"Beersheva: A city on the sand" a Beersheba Travel Page by gilabrand

As far as Israeli cities go, Beersheva has gotten a bad rap. It was a major crossroads in biblical times and an important administrative center during the British Mandate. After the establishment of the state in 1948, however, it seemed to lose whatever luster it ever had.

Beersheva has grown to the point where it is now larger in size than Tel Aviv, but it is perceived as a dusty place on the fringes of the desert, ranking slightly above a development town. While up to now there may have been some truth in that, things are clearly changing in Beersheva. It is still a city on the sand, with many places still drab and underdeveloped.

But alongside the colorless concrete tenements, glittering new towers are springing up. The architects are hard at work, designing bizarre new creations, and some of the interesting old buildings are being restored.

It is an odd mix, perhaps, but intriguing.