Eli Avivi is the self-declared ruler of Achzivland, an independent, albeit unrecognized, micro-nation just north of Nahariya. The eccentric former seaman first became smitten with this beautiful stretch of beach at the northern edge of Israel in 1952. Convinced this was the spot for him, he soon built himself a home there. In 1970, after a string of mishaps with the government (one of which involved a bulldozer), Avivi, a born renegade, declared his 2.5 acres of land and its populace, "Achzivland." Not surprisingly, the spot is known to draw a crowd of young, hippie-inclined internationals and Israelis, making late night parties, concerts and drum circles a part of Achzivland's cultural heritage.
Dating back thousands upon thousands of years, the archaeological sites of Ancient Israel are rife with intrigue and Jewish history. We all know about the top Israel attractions and world-renowned religious landmarks like the Wailing Wall and natural landscapes like the Dead Sea, but what about Israel's stranger features? From biblical giants and vegan and vegetarian utopias to Harry Potter's grave and prehistoric cavemen, welcome to the lesser known archaeological sites of the Holy Land.