Haifa is home to both ancient and more modern religious history. It’s the one-time home of Elijah the Prophet and the headquarters of the Baha’i faith. Pilgrims come from all over the world to pay homage at the Baha’i Shrine and Gardens, located on the edge of the city center. Baha’is believe in the unity of all religions and believe that messengers of God like Moses, Jesus and Muhammad have been sent at different times in history with doctrines varying to fit changing social needs, but bringing essentially the same message.

Elijah’s Cave, nestled at the base of Mount Carmel, is where the prophet Elijah is said to have lived and meditated before defeating the pagan prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel in the ninth century B.C. He also hid here when fleeing the wrath of King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, and Elijah established his school in the cave upon his return from exile. It’s sacred to Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druze, all of whom venerate the prophet Elijah. Tradition also has it that the Holy Family (Mary, Joseph and Jesus) found shelter in this cave for a night on their return from Egypt. A domed chapel—the Stella Maris Church—enshrines the cave, which is underneath the main altar. The cave itself also has a small altar. Pilgrimages and great ceremonies are held at this cave many times each year.

The Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery is a 19th century monastery located on the slopes of Mount Carmel above Elijah’s Cave; it can only be reached by cable car or on foot. Its history is an interesting one and tied very closely to Elijah’s Cave. During the Crusader occupation in the 12th century, groups of religious hermits began to inhabit the caves of this area in imitation of Elijah the Prophet. Within a century, these monastic hermits were organized into the Carmelite order, which spread throughout Europe. Its founders on Mount Carmel, however, were exiled in 1291 and did not return until the 18th century. Construction of the present monastery and basilica was begun in 1836.