The history of Tel Aviv’s posh circular “square” dates back to before the establishment of Israel itself. Some plots of land in Kikar Hamedina (The State’s Square) were purchased in 1942, while the low-rise residential buildings in its outer ring were erected in the 1960s. The square has long been synonymous with Tel Aviv’s upper crust, as it offers the highest concentration of prestigious international clothing and jewelry brands in the city—from Rolex and Bulgari to Gucci and Versace. Recently approved construction plans will transform the round, grassy park at its center into a three-tower luxury housing complex.