Old City of Jerusalem Walking Tour, Jerusalem
Old City of Jerusalem Walking Tour
Guide Location: Israel » Jerusalem
Guide Type: Self-guided city tour
# of Attractions: 7
Tour Duration: 1 hour(s)
Transportation Mode: by foot
Travel Distance: 2.7 km
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Joshua Paquin
Author: vickyc
Walking through the Old City of Jerusalem is an experience not to be missed. The Old City is surrounded by walls built in the time of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century. Here, you will find the most important historical places and sights in Jerusalem, such as the famous Temple Mount, churches, synagogues and archaeological sites. This self-guided tour will lead you through the Old City of Jerusalem.
Tour Stops and Attractions
St. Anne's Church
1) St. Anne's Church
The Church of St. Anne is a Roman Catholic church, located at the start of the Via Dolorosa, near the Lions' Gate and churches of the Flagellation and Condemnation, in the Muslim Quarter of the old city of Jerusalem. Built between 1131 and 1138 to replace a previous Byzantine church, and shortly thereafter enlarged by several meters, the church is an excellent example of Romanesque architecture. The three-aisled basilica incorporates cross-vaulted ceilings and pillars, clear clean lines and a somewhat unadorned interior. The nave is separated from the lower lateral aisles by arcades of pointed arches. The high altar, designed by the French sculptor Philippe Kaeppelin incorporates many different scenes. The church possesses amazing acoustics perfect for Gregorian chant, which makes it a pilgrimage site for soloists and choirs, especially sopranos and tenors.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Eman
Golden Gate
2) Golden Gate
The Golden Gate was built in the 5th or 7th century BC. It is believed that the Messiah will come from the East and this gate is thought to be the place where the Last Judgment will be pronounced by God. Christians, Jews and Muslims, all have their own beliefs concerning this gate.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Wilson44691
Al-Aqsa Mosque
3) Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque also known as al-Aqsa, is an Islamic holy place in the Old City of Jerusalem. The rectangular al-Aqsa Mosque and its precincts are 144,000 square meters with a capacity of 400,000 worshipers, although the mosque itself is about 35,000 square meters and could hold up to 5,000 worshipers. It is 272 feet (83 m) long, 184 feet (56 m) wide. Widely considered as the third holiest site in Islam, Muslims believe that the prophet Muhammad was transported from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to al-Aqsa during the Night Journey. The al-Aqsa Mosque was originally a small prayer house built by the Rashidun caliph Umar, but was rebuilt and expanded by the Ummayad caliph Abd al-Malik and finished by his son al-Walid in 705 CE.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Barbara Kabel
Armenian Museum
4) Armenian Museum
The Armenian Museum tells the story of the genocide of Armenians in Turkey, the spread of Christianity among Armenians and the history of this nation. This museum contains lots of photographs on the tragedies undergone by the Armenian people. It is better not to take children to this museum.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Deror avi
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
5) Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is the only Protestant church in the Old City of Jerusalem. Built in the late 19th century by the architect Paul Ferdinand Groth, the Church of the Redeemer currently houses Lutheran congregations that worship in Arabic, German, Danish, and English. The location had been the site of the old church of St. Mary Minor. In 1898, Kaiser Wilhelm II made a trip to Jerusalem to personally dedicate the new church. For the dedication of the church, the Kaiser entered the city on horse back through to specially made ceremonial arches, one a gift of the Ottoman Empire and one a gift from the local Jewish community.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Kirschblut
Christ Church
6) Christ Church
Christ Church is housed in the neo-Gothic building of the former British Consulate in Jerusalem's Old City. It is the first Protestant church in the Middle East. Sermons are held in Hebrew, English, Romanian, and Filipino.It is a place of worship for all nations.
Jaffa Gate
7) Jaffa Gate
The Jaffa Gate is the main entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem. It was made of stone and was part of the historical wall of Jerusalem built by Suleiman, the Magnificent, in the 16th century. It leads to the Armenian and Christian parts of the Old City.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Orientalist
Attractions Map
Visitor's Comments (0)
Visitor's Gallery (0)
Download iPhone Walking Tours Application for Jerusalem
Popular Cities in Middle East
Bookmark and Share
© GPSmyCity.com