Old City (Jerusalem): sights, quarters, scheme in Russian, photo

The Old City of Jerusalem is exactly the place that can be safely considered the "navel of the Earth". This is the corner of the planet where all roads lead. Here flock tourists to enjoy the sights of one of the most ancient cities in the world. Here crowds of pilgrims seek to touch their hands and see the origins of three world religions with their own eyes. Even atheists want to look at the majestic buildings, at the walls of which there were turning points from the history of mankind. People come to the capital of Israel seeking inspiration, wishing to learn something new, to be treated by medical luminaries. Resting on one of the three seas that wash the coast of the country, people still visit the capital.

A bit of history

The old city of Jerusalem today occupies an area slightly less than one square kilometer. This is part of the Israeli capital, in which most of the attractions are concentrated. The face of the historic heart of the city was formed from the deep antiquity to the sixteenth century. He is an example of the genius synthesis of cultures, traditions, worldviews that peacefully coexist under the blue sky.

In ancient times, the Israeli capital, the City of Peace, as it is called, has experienced many disasters. Wars, fires, destruction, division, prosperity and active development alternated one after another. But he certainly rebuilt, like Phoenix: sixteen demolitions and seventeen rebuilds on his account. And you can be sure that he will rise from the ruins for the eighteenth time, if such a misfortune will happen again. He passed from hand to hand, until he returned to his original masters. And now Jerusalem is an ornament of the Jewish state. And every person can visit him to see his magnificence and bow before him.

Center for dominant religions

Indeed, Jerusalem is unique! The old city, a photo of which can be found in our article, attracts Christians of different currents, Muslims and Jews. It is on the territory of this Middle Eastern city that the most important shrines of the three dominant religions of the world are located. If to recollect, their sources are one and they are connected with the names of the prophets mentioned in the holy books. The characters are the same - the forefathers of Abraham and Moses, whose footsteps can be traversed by the ancient Jerusalem neighborhoods. Of course, the Bible, the Torah and the Quran differently pronounce their names, but the essence remains the same. With the city associated with such legendary figures as King David and Solomon, Herod, Jesus, Muhammad, the Virgin Mary. Temples, monasteries, cathedrals indicate that Jerusalem is the most enchanted place on earth.

The main attractions of the perfect city

The Old City of Jerusalem is probably the only settlement in the world with more than seven dozen names. One of them - Shalem - in Hebrew means "perfect, complete." And indeed, there is not a single flaw in it. Constructed mainly of stone with a yellowish hue, in the sunlight it seems golden.

The city is full of attractions and each of them has its own history. Among the most famous are:

• Dome of the Rock. A mosque with a golden dome twenty meters in diameter is visible from every corner of the city and is its business card. It is not a functioning shrine, this is the place from where, according to legend, the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. Is a revered place among the professors of Islam.
• The wall of weeping is the greatest shrine of the Jews. This is all that remains of the Second Temple, destroyed by the Romans. Rather, it is the remnants of the fortress wall, built on the orders of Herod. But to this day, believers come here to pray to Gd and ask for mercy from him. It is said that a note with desire, embedded in the wall slit, will surely bring happiness to the applicant.
• The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, erected on the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ. This place is the pilgrim center of all Christians.
• The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third most important worship site for Muslims after Mecca and Medina. Covered with a gray dome, it is considered the "remote place" mentioned in the Qur'an.

Paths from the Bible

Jerusalem is the old city. Sightseeing it can be viewed endlessly, and describe - not one hour. In addition to the aforementioned shrines of millions of people on the planet, it is worth exploring other important places. For example, it is worth to go along Via Dolorosa and repeat the way of Jesus Christ to Calvary with all the stops. It is located in the Muslim quarter of the city. What else attracts travelers to Israel? The Old City of Jerusalem invites you to walk in the shadow of the Garden of Gethsemane, climb the sacred mountain of Zion, pray at the grave of Our Lady on the Pancake Hill, walk through the territory of the "Land of Blood", bought for the very three dozen silver pieces paid to Judas for treachery.

Other places of interest

It is also worth visiting the biblical zoo, which, perhaps, was sung in the song about the golden city. How not to remember the city of David, where the history of the city began, its grave. Here, each stone is important for humanity, every building is imbued with the spirit of greatness and presence of the Lord. You can not miss the legendary quarries of King Solomon. The narrow entrance of the cave leads to a spacious quarry, which extends beneath the old quarters of the Chalet. The history of the city can be studied in the tower or the citadel of David, in the walls of which the museum is located.

Museums

In Jerusalem, a lot of museums, the exhibits which can be studied the history of not only the country, the nation, but the world. The most famous is Yad Vashem - a monumental memorial of national importance. In addition to it, the scientific museum Bloomfield operates in the city, a museum of prisoners of underground, nature, Israel, Herzl, biblical countries, archeology, Islamic art.

Jerusalem: the gates of the old city

Like any ancient city, it has a Chalet and a gate that served not only as an entrance and exit, but as a barrier to conquerors. In the historical part of Jerusalem are eight gates, which have their name.

• The Shekhem, Colon, or Damascus gates are the most beautiful and rich. They are erected for the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. Through them, the traveler will enter the Muslim Quarter, through which travelers from Schem and Damascus traveled.
• The Jaffa Gate is the busiest, because it is more convenient for them to begin a tour of the City of Peace. It was from them that the road to the main Mediterranean port, Jaffa, began.
• Through the Zion gate the tourist will enter the Jewish quarter. Although they are built by the same Suleiman the Magnificent, they are also called the gates of King David (the grave of this monarch is located nearby).
• The flower gate, the gate of lunatics or Herod is a gloomy building leading to the Muslim quarter and to the ancient cemetery.
• Dung or Garbage gates served earlier for the removal of garbage to a landfill. Located in the Muslim quarter, they are the smallest. At first they looked like an opening in the fortress wall, and later they were expanded to today's size.
• The Gethsemane Gate is also called Lion's, Sheep's, Stephan's and the gate of the Virgin Mary. They are directed toward Jericho and it is through them, according to legend, that Jesus entered the city before his execution. Here begins Via Dolorosa, nearby is the tomb of the Virgin Mary.
• The Hamid Gate was erected only in the late nineteenth century for the comfort of numerous pilgrims. They lead to the Christian quarter of Jerusalem from the side of the modern city.
• The Golden Gate (of Answer or Mercy) has been walled up for many years: in Judaism the coming of the Messiah is expected from here, therefore the Sultan Suleiman the Great ordered to block his way in this way. The Arabs also deliberately set up a cemetery here, which Jews consider an unclean place. According to legend, it was these gates that served as the entrance to Jerusalem for Jesus, when he rode on a donkey and drove into the city.

Quarters of the Old City of Jerusalem

The modern historical part of the Shalem is divided into four quarters. The largest is Muslim. It is inhabited by Arabs who trade everything in the world, and here the main shrines of Islam are concentrated, and also the Way of the Cross passes through him. The Christian quarter dates back to the 4th century AD. On its territory there are numerous temples, monasteries, hostels. The main shrine of the quarter is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

The smallest quarter is Armenian. On its territory is worth visiting the Cathedral of St. James - the center of the community in the country. Residents of the quarter are mainly engaged in crafts and creative work, but tourists are not very fond of it. The Jewish quarter of the Old Town is the most visited. Here is the very Wailing Wall, part of the ancient Roman street of Cardo, synagogues and museums. The scheme of the old city of Jerusalem in Russian (see below) will help the traveler navigate and not be lost in the ancient settlement.

Instead of an afterword

Everyone, without exception, accepts Jerusalem, whose historical heart is especially carefully guarded by UNESCO. This is the only place on earth that has a special color, charm, unique atmosphere, which is not anywhere else. Therefore, every person must attend the old city of Jerusalem, regardless of his religion or color.