Jerusalem is called the "City of Three Religions," the "Eternal Capital," and the "Navel of the Earth." Stretched out on the Judean Hills, it represents a unique blend of antiquity and modernity, where the shrines of three world religions stand within walking distance of each other. Today, Jerusalem is among the most visited cities in the world, annually welcoming millions of pilgrims and tourists from all over the globe.
They are attracted by its majestic temples, ancient walls, and the unique atmosphere of a city where the heavenly intertwines with the earthly, and the past becomes the present.
History of Jerusalem
From a Canaanite settlement to the capital of three religions. The history of Jerusalem dates back to ancient times — the first settlements in this area existed as early as the 4th millennium BC. In the Bible, the city is first mentioned under the name Salem, where Melchizedek is called the king of Salem. Later, the city belonged to the Canaanite tribe of the Jebusites and was called Jebus.
Around 1000 BC, King David conquered the city and made it the capital of the united Kingdom of Israel. His son, King Solomon, built the First Temple on Mount Moriah, which became the spiritual center of the Jewish people. After Solomon`s death in 928 BC, the kingdom split, but Jerusalem remained the capital of the Kingdom of Judah.
In 586 BC, the city was conquered and destroyed by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II. The Temple was burned, and the inhabitants were taken into captivity. Seventy years later, after the Persian conquest of Babylon, the Jews returned and built the Second Temple in 516 BC.
In 332 BC, Jerusalem submitted to Alexander the Great, then became part of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. In 168 BC, King Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the Temple, sparking the Maccabean Revolt, which led to the creation of the independent Hasmonean Kingdom.
In 63 BC, the Romans captured the city. King Herod the Great, in the period from 37 to 4 BC, launched massive construction projects, reconstructing the Temple and fortifying the city. In 70 AD, after suppressing the Jewish Revolt, the Romans under Titus destroyed the Second Temple and devastated the city. On its ruins, Emperor Hadrian founded the Roman colony of Aelia Capitolina, forbidding Jews to settle there.
In 326 AD, Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, visited Jerusalem and founded the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on the site venerated as Golgotha and the tomb of Jesus. The city became a Christian center of the Byzantine Empire.
In 638 AD, Arab Muslims conquered Jerusalem. Caliph Omar guaranteed the safety of the inhabitants, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock were built on the Temple Mount. Except for the short period of the Crusaders from 1099 to 1187, when the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Jerusalem remained under Muslim rule — first Arabs, then Mamluks, and from 1517, the Ottomans.
In 1538–1539, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent built the current fortress walls, which define the appearance of the Old City to this day.
In 1917, Jerusalem came under British control. After the Israeli War of Independence in 1948, the city was divided into two parts: West Jerusalem went to Israel, East Jerusalem with the Old City to Jordan. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel united the city under its rule.
The Architectural Code of Jerusalem
Jerusalem`s architecture is a unique chronicle of civilizations, where Canaanite terraces, Roman columns, Byzantine mosaics, Crusader vaults, Mamluk ornaments, and Ottoman minarets layer upon each other, creating an inimitable appearance.
The Old City. A district surrounded by massive fortress walls, covering an area of less than one square kilometer. The walls, about 4.5 kilometers long and 5 to 15 meters high with 35 towers, were built in the 16th century by Suleiman the Magnificent on the foundations of more ancient fortifications. Eight gates lead inside: Jaffa Gate, Damascus Gate, Lions` Gate, Zion Gate, and others.
The Four Quarters. Traditionally, the Old City is divided into four unequal parts, whose boundaries were finally established in the 19th century: the Muslim Quarter (the largest), the Christian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, and the Armenian Quarter (the smallest).
The Temple Mount (Mount Moriah). A holy place for Judaism and Islam. Here stood the First and Second Temples, and here today rise the Dome of the Rock (golden dome) and the Al-Aqsa Mosque (silver dome). The mount itself is controlled by the Islamic Waqf organization.
Roman Heritage. From the Roman Aelia Capitolina, fragments of the main roads have been preserved — the Cardo (ran north-south) and the Decumanus (ran east-west), which can be seen today in the Jewish Quarter.
Crusader Heritage. The 12th century left numerous churches, hospices, and fortifications. In the Christian Quarter, buildings of the Hospitaller order have been preserved, and the foundations of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre bear traces of Crusader reconstruction.
Ottoman Architecture. Besides the walls, Suleiman the Magnificent built many fountains, bazaars, and public buildings. The Citadel near Jaffa Gate, known as the Tower of David, combines layers from the Herodian to the Ottoman period.
The New City. Beyond the walls, starting from the 19th century, new neighborhoods grew — from elegant Bauhaus-style houses of the 1930s to modern skyscrapers and government buildings.
Landmarks of Jerusalem
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The main Christian shrine, located in the Christian Quarter. The church stands on the site where, according to tradition, Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and resurrected. The complex includes Golgotha (the rock of crucifixion), the Stone of Anointing where Christ`s body was prepared for burial, and the Edicule — the chapel over the Holy Sepulchre. The church is shared among six denominations: Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Coptic, Syrian, and Ethiopian. Each has its own chapel and hours for worship.
The Western Wall (Kotel). The main shrine of Judaism. It is not part of the Temple itself, but a fragment of the retaining wall that surrounded the Temple Mount during the time of Herod the Great. For nearly 2,000 years after the Temple`s destruction, this place remained the primary site of Jewish pilgrimage. Here, people pray, recite psalms, and leave notes with requests in the crevices between the ancient stones.
The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhra). The golden dome on the Temple Mount is Jerusalem`s landmark. Built in 691 AD. Inside is the rock from which, according to Muslim tradition, the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. For Judaism, this same rock is venerated as the Foundation Stone, from which the world`s creation began and on which Abraham was ready to sacrifice Isaac.
Al-Aqsa Mosque. Located south of the Dome of the Rock, its dome is silver in color. The third holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina. The name "Al-Aqsa" means "the farthest" — it is here, according to the Quran, that the Prophet Muhammad was transported during the Night Journey.
Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross). A street in the Muslim and Christian Quarters, along which, according to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ walked to the site of his crucifixion. The route is marked by 14 stations (stopping points) where various events occurred. It begins at the Lions` Gate and ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The route was established by the Franciscans in the 14th century.
The City of David. An archaeological park outside the walls of the Old City, south of the Temple Mount. Here lay the most ancient Jerusalem, conquered by King David. Excavations have revealed tunnels, fortifications, David`s palace, and an ancient water system through which one can walk today.
The Tower of David (Citadel). A fortress near Jaffa Gate, built on foundations from different eras — from Herodian to Ottoman. Today it houses the museum of the history of Jerusalem, and from the tower, there is a panoramic view of the Old City.
The Jewish Quarter. Thoroughly reconstructed after 1967, with synagogues, archaeological parks, and residential buildings. The main attraction is the reconstructed Hurva Synagogue with its tall dome.
The Armenian Quarter. The smallest and quietest quarter, where the Armenian community resides. Its center is the Cathedral of St. James, a pilgrimage site for Armenians from around the world.
Districts and Other Gems of Jerusalem
The Mount of Olives. A mountain east of the Old City, from which opens the famous panorama of the Temple Mount. Here are located: the Church of the Ascension, the Church of the Pater Noster, a Dominican monastery, the Russian Convent of the Ascension, and the most ancient Jewish cemetery, where burials have taken place for over 3,000 years.
The Garden of Gethsemane. At the foot of the Mount of Olives — a garden with ancient olive trees where, according to the Gospels, Jesus prayed on the night before his arrest. Nearby is the Church of All Nations (Basilica of the Agony) with its mosaics and purple dome.
Mount Zion. A hill southwest of the Old City. Here are located: the Tomb of King David (venerated by Jews and Muslims), the Room of the Last Supper (Cenacle), and the Church of the Dormition.
Yad Vashem. The national Holocaust Memorial and Museum in West Jerusalem. A vast complex including museums, archives, monuments, and the Children`s Memorial. One of the most important places for understanding 20th-century Jewish history.
The Israel Museum. The country`s main museum. It contains archaeological collections from prehistoric times to the Ottoman period, an art wing, a model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period, and the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed.
Mahane Yehuda Market. The main market of West Jerusalem. By day — a noisy Eastern bazaar with fruits, vegetables, spices, sweets, and fish. By night — a center of nightlife with bars, restaurants, and music.
Mea Shearim. An ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood that preserves the lifestyle and dress of a 19th-century Eastern European shtetl. At the entrance, signs hang requesting visitors to dress modestly and not disturb the Sabbath rest.
Parks, Water, and the Unique Flavor of Jerusalem
Walking the Ramparts. One can climb the fortress walls and walk around the Old City`s perimeter, admiring the panorama from different sides.
Sunset over Jerusalem. The best views open from the Mount of Olives, from the roof of the Austrian Hospice in the Old City, or from the Armon HaNatziv Promenade (Haas Promenade). The sunset is especially impressive when the golden dome reflects the last rays of the sun, and the stone of the walls turns pink.
Unusual Spots and Modern Spaces
• The Western Wall Tunnels. Underground passages along the Western Wall, allowing one to see the continuation of the Herodian masonry deep below and imagine the scale of Herod the Great`s construction.
• City of David — The Water Tunnel. An ancient aqueduct hewn by King Hezekiah in the 8th century BC to supply the city with water during a siege. You can walk waist-deep in water through the 533-meter tunnel from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam.
• The Cardo. A Roman colonnaded street, uncovered by excavations and partially restored. Today, upscale galleries and souvenir shops are located here.
• The Monastery of the Cross. An ancient monastery in the valley between West Jerusalem and the government complex. According to tradition, the tree from which the cross for Christ`s crucifixion was made grew here.
The Cuisine of Jerusalem: The Taste of the Holy Land
Jerusalem`s cuisine is a fantastic fusion of Jewish, Arab, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern traditions.
• Hummus. The city`s signature dish. A puree of chickpeas with tahini, lemon, and garlic. The best hummus is served in Arab restaurants in East Jerusalem, especially in the Abu Ghosh quarter.
• Falafel. Fried balls of ground chickpeas or fava beans, served in pita with vegetables and sauces. The main street food.
• Sabich. An Iraqi-Jewish dish: pita with fried eggplant, hard-boiled egg, hummus, amba (mango sauce), and vegetables.
• Knafeh. An Arab sweet made of thin dough with cheese or cream, soaked in sweet syrup.
• Jerusalem Mixed Grill (Me`urav Yerushalmi). An assortment of fried pieces of chicken, turkey, liver, and heart with onions and spices, served in pita. An invention of Jerusalem street cooks.
• Kosher Wine. In the vicinity of Jerusalem, there are many wineries producing kosher wines that can be tasted and purchased.
The Surroundings of Jerusalem: Gems of the Holy Land
Jerusalem is an ideal base for exploring the biblical sites of Judea and Samaria.
Bethlehem. Distance: ~10 km, 20 minutes by car (via checkpoint). The city where Jesus Christ was born. The main shrine is the Church of the Nativity, built over the cave where, according to tradition, the Savior was born. Nearby are the Milk Grotto and the Shepherds` Field.
The Dead Sea. Distance: ~40 km, 1 hour by car. The lowest place on Earth (430 meters below sea level). A unique body of water with a salt concentration of about 30%, where it is impossible to sink. On the coast — resorts at Ein Gedi, Ein Bokek, and nature reserves with waterfalls.
Masada. Distance: ~80 km, 1.5 hours by car. A fortress atop a cliff, the last stronghold of Jewish rebels against the Romans in 73 AD. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can ascend to the top on foot or by cable car.
Qumran. Distance: ~40 km, 50 minutes by car. The place where the Dead Sea Scrolls — the most ancient biblical manuscripts — were found in the mid-20th century. Ruins of an Essene settlement and the caves where the scrolls were stored.
Jericho. Distance: ~35 km, 45 minutes by car. The oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Here you can see the excavations of ancient Jericho, the Mount of Temptation (where, according to tradition, the devil tempted Christ), and the Monastery of the Temptation (Quarantal).
Mount Herzl and Yad Vashem. On the western edge of the city — Israel`s national cemetery, where presidents, prime ministers, and fallen soldiers are buried, and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial.
Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, located in the Judean Hills, 60 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea and 30 kilometers from the Dead Sea. The city`s population is about one million people. It is the only city in the world that is holy to three religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jerusalem is divided into two main parts: the ancient Old City, surrounded by walls, where on an area of less than one square kilometer the world`s main shrines are concentrated, and the New City with its residential neighborhoods, museums, government buildings, and markets.
People come here to touch the origins of faith, to walk in the footsteps of prophets and kings, to wander through narrow streets where every stone remembers biblical events, and to carry away in their hearts a piece of this amazing city, which is called eternal.
