The Aqueduct Beach at Caesarea is one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in Israel: a long, wide beach with the remains of a Roman aqueduct running along the sand, its arches framing the Mediterranean and the sunset. The aqueduct, built by Herod the Great and expanded by the Romans, carried fresh water from springs on Mount Carmel to the city of Caesarea, a distance of over 10 kilometers.
The Aqueduct
Herod’s original aqueduct was a single channel carried on a series of arches. As Caesarea grew, the Romans added a second channel alongside the first, doubling the water supply. The remains that stand on the beach today show both channels, side by side, their arches still standing after 2,000 years of waves and wind. Inscriptions on the aqueduct stones record the Roman legions that built and repaired it, including the X Fretensis legion that had participated in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.
The Beach
The beach itself is wide, sandy, and extends for several kilometers. The combination of ancient ruins and natural beauty creates a beach experience unlike any other in Israel. Swimming beside Roman arches, sunbathing in the shadow of an aqueduct, and watching the sunset through 2,000-year-old masonry is an experience that manages to be both historically significant and purely enjoyable.
Engineering
The aqueduct visible on the beach is the High-Level Aqueduct, originally built by Herod the Great and later repaired and doubled by Roman legions. Latin inscriptions carved into the arches identify the Legio X Fretensis and Legio VI Ferrata as the builders of the 2nd-century expansion under Emperor Hadrian. The double arcade — two parallel channels running side by side — carried water from springs on Mount Carmel about 13 kilometers to the northeast, using a carefully engineered gradient to allow gravity flow. A second, ground-level aqueduct (the Low-Level Aqueduct) brought additional water from the Nahal Taninim dam. Together, the two systems supplied Caesarea with millions of liters of fresh water daily — enough for a city of 50,000, its bathhouses, fountains, and gardens.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
The Aqueduct Beach is a perfect complement to Caesarea’s archaeological park. Hoshen Tours includes it for the photographic opportunities and the unique experience of ancient engineering on the beach.