The center of Jerusalem spills over with religious and historical landmarks, museums and holy places. But there are also places worth visiting in neighborhoods away from the center. A Biblical Zoo, the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and others cannot be missed and must figure in the itinerary of each tourist. The following self-guided tour will lead you through some of these distant places which are nevertheless worth a visit:
1) Yad VaShem Holocaust Memorial
Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust established in 1953 through the Yad Vashem Law passed by the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Located at the foot of Mount Herzl on the Mount of Remembrance in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem is a 45-acre (180,000 m2) complex containing the Holocaust History Museum, memorial sites, such as the Children's Memorial and the Hall of Remembrance, The Museum of Holocaust Art, sculptures, outdoor commemorative sites such as the Valley of the Communities, a synagogue, archives, a research institute, library, publishing house and an educational center, The International School for Holocaust Studies.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Berthold Werner
2) Mount Herzl
Mount Herzl, is a hilltop and national cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel named for Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism. Mt. Herzl is the burial place of three of Israel's prime ministers: Levi Eshkol, Golda Meir and Yitzhak Rabin (who is buried beside his wife Leah). Israeli presidents are also buried on Mt. Herzl, as are other prominent Jewish and Zionist leaders. Mt. Herzl is the venue for many commemorative events and national celebrations. A new interactive museum on Mt. Herzl offers a glimpse into the life of Theodor Herzl, the man behind the dream of a Jewish homeland.
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3) Hamifletzet
Rabinovich park is known for its bizarre playground sculptures. The Hamifletzet monster slide is one such sculpture designed by a French modernist artist. It's a big, black, white and red beast and its tongue serves as a slide for children. There are more interesting sculptures by this artist in the park.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and זאב זמיר
4) Church of the Visitation
The Church of the Visitation honors the visit paid by Mary, Jesus' mother, to Elizabeth, John the Baptist's mother. This is the site where tradition tells us that Mary recited her song of praise, the Magnificat. The church
is beautifully adorned with tiled representations of that canticle in many of the worlds languages. The interior of the church holds Italianate frescoes depicting the Visitation, Elizabeth hiding her son John the Baptist, and Zechariah next to the altar in the temple. Also preserved are remains of the ancient church and beautiful mosaic floors.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Effi Schweizer
5) Church of Saint John the Baptist
The Church of Saint John the Baptist is a Catholic church built, as it is supposed, in the birth place of John the Baptist. This holy site has a marble grotto from Spain, original paintings, frescoes and a small museum in the church.
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6) Mexico Park
Mexico Park is a fun park for kids. It is called Mexico Park as it has a playground with a Mexican sombrero at the top. There are amazing sculptures in the park.
7) Biblical Zoo
The Tisch Family Zoological Gardens in Jerusalem - The Biblical Zoo, popularly known as the Biblical Zoo, is located in the Malha neighbourhood of Jerusalem. It is famous for its collection of wildlife featured in the Hebrew Bible. The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo opened in 1928 as a small children's zoo on Harav Kook Street in central Jerusalem. The zoological collection centers on two main themes: The uniqueness of the Biblical Zoo lies in its emphasis on animals mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, some of which have become extinct in the present-day Israel.
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