A Self-Guided Jaffa Tour: The Story of its American-German Colony

On this self-guided audio tour, you'll spot the signs of the salvation-seeking pioneers who called the port city home. Join me, Tomer Chelouche, a Tel Aviv city guide, as we uncover Jaffa's overlooked gem—the Noga neighborhood. Wander through the former American-German colony, tracing its rich history from Gesher Theater to its heart. Explore the area's wooden balconies, remnants of the first American settlers in 1866, and hear tales of Rolla Floyd, the colony's pioneer. Discover houses left by Americans, acquired by Germans, and the Beit Immanuel Guesthouse, once Kaiser Wilhelm II's retreat. Stroll the charming streets, immersed in the stories of love, jealousy, and transformation that shaped this vibrant enclave. This tour tells the unusual story of devoted American and, later, German Christians who came to settle in the Holy Land in the mid-1800s with the hopes of finding salvation. Their story deviates from the mainstream narrative told at Jaffa’s more touristic sites.