32°42′16.59″N 35°17′43.25″E / 32.7046083°N 35.2953472°E / 32.7046083; 35.2953472 Fauzi Azar by Abraham Hostels (formerly known as Fauzi Azar Inn) is a guesthouse located in the old city of Nazareth, Israel. It is on the Jesus Trail. In recent years, the Fauzi Azar has played a role in working with the Christian Arab community of Nazareth through various projects.

History

The Fauzi Azar was once the home of the Azars, a wealthy family residing in the city of Nazareth. It was built in 1830 by Habib Azar, while the Inn itself was named after one of his great-grandsons, Fauzi. The family remained in the area until the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, when they relocated to Syria.

The house was converted into a guesthouse in May 2005 by Israeli entrepreneur Maoz Inon, having decided to build a hostel in the city of Nazareth to serve as a way-point for hikers, travelers, and tourists.[1] Palestinian residents of Nazareth view Inon's project as a larger attempt to disenfranchise the locals and to Judaize the Galilee further pushing Palestinians out.

Architecture

The 19th-century building built from stone has been preserved and restored over the years. The three-story building has original hand painted ceilings, Turkish marble floors, and limestone arches.

Community outreach

The Fauzi Azar has sponsored community-based projects with the hopes of reinvigorating the old city in Nazareth. They also host a volunteer program in which international volunteers come to Israel to live in the old city while working there.

In November 2011, they received the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award for Best Accommodation for Local Communities.[2]

Famous visitors

In June 2011, Tony Blair, former prime minister of the United Kingdom visited the Fauzi Azar during a tour of Israel's Nativity Route. He visited the Fauzi Azar while in Nazareth following the first section of the Jesus Trail.[3]

In December 2011, Tony Wheeler, founder of the Lonely Planet travel guide stayed at the Inn as a guest, and hiked the Jesus Trail with Inon.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2BackToHomePage2". Mfa.gov.il. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
  2. ↑ "Best hotel award in the Responsible Tourism Awards, organised by". Responsibletravel.com. 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
  3. ↑ "Quartet Representative Tony Blair visits Nazareth and Jenin, travelling along the Nativity Route | Latest News | The Office of Tony Blair". Tonyblairoffice.org. 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
  4. ↑ "By the time Tony co-founded Lonely Planet Publications in 1973, he already had the travel bug. And ever since, travel and discovery have been at the heart of his life and career. - Part 1". Lonelyplanet.com. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
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