Old City of Jerusalem

They say, there's a magical quality in the Old City of Jerusalem that does not exist in anywhere else in the world. Perhaps it is due to the glorious history of its towering walls and ancient buildings, or the sacred atmosphere that surrounds the holy sites of Jewish, Christian and Moslem religions. (www.goisrael.com) - I say, it's more of the latter.

The Old City of Jerusalem is a walled area within the modern city of Jerusalem (like Intramuros to Manila). It is divided into four neighborhoods named according to the ethnic affiliation of most of people who lived there: the Moslem Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter and the Armenian Quarter.

We passed by all of the quarters except the Armenian Quarter when we visited the place on October 23, 2013 as part of the IAEA conference tour, but only at the Jewish and Christian Quarters where I was able to take photos.

The Jewish Quarter

An eye-catching mosaic wall located in the Jewish Quarter Street.

The Broad Wall, approximately 8 meters wide and about 8 meters high, protected the ancient city from Assyria during the first temple period.

Hurva Synagogue : a symbol of Jerusalem's indomitable spirit and the Jewish people's desire to claim its rightful land.

 

The door of one of the synagogues (I guess) in the Jewish Quarter featuring the gates of the Old City of Jerusalem.

Cardo Maximus: the main street of ancient Jerusalem.

Madaba (Mosaic) Map: the map of Middle East, part of it was contains the oldest surviving original cartographic depiction of the Holy Land and especially Jerusalem.  This is just a replica of the original one which is located in Madaba, Jordan.

Western Wall (Wailing Wall): the last remnant of the Holy Temple and the most important religious shrine for the Jews.

Experience the wall's magnetic power, drawing close the hands and forehead of faithfuls.

Jerusalem Archaeological Park: Israel's most important antiquity site.

The Christian Quarter

Wandering through the narrow alleys at the Christian Quarter.

Jaffa Gate is the only one of the 8 gates of the Old City positioned at a right angle to the wall.

The sun shining at the Jaffa Gate when we arrived at the Old City.

Redeemer's Church: the headquarter of the Lutheran Church in the Holy Land.

El Omariye Mosque viewed from the courtyard of the Holy Sepulchre Church.

The Holy Sepulchre is the holiest site for Christians.  It is believed to be the place where Jesus was crucified, died and resurrected.

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