Haifa - Carmelite Monastery

The Carmelite Monastery is situated on Cape Carmel, on the western outskirts of Haifa. It is reached from the harbor by way of Allenby and Stella Maris Streets or from Gan Ha'em Park by way of Hanassi Boulevard and Tchernikovsky Street. It lies close to the Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) lighthouse.

The first monastery built by the Carmelite order, founded on Mount Carmel in 1150, was destroyed in 1291 after the fall of Akko. After being rebuilt by Ahmed el-Jazzar in the late 18th century it was again destroyed in 1821 and once again rebuilt in 1828. It is dedicated to the Prophet Elijah and his disciple Elisha. The church contains paintings of scenes from their lives and a cedarwood figure of the Virgin with a porcelain head (1820), the Madonna of Mount Carmel.

Steps lead down to a grotto which is believed to be either the dwelling or the tomb of Elijah. There is a small museum in a room adjoining the entrance to the monastery.

In front of the monastery is the tomb of the wounded French soldiers who were killed on Ahmed el-Jazzar's orders in 1799.