Why Old Jaffa’s Streets Are Named After the Zodiac

At first glance, it might seem as if the narrow lanes of Old Jaffa have always borne the names of the twelve zodiac signs. In fact, this is a relatively recent layer in the neighborhood’s long history.

From Ruins to Rebirth: The Zodiac Alleys of Old Jaffa

By the 1950s and 60s, Old Jaffa was in severe decline. Many of its historic stone buildings lay in ruins, and city planners were actively debating whether to demolish the old city entirely. Fortunately, the municipality chose preservation over destruction, embarking on an ambitious restoration project to transform the area into a thriving cultural hub of galleries, workshops, and quiet cafés.

As part of this revival, urban planners needed a unifying theme for the maze of alleys cascading down Jaffa Hill toward the sea. Rather than naming the streets after historical figures or dates, they chose a single, imaginative concept: the twelve signs of the zodiac.

This created a cohesive “story map” for visitors to explore, anchored by the 300-meter-long Netiv HaMazalot (“Path of the Zodiacs”), which serves as the central spine of the neighborhood. Over time it became an integral part of Old Jaffa’s identity.

Ruth Zarfati and the Iconic Blue Ceramic Signs

The distinctive blue ceramic street-name plaques you see throughout the area were designed by Israeli artist Ruth Zarfati. Her design captured the soul of the renewed quarter, earning a silver medal at the 1972 Milan Design Exhibition and cementing the zodiac concept into Jaffa’s identity.

More than simple functional street signs, these plaques remain functional pieces of public art that guide travelers through the stone corridors. Today, the celestial theme weaves through the entire heart of Old Jaffa and extends beyond street names. 

The Wishing Bridge and Kedumim Square’s Zodiac Fountain

Over time, the celestial theme spilled past the street signs and into the landscape itself.

The “Wishing Bridge” (sometimes called the Zodiac Bridge) connects Jaffa Hill with Kedumim Square (Kikar Kedumim) and is decorated with reliefs of all twelve zodiac signs.

In Kedumim Square itself stands the Zodiac Fountain, created by sculptors Varda Ghivoly and Ilan Gelber in 2011 (with character design by sculptor Navot Gil).

The fountain features chalkstone sculptures of the twelve zodiacs and combines water, light, and stonework to complete the astrological narrative in the heart of Old Jaffa.

Archaeological excavations at the fountain site uncovered Ottoman-era architectural remains (walls, floors, a tiled courtyard, aqueducts, and a water reservoir), which seemed to confirm an old local legend about a magical wishing well once located there.

The Local Tradition: Make a Wish

This legend gave rise to a popular tradition:

• Some say that if you find the street named after your zodiac sign in Old Jaffa and make a wish, it may come true.

• Another version holds that if you stand on the Wishing Bridge, hold the relief of your astrological sign, and gaze out toward the sea, your wish will be fulfilled.

• The fountain itself echoes this motif: tossing a coin into the water while making a wish is said to grant your desire on the spot, playing on the idea of the ancient “wishing well” that supposedly existed at this very location.

Together, the zodiac street names, the bridge, and the fountain create a layered, almost mythic experience of space: history, archaeology, art, and folklore all intertwined in the fabric of Old Jaffa.

Article written by Yana Levitan

Owner and Manager of the ALTER I NATIVE I SOUVENIR gallery in Jaffa, dedicated to showcasing exceptional works by local Israeli artists.

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