Holiday in Jerusalem

About Jerusalem

Jerusalem is one of the oldest and holiest cities in the world — a place where three world religions meet in close proximity and over 3,000 years of history come alive in every alley, every stone, and every prayer. The Old City, only one square kilometer in size and surrounded by an imposing Ottoman wall, is divided into four quarters — the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian — and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. The Western Wall is the holiest site in Judaism: The last remaining part of the support wall of the Second Temple (destroyed in 70 AD) attracts millions of believers and visitors each year, who insert small notes with prayers into the crevices of the ancient limestone. Directly above it rises the Dome of the Rock with its golden dome — one of the oldest Islamic structures in the world and a landmark of the Jerusalem skyline. The Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount (Haram asch-Scharif) is the third holiest site in Islam. The Via Dolorosa, the path of Jesus' suffering, leads through the narrow streets of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — the place where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is jointly managed by six Christian denominations, and the coexistence of Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Coptic, Syrian, and Ethiopian Christians creates a unique sacred atmosphere. The Mount of Olives offers the best panorama over the Old City with the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. At its feet lies the Garden of Gethsemane with ancient olive trees. Yad Vashem, the most significant Holocaust memorial in the world, is located in the west of the city and is a deeply moving place of remembrance. The Mahane Yehuda Market (Shuk) is Jerusalem's culinary heart — a lively food market during the day, transforming into trendy bars and restaurants in the evening.