The lower section of the wall was constructed by King Herod 2000 years ago as a retaining wall to support the Temple Mount platform. Currently, sections of it are synagogue and prayer areas and the wall as a whole is considered the most holy of Jewish sites.
The Western Wall Tunnel is the extension of the Western Wall. It is the western part of a retaining wall built by King Herod to support the extended platform he constructed for the enlargement and restoration of the Second Temple.
The mosque was built in 691 by the Chalif Abed el Malek above the rock venerated by Muslims as the site from which Mohamed ascended to heaven. The Dome of the Rock is located at the center of a platform known in English as the Temple Mount and in Arabic as Al-Haram al-Sharif, (The Noble Sanctuary). It was constructed on the site of the Second Jewish Temple, which was destroyed during the Roman Siege of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
The traditional site of the crucifixion of Jesus and the location of the tomb of Joseph of Aremethia. Today’s church is the fourth built on the same spot. The first was constructed by Queen Helena, the mother of the emperor Constantine in the 4th century. The last was constructed by the Crusaders (July 15th, 1143). The site is venerated as Calvary (Golgotha), where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, and also includes the place where Jesus is said to have been buried and resurrected. Within the church are the last five Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa.
A garden where Jesus returned several times with his disciples; the last time being after the Last Supper in order to pray (Mark 14: 32-52). Today the Catholic Church of all Nations, built in 1924, stands next to the garden.
King David’s Tomb is the traditional burial site of King David. The tomb is located in the corner of a room situated on the ground floor remains of a 5th century Byzantine basilica also known as Hagia Zion.
Christian tradition holds that the room on the second floor, above the traditional burial site of King David, is where Jesus and his disciples celebrated the Passover meal known as the Last Supper (Mark 14:12-16). It is also believed by many to be the place where the Holy Spirit came down from heaven on the disciples and others on the Pentecost, which is the Jewish holiday of Shavuot (acts 2:2).
An ancient tomb located near the Damascus Gate believed by many to be the place where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected from. “So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb…” (Mark 15:46).
Catholic tradition identifies the site of the church as the home of the High Priest Caiaphas where Jesus was brought for trial after his arrest and it was here that Peter denied knowing Jesus three times (Mark 14: 30, 53 – 72 ).
The modern Roman Catholic Church was built in 1868. The church was built on the site of a fourth-century basilica that commemorates the Ascension of Jesus. According to Christian tradition, Jesus prayed and taught his disciples in the grotto at the courtyard. Famous prayer taught here was the “Our Father” blessing (Luke 11:1-3). The grotto is also believed to be the site where Jesus revealed to his disciples his prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and his second coming.
At this location, Jesus burst into tears upon his foreseeing the future destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44). The church was built in 1955 and was designed by the famous Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi.
The Citadel with three massive towers of fortifications that was built by King Herod 2000 years ago is currently the Tower of David Museum, presenting 3000 years of Jerusalem’s history.
