Western Wall (Kotel)
Often considered the top Jerusalem attraction, no visit to Jerusalem can be considered complete without stopping at The Western or Wailing Wall, the most sacred site in the world for the Jewish people.
Built by King Herod in the first century BCE, the Western Wall or Kotel in Hebrew, was the outer retaining wall of the Second Temple complex. When the Romans conquered Jerusalem in 70CE all that was left of the magnificent Temple was this wall of golden stones. For 2000 years the Kotel remained the spiritual capital of the Jewish People and a sacred site for pilgrimage and prayer.
In 1948 the Jordanians seized the Old City of Jerusalem including the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter. The Jewish residents were driven from their homes and some were killed. For 19 years Jews could only gaze with longing at the Western Wall from the hills of western Jerusalem. In 1967 during Israel’s War of Independence IDF paratroopers liberated the Western Wall in one of the most emotional moments in all of Jewish history.
Today the wide plaza in front of the Western Wall welcomes people of all faiths. Observe the people praying at the Western Wall as Jews have done for thousands of years, writing their supplications on small pieces of paper that they lovingly place between its sacred stones.
It is said that some people have hearts of stone but the stones of this Wall have hearts, a reflection of the prayers poured out here through the ages.
Since the Kotel is a holy site certain rules need to be followed when visiting. Men and women pray in separate sections and modest dress is required.
Machane Yehuda Market
Another Jerusalem attraction not to be missed is the famous Machane Yehuda Market, known to the locals as “The Shuk”-the market. A short walk from the center of town, arriving at the entrance to the sprawling raucous market will remind you that you are in the Middle East. Lining the streets and alleyways of Machane Yehuda are hundreds of stands, stalls, shops and restaurants selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, sumptuous baked goods, to household wares and clothing.
Marvel at the sight of mountains of rich red tomatoes, dark green cucumbers, olives of every sort, dozens of varieties of cheeses, salads of every description, brightly colored fruits from apples to oranges, pomegranates to pomelos. Enjoy the smells of exotic spices and freshly brewed Turkish coffee laced with cardamom. Turn down an alleyway and checkout the huge array of fresh meats and fish.
Machane Yehuda has something to tempt every palate! Listen to the shouts of the vendors as they urge the passersby to take advantage of their bargain prices and quality goods. A visit to Machane Yehuda is an unforgettable authentic taste (and smell!) of Jerusalem.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a site holy to Christians but it is also a major Jerusalem attraction for people of many faiths. For those of the Catholic and Orthodox denominations it is the most important pilgrimage destination in the Holy Land.
In 325 CE Emperor Constantine ordered that the Church be built on the traditional site of Golgotha, where Christ was crucified and where he was laid in a tomb before his resurrection. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a massive structure located at the culmination of a maze of alleyways winding through the Arab Suk-market.
Control of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is strictly divided among four Christian sects-Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox and Coptic. Every square inch of the Church is jealously guarded by the priests and caretakers of the different denominations. Disputes among them often cause endless delays in maintenance and repairs to the structure.
Upon entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, visitors take a moment to adjust to the dim lighting and the scents of incense wafting through the air. The Church is often filled with crowds of pilgrims including families and children, an atmosphere not always conducive to religious contemplation. But for those on a journey of faith their visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre will forever remain a cherished memory.
Israel Cathedral
Dome of the Rock
Another Jerusalem attraction that dominates the views of the Old City from the surrounding hillsides is the Dome of the Rock-the beautiful octagonal structure covered in exquisite blue tiles and capped with a sparking golden dome.
Built in 685 CE at the behest of Abd-al-Malik ibn Marwan it is located on the top of Mount Moriah, believed to be the site where Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed and from where Mohammad is said to have ascended to heaven. The Dome of the Rock is the oldest Muslim shrine extant in the world today and was perhaps built as a counterpoint to the nearby Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The Dome of the Rock is an architectural gem and the dome itself was an innovation in Islamic design but common in the building of Byzantine Christian edifices. Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent added the gorgeous tiles in many shades of blue lining the exterior walls. During the occupation of Jerusalem by the Jordanians from 1948 to 1967, the Jordanian government restored the dome and covered it in its current shiny bronze alloy, the original gold having been plundered many years earlier.
Visitors to the Dome of the Rock will be required to remove their shoes as in all mosques and will doubtless leave impressed by the beauty of the building.
Jerusalem Hotels