Tel Aviv is located on the Mediterranean coast of Israel and is the country's largest urban center. The city was formed in 1950 when the ancient port of Jaffa united with its former suburb of Tel Aviv.
This commercial center is home to more than half of Israel's business, banks, and commercial enterprise. It's also a tourist attraction with the seaside resort of Herzliyya nearby.
Israel was captured by many different powers over the years, and Jaffa was captured and controlled by each of them. From 1570 to 1090 BC, it was an Egyptian provincial capital. After that, it was dominated by Israel, Assyria, Persia, Alexander the Great, Egypt, Syria, Israel again, the Roman Empire, and the Arabs.
Tel Aviv has experienced phenomenal growth since modern Israel came into being in 1948. One of the best things about it is the fact that a long sandy beach lies alongside the bustling city, so you're never very far away from a refreshing respite.
