Clock Square is located in the very center of Jaffa, to the northeast of the Old City. Yefet Street adjoins the square from the north, and Raziel Street from the southwest.
The square's name is associated with the picturesque Clock Tower, built on this site in 1903. It is unique in that the city's first "public" clock appeared on it, unrelated to a mosque or church.
Clock Square was considered the city's most important official and transport point as early as the 19th century. Many government institutions were built here, and active business life was bustling all around. Nowadays it is a vibrant tourist attraction surrounded by restaurants and hotels. From here it is just a stone's throw to the famous flea market and Jaffa Port.
One of the square's most notable structures is the Saraya Palace, the former representation of the once-great Ottoman Empire. The 1971 film "The Policeman Azoulay," winner of an Oscar and a Golden Globe, was filmed right here.
The restoration of the palace began in the 1990s and continues to this day, occasionally being interrupted - mainly for political reasons. The other buildings on Clock Square were also restored and renovated to recreate the amazing atmosphere of the 19th century here.
