Ashkelon is a picturesque coastal city located on Via Maris, an ancient trade route dating from the early Bronze Age and linking Egypt with the northern empires of Syria, Anatolia, and Mesopotamia. It is believed that the first settlement on the site of the current city dates back to five thousand years ago, which makes Ashkelon one of the oldest cities on our planet. Just to compare, the estimated age of Jerusalem is around 3,500 years. The Canaanites, Egyptians, Philistines, Babylonians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Mamelukes, Britishers, and the Israelites... Ashkelon's location, plentiful water resources, and fertile soil account for its prominence and immense interest in it from these many people and civilizations through the ages. In part one of the tour, I'm taking you for a walk through the Canaanite City Gate, the most ancient arched gate in the world (1950 BCE). We'll learn its history, see the unique mosaic, and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. We'll also learn about the groundbreaking findings made during the recent archaeological digs.