Israel Hotels

Enjoy Israel

The Armenian Quarter – Jerusalem Old City

Situated to the right of the vibrant Christian Quarter is the secret Armenian Quarter, the most isolate of all of the quarters in the old city. The quarter goes back to the time when Armenian Christianity began and has a long history of Armenian pilgrims setting foot at its gate.

The discovery of holy sites for Christians in the city caused many of the pilgrims to become fixed residents in the Armenian Quarter. Dating back to the turn of the fourth century, when Armenia was declared as the first Christian state in the world, the Armenian Quarter developed into one of the main substances in the Christian entity of Jerusalem.

Due to wars and peregrination the Armenian populace in the old city has shrunk these days to a little under 1000. Still, this tight community lives its life in the surroundings of St. James Church, which envelopes the Armenian faith in Jerusalem and is also the residual place of the Armenian patriarchate. Unfortunately, the Armenian Quarter is far from living up to its full tourism potential. With the church and its surrounding areas closed to the public, in the quarter you can visit teh museum of the Armenian history and artwork, which is quite interesting but not easily found.

Israel's favorite Jerusalem - More options:

The Temple Mount Jerusalem

Holy to both Muslims and Jews, the Temple Mount (or Haram ash-Sharif in Arabic) is the most remarkable well-known symbol of Jerusalem, and the most controversial either. For Jews it is the ancient Mount Moriah, where Abraham almost sacrificed his son Isaac, and where the First and Second Temples were built. For Muslims it is their third holiest shrine, as said to be the site from where Muhammad have ascended to heaven on his Night Journey. Visible from almost anywhere around the Old City, the Temple Mount is a wide area with the Dome of the Rock in its center and the El-Aqsa Mosque at its southern edge. The Dome of the Rock: Glowing with its magnificent golden dome, and holding the sacred rock upon Isaac was almost sacrificed and from which Muhammad rose to heaven, the Dome of the Rock was built by Caliph Abd el-Malik in 691 AD, as part of the Muslims attempt to demonstrate their ascendance over Christianity. Traditionally known as the center of the world, the sacred rock inside shows the legendary mark of Muhammad's footprint. El-Aqsa Mosque: Built by the son of Abd el-Malik, Caliph Walid, in the early 8th century, the El-Aqsa Mosque, with its silver-black dome, is far less glorious than the Dome of the Rock, but it serves as the actual place of worship for Muslim pilgrimages coming to the Temple Mount. Its name means "the farthest", referring to the farthest point that was reached by Muhammad on his Night Journey. Information: Entering the Temple Mount is through a gate called Mughrabi Gate, reached from the Western Wall area. Visitors should remember to be appropriately dressed (i.e. with no bare body parts), and to be prepared to sometimes a long queue at the security checking point. Visiting hours are Saturday to Thursday from 7:30am to 11:00am, and from 1:30pm to 2:30pm. The site is closed on Friday. (Notice that these times can be changed as they are based on Muslim prayer times).

The Western Wall Time Line Jerusalem

1000 BC – Purchasing Mount Moria King David conquered Jerusalem, which was a Jebusite city located on the Ophel hill, southeast of today’s Old City area. He bought a neighboring hill, which was later identified with Mount Moria (the site of Isaac’s sacrifice), on which he placed the Ark of the Covenant. 950 BC – The Construction of the First Temple King Solomon, the son of David, built the First Temple on Mount Moria, which known today as the Temple Mount. 586 BC – The Destruction of the First Temple Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, conquered Jerusalem, burnt the Temple and exiled the Jews to Babylon. 515 BC – The Construction of the Second Temple In 537 BC, after 50 years in the Babylonian exile, the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem and began to rebuild the city and the Temple. The Second Temple was completed in 515 BC. Model of Second Temple 37- 4 BC – Herod’s Temple Herod the Great was appointed to the King of Judah and begun to reconstruct the Second Temple and to build the Temple Mount. He built an incredibly magnificent temple and a retaining wall around the Temple Mount enclosure. 70 AD – The Destruction of the Second Temple The Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans led to the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple by Titus. The only remnant left was the western part of the Temple Mount’s retaining wall, which became the focal point of the Jewish people throughout the centuries. The authentic bricks of that wall can be seen at the bottom rows of today’s Western Wall. May 14, 1948 – The Western Wall Falls to Jordanian Hands A few hours after the official proclamation of the state of Israel, the Arab armies of the neighboring countries invaded Israel, and the terrible War of Independence begun. The Old City of Jerusalem, with the Western Wall in its center, fell to Jordanian legionnaires. Western Wall – Virtual Tour June 7, 1967 – Israel Regains Control of the Western Wall During the Six Days War and after 19 years, in which the access to the Wall was prevented from the Jews, the Israeli army recaptured the Old City of Jerusalem, and liberated the Western Wall. The Year 2000 – E-Communication with the Western Wall Maintaining the old tradition of placing a note with a prayer to God in the Wall’s bricks, the era of High Technology and e-communication provides a virtual answer for those who like to send their prayers to God, without actually visiting the Wall. The believer can now send his request via e-mail or fax and it will be placed between the Wall’s bricks.

Jerusalem's Culture, People and neighborhoods

A city which is a celebration of colors, sites and people, a trip to Jerusalem is an exciting journey into many types of cultures, traditions and neighborhoods. Along the history of the city, people of different religions, from all over the world, have set their homes in Jerusalem, making it an exotic place to discover. Many visitors to Jerusalem are drawn to the city's exceptional ambiance and unique aura. The city of Jerusalem consists of three main parts: A View to the Old City The most historical holy part is the walled Old City, where the major sites, the lively alleys and the colorful markets are. The Old City itself is divided into four quarters: The Armenian Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter and the Muslim Quarter. A View to the New City Outside the walls is the New City, also known as West Jerusalem. Here is where you can enjoy the vibrant modern metropolis of the active bars and cafes, the malls, the impressive museums and galleries, and the expanding Israeli neighborhoods and industrial high-tech zones. A View to East Jerusalem The third part of Jerusalem is East Jerusalem, populated mostly with Palestinians, presenting a wide range of oriental restaurants, lively shops and inexpensive hotels.

Jerusalem - one of a kind