Jerusalem Old City is a timeless crossroads of faith, history, and culture. Enclosed within ancient walls, four quarters hold relics and stories sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Exploring its gates, markets, and holy sites reveals a world where past and present intertwine.
Jerusalem Old City
The Old City is split into four quarters: Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Armenian, each with distinct traditions and history.
The Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent reconstructed the city’s walls between 1535 and 1542, cleverly incorporating much older structures.
Explorers are still uncovering ancient water systems and secret passages in tunnels beneath Jerusalem’s Old City from the Second Temple period.
The Western Wall’s massive stones date back to around 20 BCE and were part of King Herod’s grand temple expansion.
The Golden Gate remains sealed since the 16th century, surrounded by legends claiming the Messiah will enter through it.
The Mount of Olives, seen from the Old City, houses one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries, continuously used for over 3,000 years.
The olive trees around Jerusalem’s Old City date back to the 12th century when Crusaders replanted them, dispelling myths that they grew continuously since biblical times.
The Byzantine Cardo once served as a vibrant marketplace street lined with colonnades, where merchants sold spices and luxury items
Inside the Armenian Quarter lies the Armenian Patriarchate. It is a tiny religious enclave with its own governance and unique traditions.
The Church of St. John the Baptist is the oldest church within Jerusalem’s Old City walls.
The New Gate, built in 1889, introduces visitors to the Old City through its Ottoman-style architecture, the newest gate still in use.
Archaeology beneath homes in the Jewish Quarter uncovered ritual baths and burial vaults, revealing layers of Jerusalem’s deep history.
The Dung Gate, named for its historical use to remove city waste, serves as the southern entrance to the Old City.
The Little Western Wall, less known than its famous counterpart, is unique because it lacks gender-segregated prayer sections.
Jerusalem’s walls and gates have withstood numerous sieges and reconstructions, telling stories of resilience and cultural transitions.
