JERUSALEM

Despite being attacked many times
and completely destroyed at least
twice, Jerusalem has been around for
6,000 years. In 1538, Sultan Suleiman
the Magnificent built the walls that
still surround the Old City today.

CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE

Christians have made pilgrimages to this church
since the fourth century. It is built on a site
where many people believe Jesus was crucified,
buried and resurrected.

WALLS OF JERUSALEM

Just over 4km (2.9mi) long and
typically 12m (39ft) high
and 2.5m (8ft) thick,
the city walls have 34
watchtowers and 8
gates. It’s still possible
to roam around these
fascinating ramparts.

THE WESTERN WALL

This ancient stretch of brickwork is even
older than the buildings currently on Temple
Mount. The Wall possibly dates as far back
as 19 BC, to the reign of Herod the Great.
It is a hugely important site in Judaism, and
Jewish people visit regularly to pray and
place prayer notes in the holes in between
the stones. During bar andbat Mitzvahs
(Jewish coming of age ceremonies) it can
get really lively as families gather along the
Wall to sing and dance.

THE CITADEL

Also known as the Tower
of David, the Citadel was
originally a palace for Herod
the Great. After he died
the Romans moved in, but
the tower has also housed
Crusaders and Ottomans.
Over the centuries it has
been extensively rebuilt.

NEW GATE

THE CHURCH OF THE
HOLY SEPULCHRE

TOWER OF
DAVID

HURVA
SYNAGOGUE

THE
WESTERN
WALL

THE CHURCH
OF ST ANNE

THE DOME
OF THE ROCK

TEMPLE
MOUNT

AL-AQSA
MOSQUE

MOUNT OF OLIVES

As well as being the site of a 3,000-year-old Jewish cemetery,
this tree-covered mountain ridge also features heavily in the
Bible. The Mount of Olives is described as the place where
Jesus ascended to heaven.

TEMPLE MOUNT

The most important site in Jerusalem’s
Old City, Temple Mount, has been
used by Jews, Romans, Christians
and Muslims for thousands of
years. In Judaism it’s the holiest
place on the planet – the
sacred spot where Adam
was made and Solomon’s
Temple once stood. Jews
face it when praying.
For Muslims, the Mount
is Islam’s third
holiest site.

THE DOME OF THE ROCK

This Islamic shrine with its giant gold rotunda is Jerusalem’s most
recognisable landmark. The Dome of the Rock has occupied the central spot
on Temple Mount since 692, making it one of the region’s oldest buildings.

AL-AQSA MOSQUE

After two earlier prayer houses were knocked
down by earthquakes, Al-Aqsa mosque was
built on Temple Mount in 1035. Crusaders
used it as a palace when they captured
Jerusalem in 1099, but it was restored
when Saladin retook the city in 1187.

CITY
OF DAVID

This amazing Bronze Age walled
settlement is ancient even by Jerusalem’s
standards! The very oldest part of the city
was excavated in the early 20th century. Some
archeologists think that it could be the site of the
palace of David – the boy who slayed Goliath before
becoming a king of Israel. Jews also believe that David
brought the Ark of the Covenant here 3,000 years ago.
Local and visiting children enjoy wading along Hezekiah’s
Tunnel, a 500m (1,640ft) long passage of waist-deep water.