the Caesarea Harbor with the minaret of the mosque rising above it
This restaurant overlooks the ancient harbor of Caesarea
This restaurant overlooks the ancient harbor of Caesarea
Caesarea Harbor Experience was a small museum on the site but I didn't have time to visit it
Caesarea Harbor Experience was a small museum on the site but I didn't have time to visit it
Main walkway of Caesarea village
Main walkway of Caesarea village