"Park" Hotel Garden – German Colony, Jaffa, 19th century

Jardin de l'hôtel du Parc à Jaffa ["Park" Hotel garden in Jaffa], photo by Felix Bonfils. Late 19th cen.
The garden of "Park" hotel (previously the school and community center of the German colony in Jaffa) was considered one of the first well-planned gardens in Israel and included tropical plants, monkeys, parrots (seen in the photo) and archaeological findings. Some attribute the planning of the garden to the agronomist Nissim Bechor Elchadif, first graduate of Mikveh Israel school. Emperor Wilhelm II and his wife were guests in this hotel during their visit to Eretz Israel in 1898. Annotated and signed in the plate. 22X28 cm. Good condition. Minor tears and damages at borders.