GUIDED TOUR
JERUSALEM OLD CITY
BROADEN YOUR MIND
A visit to the Old City of Jerusalem is an unforgettable experience that will accompany you for many years.
Throughout hundreds of years, religious pilgrims have aspired to reach the historic and holy places of Jerusalem.
And so today the "modern tourist" is still very excited by the stories of the Bible, the New Testament and the Koran,
many of which take place in vicinity of Jerusalem.
For those who plan to come to Jerusalem, it is recommended to do some preparations and check about the dates and holidays that are expected to be held in the city. Since Jerusalem is sacred to the three monotheistic religions, there is a high probability of an interesting event for one of the denominations. It is important to remember that on Shabbat most Jewish sites are closed to visitors, except for houses of worship. The old city and the modern new city have a lot to offer its visitors,
so you should consider extending your stay there.
In Jerusalem there are many panoramic viewpoints, museums on a variety of topics, archaeological sites, religious institutions.
It is advisable to plan the order of visits according to the days and times of entry to the many sites.
Of course, a tour guide can build a personalized itinerary in which different interests can be combined,
there is a huge added value to the stories and facts accompanying the visit to the various sites.
The most popular tour inside the old city is a tour called "The Four Quarters" where you can see the Armenian, Jewish,
Muslim and Christian quarters. The old city is surrounded by a beautiful wall that was built in the
16th century by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Today you can walk on the surrounding walls and watch
over many areas from the Tower of David, which is the Citadel of Jerusalem.
Adjacent to the ancient walls there are many attractions that are still considered part of the old city,
it must be remembered that the city walls that exist today are not the walls of Jerusalem in its prime.
For example the archaeological complex of the City of David from the time of the kings of the Bible or for
example Mount Zion where the room of the Last Supper and the tomb of King David are located outside the walls.
As well as the many lookouts around the city walls.
WHAT AWAITS YOU ON THE TOUR?
"Who has seen Jerusalem naked? Not even archaeologists have seen it. Because it has never completely undressed"
wrote the poet Yehuda Amichai years ago, and he was so right. Jerusalem holds so many secrets, and every year there are new additions to the accumulated knowledge through new archaeological discoveries.
Jerusalem has walking routes on a variety of topics, so every visitor can find his own Jerusalem.
A guided tour in Jerusalem is actually a journey through a time tunnel where you jump between many historical periods, sometimes it's a bit difficult to remember a lot of information, but the experience, the exotic sights and the initial
discoveries are what you will remember forever following a visit to the old city.
It is worthwhile and recommended to go up to a viewpoint from one of the many viewpoints in front of the walls
of the old city, in order to get an impression and orientation to the topography of the place.
It is important to remember that the Jerusalem mentioned in the Book of Kings is south of the Old City,
which is the City of David. The walls of the existing old city are relatively new...
only about 500 years old and were built by Sultan Suleiman the magnificent in 1536, one of the attractions
of the old city is a walk on the wall ramparts with a view of both sides of the wall.
The Citadel of Jerusalem aka Tower of David which was built during the Second Temple period, allowing an amazing panoramic view in all directions and of course the possibility of unforgettable landscape photos.
Most of the tours in the old city begin on the western side of the old city at the Jaffa Gate, a gate facing west
towards Jaffa Street, the road that led to this day the many pilgrims who reached the Holy Land by sea.
The wall of Jerusalem has 7 gates and each gate has a different name in Hebrew Arabic and of course English.
The city can be divided into four quarters, each quarter has its own character. visiting the renewed Jewish quarter,
which was heavily damaged during the War of Independence, the visitor can visit underground spaces that have been
uncovered and there you can see the remains of the luxury houses of the residents of Jerusalem during the time of the destruction of the Second Temple. The ancient Roman street - the cardo that stretches along the quarter next to renovated synagogues and a variety of souvenir shops selling Jewish art objects - Judaica. Beneath the Jewish Quarter in the valley that separates the Temple Mount from the Western Hill is the Western Wall plaza, the western wall of the Temple is the only remnant of the Temple that was destroyed after the Great Revolt. Its other name is Wailing Wall and El Burak, the place where the Prophet Muhammad tied his miraculous mare during the night journey to al Aqsa. It is very moving to see the many worshipers who visit the stone wall, which symbolizes for the Jews the glory days of the Temple and the return to the Holy Land.
In the Armenian quarter and in the church of Jacob / St. James, you can witness interesting and colorful ceremonies of the artistic community who are proud of the fact that they are the first nation to embrace the faith in the Christian gospel.
The Armenian Quarter is the smallest of the four quarters but boasts a very rich heritage.
Muslims have a long history in the old city, and of course cultural influences can be seen everywhere.
Most of the residents of the old city speak Arabic. When looking at the skyline of East Jerusalem you can see many
minarets and mosques. One of the most impressive sites in the old city is the Temple Mount complex, with the
gold-decorated Dome of the Rock at its center. An unforgettable sight for a first-time visitor to Jerusalem.
The muezzin's loud calls to the worshipers to come to prayer adds charm and uniqueness to the city.
There is no doubt that the best restaurants in the old city are in the Muslim quarter, and this is an opportunity to visit
the colorful market located near the Damascus gate - and taste the local foods such as: strong Turkish coffee,
hummus, falafel, lamb skewers, and for dessert a sweet honey knapeh pastry with coffee A strong Arab.
The road leading to the Christian quarter is called Via Dolorosa - today it's a spiritual path where Jesus walked as he carried
the cross on his way to his foreknown death. Everyday people pass this way as an act of faith following the footsteps of Jesus.
The Christian quarter, the most visited by many pilgrims and in the center of it is the impressive Church of the Sepulcher.
This church which was built in the fourth century by Santa Helena on the remains of the crucifixion site and the burial cave of Jesus Messiah the Christian. Throughout the year, many colorful ceremonies are held in the church compound with members of the various nationalities. At the entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, there is an ancient wooden ladder on the balcony
- ask your guide what it means. A journey to Jerusalem is a journey of discovery for many,
a visit to Jerusalem will make you want to come back and visit it again.
THE EXPERIENCE THAT AWAITS YOU
Jerusalem is a bestseller - in this tour you will visit so many new places, enjoy thrilling stories and get the best experience. Jerusalem is a unique place and you deserve to explore and discover it the right way.
Hiring a tour guide is worth every penny since this trip will last forever in your memories.
Plan your visit read some articles and try to figure out the story of Jerusalem.
some images and stories you have read in the past will come alive on your visit.