Good Attractions in Old City (Jerusalem)

St Anne's Church, Bethesda

The compound in which St Anne's sits is now the home of the French White Fathers. In the time of Hadrian, the site held a temple of Asclepius, the Roman god of healing. Somewhat later, a church dedicated to Mary was erected. In the crypt is a shrine commemorating the birth of Mary, whose mother was St Anne. The present building is a very fine example of Crusader architecture. Note the Arabic inscription above the door. Salah-al-Din turned the building into a Muslim madrasa (religious studies school) in 1187. Pilgrims pause here to sing - the acoustics are marvelous.

Western Wall

The Western Wall itself is actually a huge retaining wall for the structures built on the Temple Mount. It has been a focal point for Jewish prayer since 70 C.E., when the Second Temple was destroyed by the Roman army. A wide plaza accommodates worshippers (men and women pray in different areas), as well as public events, such as the swearing in of new army recruits, and the presentation of Israeli schoolchildren with their first prayer books, bar mitzvah celebrations, and wedding photos. Visitors should dress modestly. A local custom is to write prayers and petitions on small slips of paper and press them into the cracks in the wall.

Church of the Flagellation

Two chapels, the Church of the Flagellation and the Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross, situated on either side of a lovely courtyard, represent the 2nd Station of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa. To the right is the Chapel of the Flagellation, restored by Barluzzi in 1927-29. The nearby Chapel of the Condemnation is a 32-foot square, part of whose floor is the Lithostrotos(a Roman pavement) that extends into the Sisters of Sion Convent. The monastery is the site of the Stadium Biblicum Franciscanum and has a small archaeological museum.

St Saviour Parish Church

This is the Parish church for the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City. Located just inside the New Gate, it is a centre of community activity. The Franciscan Order opened one of the first printing presses in Jerusalem in this monastery complex, and operated an organ workshop. If you visit at Christmas time, you will find a large and beautiful creche - one of the hallmarks of the Franciscans.

Damascus Gate

This gate, on the fringes of East Jerusalem is the main entrance to the twisting and turning corridors of the Muslim Quarter. Outside the gate, is the Peddler's Market where people sell vegetables, clothes, children toys, shoes and tobacco products. The items are cheap so deals can be made with ease. Heading down the stairs and into the gate the shopping market continues with people selling similar goods. Since Roman times, it has been one of the main ways of access into and out of the city. Excavations under the present gate, built during the Ottoman period, have uncovered Roman remains, which include a large pillar that apparently lent the gate its Arabic name, Bab el-Amud ("Gate of the Pillar").

Ramparts Walk

Walking on top of the Old City walls gives wonderful views over new Jerusalem (from arrow slits or over turrets) and into the alleys, markets and hubbub of the Old City. From such a vantage point you can capture the details of day-to-day Old City life – purple sheets hanging on washing lines, a nun peeling grapes in a convent, an Arab vendor frying falafel for a policeman. The length of the walk is 4 kilometres. Because of security considerations, the area around the Temple Mount is closed. Walkers have to descend at Lion or Dung Gate. There are three entrance points for the walk, two at Jaffa Gate and one at Damascus Gate. It is not advised to walk alone or after dark.

Christian Quarter

The Christian Quarter of Jerusalem's walled Old City holds the most important Christian church, the Holy Sepulchre, and a number of monasteries, archaeological sites, and shrines along the Via Dolorosa. It is also an exotic shopping area in which hundreds of stores line the narrow, enclosed paths. You will find everything from spices, traditional Arabic embroidered dresses, ceramics, made-to-order T-shirts, souvenirs, religious items, icons, to antiques, beads, and leather goods. Be prepared to bargain! And don't be dismayed when the shopkeeper in the second store you visit informs you that he could have given you the item you just bought for a substantial discount. Don't rush, and do accept the cup of tea or coffee offered by some shop owners.

Jewish Quarter

Largely destroyed during Israel's War of Independence, the Jewish Quarter has been now been restored. Here you will find a residential area, ancient and modern synagogues, archaeological sites (some located in the apartment building basements), and shops offering books, certified antiquities, art, and Judaica. The Quarter's most famous landmark is the destroyed Hurva Synagogues, surmounted by a wide arch. The square provides a small playground, and leading off it is the Cardo, the Wohl Archaeological Museum, and Burnt House. From here you can also get to the medieval remains of St Mary of the Germans, and the wide stairway that leads to the Western Wall. Numerous small restaurants and Falafel stands will help sustain you as you explore this dynamic restored Jewish community.

Old Yishuv Court Museum

Learn about Jewish life in this part of Jerusalem during the "Old Yishuv" (the period before 1948). The courtyard contains two synagogues, the "Or HaHayim" yeshiva of Rabbi Hayim ben Attar, who immigrated to Jerusalem in 1742 from Morocco, and the "Ari" Synagogue, located at the traditional birthplace in 1534 of kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria. Various displays show typical family dwellings of the nineteenth century, along with tools used in various trades, such as the sandalmaker, the doctor and midwife, the dress of the period. Learn how the residents were provided with necessities like water, heat, and lighting. The synagogues are open for study and prayer.

Tower of David Museum

Foundations for this citadel were laid by the Hasmoneans, and expanded by King Herod. Its historical museum presents the multi-layered and multi-cultural history of the city. Worth noting are models of the Temple Mount, the Dome of the Rock, and the Holy Sepulchre in various eras, and a nineteenth century model of the city. Guided tours are available Sunday to Friday in several languages. In addition to the many exhibits and the fine view of the city, it is also possible to schedule private parties and conferences. Tours of the Permanent Exhibition for individual visitors: In English: Sunday-Thursay at 11a. In Hebrew: Monday and Wednesday at 10:30a Admission: NIS 30 for adults NIS 20 for students NIS 15 for children & seniors

Jaffa Gate

Jaffa Gate opens onto a plaza at the entrance to the Christian Quarter shopping area, as well as leading (on the right) to the Armenian Quarter and Mount Zion. From here you can enter the Ramparts Walk for a view of the city from the medieval walls, and the David's Tower Museum offers an overview of Jerusalem history stretching back 3000 years. The Christian Information Center is located in the building that was once the Austrian consulate, which provided the region's most reliable postal service. Don't miss the sculpture of a medieval Muslim warrior and Crusader just outside the gate. Inside the gate you will find the graves of the architects who designed the city walls.

The Cardo

Enter this partial reconstruction of the "High Street" of late Roman Jerusalem near the Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. A number of columns have been restored, as well as buildings suggesting the form of Roman era shops. A large mosaic reproduction of the famous Madaba map shows how central this column-lined street was in its heyday. Today, this is again a street for shoppers. You will find souvenirs, ceramics, jewellery, and Judaica, among other things. The Cardo leads into the main souk (market) of the Old City. And if you're in the mood for real Roman dining, reserve a place at the Cardo Culinarium. Don't forget to iron your toga!