156 The Saraya and Governor's Residence

Architect: Baruch Papirmeister, 1897; Restoration architect: Eyal Ziv, 1997

A unique opportunity to visit this historic Neo-classical building, whose construction outside the walls of Old Jaffa at the end of the 19^th century was considered a groundbreaking feat and encouraged private real estate development once the ‘exodus’ from Old Jaffa began. The building originally housed the offices of the local Ottoman rulers, and in 1917 was transferred to the British government. In 1946, it changed hands once again and was given to the Supreme Arab Committee, only to be blown up by members of the Lehi underground movement in 1948. In 1997, after the building was deserted for 50 years, the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality undertook to restore and renovate its exterior. The building was in the possession of the Turkish government until its recent transfer to the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, which intends to convert into a cultural center.

The tours on Thursday will be led by the restoration architect Hila Keren Steinmetz.

The tours on Friday will be led by the restoration architect Eyal Ziv.