World Bahá'í Center
The Bahá'í Faith took shape in the religious trend in the middle of the 19th century, and Haifa has its main administrative and spiritual center. The center includes a temple and gardens in Akko, as well as the gardens and tomb Bab, which are located on the slope of Mount Carmel, in Haifa. In addition, the center of Haifa has an international training center, an archive, the House of Justice and a center for studying sacred texts. In 2008, the World Bahá'í Center was introduced by UNESCO on the World Heritage List of Humanity.
Shrine (sanctuary) Bab began to build in 1891, and the process took almost 10 years. In this place, the remains of the Bab, the follower of Baha'u'llah and the founder of the Babi current, had to rest. The eldest son of the Bab, Abdu'l-Bahá, planned the building, which was later completed by his grandson, Shonji Efendi. The result was an amazing design with a central dome and arcade, reminiscent of the most majestic temples of several religious streams. In 2011, her three-year restoration was completed.
The remains of Baba were buried in 1909 in a stone mausoleum of six rooms. In 1929, three more halls were added to the mausoleum, and in 1949 Efendi started to work, completing it in 1953. Construction was carried out entirely and entirely with the funds of followers of the Bahá'í Faith from all over the world.
The majestic dome of the sanctuary is covered, like scales, with 12,000 tiles of various shapes and sizes made in Portugal from gold plates. The cylindrical base on which the dome is resting is 11 m high and stands on its octagonal base. The balustrade is decorated with a mosaic of emerald green and scarlet details, and on each of the four corners is placed a bronze inscription of the main name of God.
The World Center is open to all comers, and the Baha'is themselves consider it "a gift to humanity". Nevertheless, this is a sacred place for believers, therefore, one should behave with restraint and be dressed properly: with covered shoulders and in clothes not above the knees. Reliable shoes are also important: the steps and paths are lined with shingled pebbles, and in shoes with heels, it is better not to climb them.
The terraced gardens that lead up to the shrine can be called one of the most recognizable sights of Haifa, and each year they attract many visitors. Moreover, this is an amazingly peaceful and peaceful place, which is rare for the noisy and turbulent Haifa. A total of 19 terraces, divided into two parts by the tomb building and a garden with it, are stretched together for a whole kilometer, starting from the foot of Mount Carmel. Both the terraces and the sanctuary are marvelously illuminated at night.
The center offers free guided tours, during which you can see the landscape and natural, natural parts of the gardens, as well as admire the wonderful views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. The guide tells about the design of the gardens and works to maintain them, as well as their significance in the Baha'i faith.