Tower of David, Jaffa Gate

Tower of David is Jerusalem's citadel, located near Jaffa gate on the western side of the old city wall. The walls and tower were repeatedly built and destroyed over the past 2,100 years, and protected the north-west corner of the "upper" city.

Psalms 48:12:"Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof".

Zion Gate

The gate is located on the south-west side of the old city.

Psalms 9:14:"That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion"

Mount Zion

Mount Zion is located on the south-west side of the old city, outside of the present walls. In Greek and Roman times this was part of the walled city, the place of the Jesus last supper and the home of the high priest high priest Caiaphas.

Psalms 48:2: "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King".

Western (Wailing) Wall

The holiest site for the Jewish religion and the heart of the Israeli nation. The wall was part of the great temple of Herod, over 2,000 years ago.

Song of Solomon 2:9: "My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice".

Southern Wall

Excavations on the south side of the temple mount revealed important Herodian findings, including "Robinson" arch, a paved street, Hulda gates and monumental staircase to the temple.

1 Kings 2: 10: "So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him".

Temple Mount

The temple mount is the place where the Jewish temple was built, starting from King Solomon almost 3,000 years ago. The temple was destroyed by the Romans and never rebuilt again by the Jews. It was replaced by the Muslim shrines in the 8th C AD which stand there today, with the  Golden Dome of the Rock -  the city's symbol.

Cardo Maximus

Cardo maximus ("the main line") was the main North-South royal road in the Roman and Byzantine Aelia Capetalina (Jerusalem). A small section of this grand and wide road was excavated in the Jewish quarter, which was probably built in the 6th C AD.

The road is emphasized in the Madaba map, showing that it played a central role in the urban design of the city.
 

Mount of Olives

Mount of Olives is the hill facing the old city of Jerusalem, on the eastern side of Kidron valley. It is a Holy place, referred in the Old and New Testaments. It is dominated by a large cemetery on its slopes.

2 Samuel 15: 30: And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up..."

Basilica of Agony

A Catholic Franciscan church, built in 1924, and one of the most magnificent churches with a large mosaic picture on the front. This place, Gethsemane, was the site where Jesus and his disciples  hid from the Romans, had his last prayer, but was  betrayed and arrested.

Mark 14: 32: "And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray".

Tomb of Avshalom (Absalom)

This grand monument is built into the rock on the foothills of Mount of Olives. The bible tells us that this is the tomb of Avshalom (Absalom), son of David, who was killed by David's men after a failed mutiny.

2 Samuel 18:18: "...and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place"

Tomb of Zecharia

This grand monument is built into the rock on the foothills of Mount of Olives. According to tradition it is the tomb of the prophet Zechariah.

Zechariah 1: 1-2: "In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers".

Bnei-Hezir Tombs

A cluster of tombs built into the rock on the foothills of Mount of Olives, resting place of the Cohen family of Bnei-Hezir.

Nehemiah 9: 38 ; 10: 21: "And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it....Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,"

St. Peter in Gallicantu

The fabulous Saint Peter in-Gallicantu Church is built in the slopes of mount Zion. According to tradition, this was the place of the palace of high priest Caiaphas. Its name is given after the story of Peter's triple denial of Christ and the cock crowing twice.

Mark 14: 72: "And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept".

Mary's Tomb

A church at the traditional place of the tomb of the virgin  Mary. The church is cut into the rock and has a form of a cross, with a wide staircase leading down into the church and tomb. The structure is mostly from the Crusaders period.

Ophel and Hulda Gates

The south-east side of the temple mount. Excavations revealed the  Hulda gates,  monumental staircase to the temple, cisterns, residential houses and fortifications.

2 Chronicles 27:3: "He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much".
 

Via Dolorosa

Via Dolorosa ("Way of Grief" in Latin) is a road in the old city of Jerusalem, a path where Jesus was lead in agony, carrying the crucifixion cross.  There are a total of 14 stations along this path.

Luke 23, 26: "And as they led him away..."

Church of Holy Sepulcher

One of the most holiest churches, located in Jerusalem at the traditional site of Golgotha - the place of Jesus Crucifixion and burial.

Matthew 27: 33, 60: "And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha....And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed"

Burnt House

The burnt house was excavated in the Jewish quarter, and is believed to be destroyed, set on fire, by the Roman legions in 70AD. An audio-visual presentation and the display serve as a time capsule of these tragic events.

Broad Wall

Excavations in the Jewish quarter in the old city of Jerusalem unearthed a section of the 1st temple wall, built by Hezekiah, during the 8th C BC.

Nehemiah 3 8; "and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall."

Augusta Victoria

Hospital and church ("Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension") on the north side of Mount of Olives.

Franciscan "Terra Santa" Monastery,    Jerusalem

   St. Francis convent is located on the south side of the Zion Gate, outside the walls of the old city of Jerusalem.

Dormition Abbey

    A grand German Benedictine Abbey located on top of Mount Zion, commemorating the memory of Virgin Mary, in the traditional site of her death.

John 8, 12: "I am the light of the world"

King David' tomb

     The site, located on Mount Zion, is the traditional site of the tomb of King David, and one of the most holiest places for Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is one of the few sites in the world that is shared by the 3 religions.

1 Kings 2: 9: "So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David".

    This place, on Mount Zion, is the traditional site of the the location of the Last Supper ("Coenaculum"). The present day hall is a 12th C Crusader structure, built on top of King David's tomb.

Mark 15 15: "where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared"

Armenian Church - St. Saviour - Mount Zion

(house of Caiaphas)

    This place, on Mount Zion, is an Armenian Church, convent and cemetery. According to the Armenians, this was the house of Caiaphas, where Jesus was arrested before being trialed.

John 18: 24: "Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest"

Armenian  St. James

   A Basilica, monastery, library and structures belonging to the Armenian Patriarchate, located on the western side of the old city. According to tradition, James the apostle was killed here by Herod.

Acts 12:2: "And he killed James the brother of John with the sword"

St. John the Baptist, Christian quarter

   A Greek-Orthodox church and monastery, located in the Christian quarter. It was built in the 11th C over the ruins of an earlier 5th C Byzantine church, which is  located on a lower level.

John 3:28: "I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him".

Jerusalem Sebils

   Sebil is a Turkish public drinking fountain. There are several such fountains in the city.