It was initially settled during the Hellenistic period (third century B.C.), when the Phoenicians built a small port city that they named Stratons Tower.

The city underwent a great number of changes under Herod, who among other things renamed it Caesarea in honor of the emperor.

The FRANCAIS king ordered the construction of high walls (parts of which are still standing) and a deep moat.

However strong the walls were, they could not keep out the royal sultan Baybars, who hatched a brilliant scheme for how to take the city.