For centuries religious pilgrims from around the world have been setting a course to the Holy Land. Compelled by their personal beliefs, by their deep-seated convictions and by an incessant curiosity, they come to bear witness to the rich narrative of their faith, to find clarity and inspiration, and to travel back in time among the ruins. At the center of it all is Jerusalem, an ancient and revered city steeped in the kind of spiritual experience found nowhere else on earth. In fact, whether you come to worship or just to explore the profound cultural and historical significance, Jerusalem and the landscape surrounding it offer a truly remarkable experience for all.
The heart of the city, and the beginning of any Jerusalem experience, lies within the walls of the Old City, an ancient setting amid the Judean Mountains of Central Israel and surrounded by steep valleys on three sides. Here, travelers will experience a religious and cultural mosaic of unparalleled significance packed within one square kilometer.
The Old City of Jerusalem is divided into four quarters: The Muslim Quarter, which includes the Pools of Bethesda; the Christian Quarter, containing 40 religious buildings; the more modern Jewish Quarter, with a vast collection of museums and parks; and the Armenian Quarter, with the Mardigian Museum commemorating a storied Armenian history.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Jerusalem's Old City includes the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed by many Christians to be the place of the crucifixion and the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth; Temple Mount, where it is believed that Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac; and the Arab souk, one of the many local markets that have become a historic Jerusalem landmark. Marketgoers will appreciate the lively and colorful Machane Yehuda, where for six days of the week more than 250 vendors call out their prices for everything from produce to clothing. In recent years the crisscrossed roads of the Machane Yehuda have attracted a number of dining establishments serving up the tastiest of traditional fare.
Temple Mount is a deeply significant location for the three Abrahamic faiths and stands as the largest and most noticeable structure in Old City with its magnificent golden Dome of the Rock overlooking the landscape. One of the most remarkable sites here is the impressive Western (Wailing) Wall, part of an immense retaining wall erected around 20 B.C. and one of Judaism's holiest places. Jews from around the world gather here to pray and leave written prayers to God between the crevices of these massive stones. Beneath the streets and buildings around the Western Wall, are the underground arches and staircases of the Western Wall Tunnels, a significant site for visitors of any faith.
The most impressive view of Old City is found by climbing the ramparts and following the narrow stone catwalks atop the city walls. Along with the grand sites, visitors will find a more intimate perspective on the city's residential dwellings while peering down over the rooftops, gardens and courtyards of each quarter. From the ramparts looking out, the shooting niches of the early watchmen provide views beyond the Old City toward the skyline of Jerusalem's new city to the west, the dominant silhouette of Mount Zion to the south, and the many churches and cemeteries east toward the Mount of Olives.
It is from this ramparts walk that one discovers the significance of Jerusalem is not solely contained within the walls of Old City. To the south, beyond Dung Gate, is the ancient City of David, where Jerusalem's original inhabitants lived after King David captured the fortress of a Canaanite tribe 1,000 years before Christ. To the north, through Damascus Gate, is the peaceful Garden Tomb, an alternative site to the Holy Sepulchre that many believe to be the true site of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Beyond Golden Gate, east toward the Judean Desert, lies the Mount of Olives where visitors will find the Tomb of Zechariah and the Gardens of Gethsemane. The Mount of Olives observation point, offering a panorama of the new city of Jerusalem, the Old City, the Armon ha-Natziv ridge and the upper Kidron gorge, offers one of the most sweeping views in the entire region.
Like the view from the ramparts, it is from the Mount of Olives that Jerusalem's vast surroundings begin to come into focus, and one tends to get the itch to venture farther out. Beyond Jerusalem lies a collection of day trips worthy of an extended stay. The Dead Sea Region to the east invites explorers to pack a bathing suit and lace up their hiking boots. Explore Masada, a fortress city built atop a plateau; then hike the beautiful and varied landscape of botanic gardens and deep pools that contrast the surrounding desert landscape around Ein Gedi Nature Preserve. Or head north from Jerusalem to the rugged mountainous region of Northern Israel for a daytrip to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee, where stunning wildlife and natural beauty abound. Then explore Israel's Mediterranean coastline to experience the ancient port of Caesarea, the city of Haifa on the slopes of Mount Carmel, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Acre, a city whose history reaches back as far as 1,500 BCE.
Sweets sellers at Machane Yehuda Market
The historical significance in and around Jerusalem is truly complex if not a bit overwhelming. Such an ancient city easily confounds travelers, so it helps to step back in time and take in the storyline piece by piece. To this end, Jerusalem offers an assemblage of museums like the Wohl Archaeological Museum in the Jewish Quarter, an underground exhibition of artifacts and artwork from as far back as the Second Temple period, which began in the late sixth century BCE. In a collection spanning nine galleries, The L.A. Mayer Museum of Muslim Art portrays the beliefs and art of the Islamic civilization through history. The Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem expounds in stunning detail the extensive history of this great and holy city. And Israel's largest cultural institution, the Israel Museum, is ranked among the world's leading art and archeology museums, boasting the most extensive holdings of biblical and Holy Land archeology in the world. The 20-acre campus houses more than 500,000 objects including rare early medieval biblical manuscripts and even the Dead Sea Scrolls, the world's oldest biblical manuscripts.
So whether you're drawn by faith, curiosity, or simply a passion for adventure in a new setting, Jerusalem will not disappoint. It is a place where the extended story of human history interlaces with the varied strands of culture and faith and adventure to create a beautiful landscape of unique and profound significance. See it for yourself.
