Nahariya's Municipal Museum is in the seven-story Municipal Building, on Ha-Iriya Square. The fifth floor houses an art exhibit. The sixth floor, in addition to an interesting malacology (shell) collection, displays many artifacts from the area around Nahariya, whose fascinating history dates all the way from the Stone Age. On the seventh floor you can learn about the history of the town. The museum is open Sunday to Friday from 10am to noon, plus Sunday and Wednesday afternoons from 4 to 6pm. Admission is free.
The ruins of a Canaanite temple were accidentally discovered on Ha-Ma'apilim Street, a few yards up from the Municipal Beach, in 1947. Experts believe it to be a temple dedicated to the Canaanite goddess of the sea, Asherath (or Astarte), dating from about 1500 B.C. The ruins can be seen from the beach, and you can arrange with the Municipal Museum to be taken inside the site. There's no admission fee.
The beautiful mosaic floor of a 4th- to 7th-century Byzantine church can be seen on Bielefeld Street, near the Katznelson School. The floor -- one of the finest yet discovered -- depicts hunting and working scenes, as well as the flora and fauna designs typical of mosaic floors found in Byzantine churches. Check with Tourist Information Office (tel. 04/987-9800) to arrange a visit. There may be an admission fee of under NIS 5 ($1.25/60p).
