Discover Safed: Old City, culture and history

Safed offers several distinct points of interest for a stay: the Old City’s network of alleyways, religious history, archaeological traces, music, local cheese-making and views. The following themes can help you understand Safed through more than a single landmark.

Old City and views

The heart of the Old City consists of a network of alleyways. This layout defines the historic center and draws attention to the urban landscape as a whole, rather than to any single building. For planning your trip, this offers a different focus from Safed’s religious history or archaeological traces.

From Safed, views extend to the Sea of Galilee, Mount Hermon and Upper Galilee. The lake, mountain and region offer distinct points of reference in the same panorama. This brings Safed’s landscape into focus alongside its historical themes.

Cemetery and citadel

The hillside location of Safed’s Old Cemetery made it difficult to reach the important graves of the Ari and his students, as well as the grave of Rabbi Yosef Caro. The Israel Government Tourism Company improved access to these graves and built a viewpoint overlooking the entire cemetery. If the cemetery is important to your plans, check current access arrangements before your visit.

Remains of the fortress are visible on the partially excavated southern side of Safed’s Crusader citadel. A thematic comparison reveals a different historical perspective: the named graves and hillside location shape the subject at the cemetery, while the visible remains of a fortification take center stage at the citadel. You can therefore include religious history and archaeology as distinct interests in your travel plans.

Cultural history in Safed

Safed is considered the world capital of Kabbalah; the Ari HaKadosh and Rabbi Yosef Caro lived and worked there. The city’s cultural identity is thus connected with the histories of specific individuals.

At Beit Hameiri, an event from Safed’s past is presented on each of its five floors. The floor-by-floor presentation structures the city’s history; by comparison, the citadel conveys history through visible architectural remains. Beit Hameiri and the fortress remains therefore offer different perspectives if you want to explore Safed’s past.

Music and local cheese-making tradition

Safed’s Klezmer Festival has been held since 1988 and attracts tens of thousands of visitors from around the world. It offers a musical highlight alongside the city’s historical and religious themes. If the festival is a deciding factor in your stay, check the dates for your intended travel period.

Safed cheese originated in Safed centuries ago and is still made in the city today. The tradition combines a long local history with continued local production, adding a culinary dimension to the city’s cultural and historical themes.

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