Caesarea, Israel

Caesarea is a small, very well-to-do town and extensive archaeological site on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, located some 50 km north of Tel Aviv and several kms north of Hadera. Population 4,200. In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century Baron Edmond James de Rothschild purchased much of the land around Caesarea - with the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the Rothschild family gifted these holdings to the Caesarea Foundation.

The Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Development Corporation remains the operational arm of the Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Foundation. Caesarea is therefore only locality in Israel which is managed by a private organization (the Caesarea Development Corporation) rather than a municipal governmental organization. Caesarea is considered one of the most upscale residential developments in Israel. The current Baron de Rothschild still maintains a home in Caesarea, as do many other wealthy and influential individuals and foreign residents. Beyond the ancient remains, Caesarea is a town devoted to tourists and to luxurious living. Some of Israel's finest homes are located here and it is also home of Israel's only 18-hole golf course (designed by the renowned Robert Trent-Jones), a luxury hotel, a vacation village, miles of sandy beaches, and a series of attractive restaurants, galleries and boutiques huddled around the Mediterranean cove. And, of course, visitors marvel at its extraordinary archeological attractions, not least of which is the Roman theatre, where concerts, entertainment extravaganzas and the annual International Opera Festival are held.