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0 / 30 Fotos
Western Wall
- Also known as the Wailing Wall and in Islam as the Buraq Wall, this is Judaism's holiest prayer site. However, it's open to members of all faiths.
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
Western Wall
- As the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray, the Wall's 2000-year-old stone supports the outer section of Temple Mount. Here, worshippers recite scriptures, and kiss the sacred limestone.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
Western Wall Tunnel
- This hidden wonder snakes under the Old City's Muslim Quarter. In some sections, the walkway is little more than a narrow passage.
© Public Domain
3 / 30 Fotos
Old City ramparts
- Pictured are the Old City ramparts, built nearly 490 years ago. Two stretches are accessible, from Jaffa Gate south to Dung Gate, and from Jaffa Gate north and west to Lions' Gate.
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
Via Dolorosa
- The processional route leading from Lions' Gate into the heart of the Old City is marked by nine 'stations of the cross.' Pictured is the ninth station.
© Shutterstock
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Yad Vashem
- Here is the vast Hall of Names at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Site. Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the victims of Nazism.
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
City of David
- The oldest part of Jerusalem, the City of David is one of the city's most active archaeological sites—and most controversial. Many observers consider the site to be on Palestinian land.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
Tower of David
- The ancient citadel known as the Tower of David was once the palace of Herod the Great. Today, it's home to the impressive Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem
- The museum chronicles the city's history in a series of exhibits and interactive displays.
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- Located in the city's Christian Quarter, the church contains, according to tradition, the two holiest sites in Christianity: the site where Jesus was crucified; and where he is said to have been buried and resurrected.
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- For 16 centuries a pilgrimage site for Christians the world over, the church's interior "must-sees" include the Altar of the Crucifixion and the Stone of Anointing, where Jesus' body is said to have been anointed before burial.
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
Israel Museum
- Established in 1965, the Israel Museum holds the world's most comprehensive collections of the archaeology of the Holy Land, as well as displaying Jewish art.
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
Israel Museum
- A stand-alone cultural wing, the museum's Shrine of the Book houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest Biblical manuscripts in the world.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
Holyland Model of Jerusalem
- To get an idea of what Jerusalem looked like during the late Second Temple period, cast your eyes over the incredible 1:50 scale model of the city, located within the grounds of the Israel Museum.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
Temple Mount/Al Haram Ash Sharif
- To Muslims, it's known as Al Haram Ash Sharif ("The Noble Sanctuary"); to Jews, HaBayit ("Temple Mount"). Few other other sites are as holy—or disputed—as this one.
© Shutterstock
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Dome of the Rock
- The ground is home to two of Islam's most sacred buildings: the Dome of the Rock (pictured) and Al Aqsa Mosque.
© Shutterstock
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Church and Monastery of the Dormition
- One of Jerusalem's most recognized landmarks, the church occupies the site traditionally believed to be where the Virgin Mary died.
© Shutterstock
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Damascus Gate
- Completed in 1537, this is another one of the main entrances to the Old City. Set in the Muslim Quarter against the northern wall, the gate's triangular crenellations lend it the appearance of a crown.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
Mount of Olives
- The mountain ridge looming over East Jerusalem is no longer covered by olive groves, but it does remain a place of worship. A Jewish cemetery has stood here for over 3,000 years, and holds around 150,000 graves.
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
Church of All Nations
- This church sited on the Mount of Olives enshrines a section of bedrock where Jesus is said to have prayed before his arrest. The facade of the church is supported by a row of Corinthian columns, each surmounted by statues of the Four Evangelists.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
Church of Mary Magdalene
- The onion-domed Church of Mary Magdalene, located on Mount of Olives, was built in 1886 by Tsar Alexander III. The remains of Princess Alice of Battenberg, mother of the Duke of Edinburgh, are interned in the crypt.
© Shutterstock
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Garden Tomb
- Unearthed in 1867, this tomb is believed by some Christians to be the site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus, rather than the aforementioned Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It stands today as a popular pilgrimage destination.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
Pool of Bethesda
- Known from the New Testament story about Jesus miraculously healing a paralyzed man, the ruins of the pool of Bethesda lie near St Anne's Church over an archaeological site that's also revealed a Roman temple and a Byzantine basilica.
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
Zedekiah's Cave
- Also known as Solomon's Quarries, this underground limestone quarry runs under the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. It dates back to Herod the Great, and is best explored as part of a guided tour.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
Chagall's Windows
- Hadassah Hospital's synagogue is decorated with colorful stained glass windows depicting the tribes of Israel. It was designed by Russian-French artist Marc Chagall (1887–1985).
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Valley of Jehoshaphat
- Mentioned in the Bible, this valley is where it is said the events of Judgement Day will take place (John 3:12). At the southern end of this narrow strip of land, a series of tombs dating back to the Second Temple period can be admired.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Church of the Pater Noster
- The outstanding feature of this church, part of a Carmelite monastery, is the tiled panels bearing the Lord's Prayer set over the walls of the cloister and written in over 100 different languages and dialects.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
Armenian Quarter
- One of the four quarters of the walled Old City of Jerusalem, the Armenian Quarter reflects a presence that dates back to the 4th century CE. Look out for the stone carving art on the wall in the courtyard of the Cathedral of Saint James.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
Artists' colony
- Hutzot HaYotzer (as it is known in Hebrew) is a charming studio-lined lane at the foot of the Old City walls. The colorful artists' studios, workshops, and galleries make for ideal browsing and souvenir hunting.
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 30 Fotos
Western Wall
- Also known as the Wailing Wall and in Islam as the Buraq Wall, this is Judaism's holiest prayer site. However, it's open to members of all faiths.
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
Western Wall
- As the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray, the Wall's 2000-year-old stone supports the outer section of Temple Mount. Here, worshippers recite scriptures, and kiss the sacred limestone.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
Western Wall Tunnel
- This hidden wonder snakes under the Old City's Muslim Quarter. In some sections, the walkway is little more than a narrow passage.
© Public Domain
3 / 30 Fotos
Old City ramparts
- Pictured are the Old City ramparts, built nearly 490 years ago. Two stretches are accessible, from Jaffa Gate south to Dung Gate, and from Jaffa Gate north and west to Lions' Gate.
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
Via Dolorosa
- The processional route leading from Lions' Gate into the heart of the Old City is marked by nine 'stations of the cross.' Pictured is the ninth station.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
Yad Vashem
- Here is the vast Hall of Names at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Site. Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the victims of Nazism.
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
City of David
- The oldest part of Jerusalem, the City of David is one of the city's most active archaeological sites—and most controversial. Many observers consider the site to be on Palestinian land.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
Tower of David
- The ancient citadel known as the Tower of David was once the palace of Herod the Great. Today, it's home to the impressive Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem
- The museum chronicles the city's history in a series of exhibits and interactive displays.
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- Located in the city's Christian Quarter, the church contains, according to tradition, the two holiest sites in Christianity: the site where Jesus was crucified; and where he is said to have been buried and resurrected.
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- For 16 centuries a pilgrimage site for Christians the world over, the church's interior "must-sees" include the Altar of the Crucifixion and the Stone of Anointing, where Jesus' body is said to have been anointed before burial.
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
Israel Museum
- Established in 1965, the Israel Museum holds the world's most comprehensive collections of the archaeology of the Holy Land, as well as displaying Jewish art.
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
Israel Museum
- A stand-alone cultural wing, the museum's Shrine of the Book houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest Biblical manuscripts in the world.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
Holyland Model of Jerusalem
- To get an idea of what Jerusalem looked like during the late Second Temple period, cast your eyes over the incredible 1:50 scale model of the city, located within the grounds of the Israel Museum.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
Temple Mount/Al Haram Ash Sharif
- To Muslims, it's known as Al Haram Ash Sharif ("The Noble Sanctuary"); to Jews, HaBayit ("Temple Mount"). Few other other sites are as holy—or disputed—as this one.
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
Dome of the Rock
- The ground is home to two of Islam's most sacred buildings: the Dome of the Rock (pictured) and Al Aqsa Mosque.
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
Church and Monastery of the Dormition
- One of Jerusalem's most recognized landmarks, the church occupies the site traditionally believed to be where the Virgin Mary died.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
Damascus Gate
- Completed in 1537, this is another one of the main entrances to the Old City. Set in the Muslim Quarter against the northern wall, the gate's triangular crenellations lend it the appearance of a crown.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
Mount of Olives
- The mountain ridge looming over East Jerusalem is no longer covered by olive groves, but it does remain a place of worship. A Jewish cemetery has stood here for over 3,000 years, and holds around 150,000 graves.
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
Church of All Nations
- This church sited on the Mount of Olives enshrines a section of bedrock where Jesus is said to have prayed before his arrest. The facade of the church is supported by a row of Corinthian columns, each surmounted by statues of the Four Evangelists.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
Church of Mary Magdalene
- The onion-domed Church of Mary Magdalene, located on Mount of Olives, was built in 1886 by Tsar Alexander III. The remains of Princess Alice of Battenberg, mother of the Duke of Edinburgh, are interned in the crypt.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
Garden Tomb
- Unearthed in 1867, this tomb is believed by some Christians to be the site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus, rather than the aforementioned Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It stands today as a popular pilgrimage destination.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
Pool of Bethesda
- Known from the New Testament story about Jesus miraculously healing a paralyzed man, the ruins of the pool of Bethesda lie near St Anne's Church over an archaeological site that's also revealed a Roman temple and a Byzantine basilica.
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
Zedekiah's Cave
- Also known as Solomon's Quarries, this underground limestone quarry runs under the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. It dates back to Herod the Great, and is best explored as part of a guided tour.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
Chagall's Windows
- Hadassah Hospital's synagogue is decorated with colorful stained glass windows depicting the tribes of Israel. It was designed by Russian-French artist Marc Chagall (1887–1985).
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Valley of Jehoshaphat
- Mentioned in the Bible, this valley is where it is said the events of Judgement Day will take place (John 3:12). At the southern end of this narrow strip of land, a series of tombs dating back to the Second Temple period can be admired.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Church of the Pater Noster
- The outstanding feature of this church, part of a Carmelite monastery, is the tiled panels bearing the Lord's Prayer set over the walls of the cloister and written in over 100 different languages and dialects.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
Armenian Quarter
- One of the four quarters of the walled Old City of Jerusalem, the Armenian Quarter reflects a presence that dates back to the 4th century CE. Look out for the stone carving art on the wall in the courtyard of the Cathedral of Saint James.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
Artists' colony
- Hutzot HaYotzer (as it is known in Hebrew) is a charming studio-lined lane at the foot of the Old City walls. The colorful artists' studios, workshops, and galleries make for ideal browsing and souvenir hunting.
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
The dark and complex history of Jerusalem
From the crucifixion of Jesus to today's conflict
© <p>Shutterstock</p>
One of the oldest cities in the world, Jerusalem has a long and troubled history. Destroyed at least twice, besieged over 20 times, captured and recaptured more than 40 times, and attacked over 50 times, the city has endured thousands of years of conflict and dispute. Considered holy to three major religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—Jerusalem was once within the borders of Palestine, but was engulfed by the State of Israel in 1967 during the Six-Day War. Both nations claim Jerusalem as their capital, as the disputed city sits on the border between Israeli and Palestinian territory.
Browse this gallery for a tour of this ancient city and its complex and bloody history.
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