Kikar Dizengoff

Lonely Planet review

The geographic heart of the city, Kikar Dizengoff is regularly populated by a motley mix of mohawked punks, hippies, ice cream-licking tots and energetic centigenarians.

The square, named after the city's first mayor (1910-1937), is located on a raised platform over the street, a block north of the Dizengoff Centre shopping mall. The Fire and Water Fountain in the centre of the square makes for a somewhat appropriate symbol of the city. Spinning crazily, spurting water at random moments and occasionally launching flames into the air, its outlandish behavior continues naughtily into the night, almost unnoticed by city residents infected by similarly unpredictable manner. The fountain was designed by Ya'acov Agam, a leading Israeli artist known for his (obvious) predilection towards rainbow colour schemes.