Michal David
Tour guide in Israel
&
Archaeologist
The three religions of Jerusalem
The classical one day tour of the Old city
If this is your first visit to Jerusalem, and you only have one day to explore the Old City, I suggest you take a classical "The three religions of Jerusalem" tour, that covers all the "must-see" places and much much more.
We will start our day at the Jaffa Gate: one the main gates in the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. Go up the Tower of David for the best viewpoint over the entire old city. We will continue on our way to the Armenian Quarter, one of the four quarters in the walled Old City of Jerusalem and home to several thousand Armenians.
We will go out of the Old City to visit Mt. Zion: the western hill opposite the Temple Mount. This hill houses a site traditionally called the King David’s Tomb, revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike. Above the Tomb of David is the Cenacle (site of the Last Supper) and Dormition Abbey, the site where Mary lived out her final days.
Go back to Explore the Jewish Quarter of the Old City including the Cardo (the ancient marketplace from Roman times), the Broad Wall and walk by the Hurva Synagogue – destroyed in the 1948 War of Independence by the Jordanian army and recently completely rebuilt.
The highlight of the visit to the Jewish quarter is The Kotel (Western Wall) , a relatively small section of the western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, which in ancient times housed the First and Second Temples of the Jewish people. For almost 2,000 years, this wall was the closest Jews could get to the place where the Holy of Holies stood, and Jews have been praying there ever since. This enduring fragment of the Temple complex has come to symbolize the indestructible attachment of the Jewish people to the land of Israel.
From there we will continue through the Muslim Quarter, where we will walk The Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows), traditionally believed to be the path Jesus walked while carrying the Holy Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We will end our day in the Christian quarter, at The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the holiest site in Christendom.
*Bring comfortable shoes for a full day of walking
*bring a scarf to cover shoulders or shorts for the holly sites
*Additional entry fees not including in the day's price (optional): The Tower of David entry fee: 10 NIS, Hurva Synagogue entry:14 NIS
