Walls of Jerusalem

Welcome to the ancient and eternally fascinating city of Jerusalem. As we stand before the magnificent stone ramparts that encircle the Old City, you are looking at a living architectural palimpsest, a testament to five millennia…

We commence our exploration on the western flank of the Old City at the vibrant and bustling Jaffa Gate. This formidable entrance is one of the eight gates integrated into the sixteenth century walls constructed under the…

Leaving the western flank, we now trace the longest continuous stretch of Jerusalem's fortifications, the northern city wall. Due to the city's natural topography, where steep valleys protect the east, south, and west, this…

As we turn the northeastern corner of the Old City, the landscape dramatically changes, and we find ourselves walking along the majestic eastern wall. This extraordinary stretch of fortification faces the Mount of Olives, which…

Continuing our journey southward along the eastern perimeter, overlooking the steep descent into the Kidron Valley, we arrive at a structure that is both architecturally stunning and deeply enigmatic. This is the Eastern Gate,…

We now transition to the southern wall of the Old City, an area that holds some of the most spectacular and emotionally resonant archaeological discoveries in all of Jerusalem. As we approach the intersection of the southern and…

Continuing our trek westward along the southern perimeter of the Old City, the ancient wall snakes along the undulating topography until we reach the imposing structure of the Zion Gate. Positioned on the elevated ridge of Mount…

We now journey inside the Old City walls, navigating the narrow alleys of the Jewish Quarter until the dense urban fabric suddenly opens up into a vast plaza. Before you stands the Western Wall, known in Hebrew as the Kotel. …

Leaving the immense crowds of the Western Wall Plaza, we take a short walk deeper into the heart of the modern Jewish Quarter. Here, situated below the current street level and surrounded by modern apartment buildings, lies one…

Our final major exploration takes us deep underground into the mysterious, subterranean world of the Western Wall Tunnels, specifically following the route of the newly opened Great Bridge tour. As you enter this climate…

As we conclude our extensive journey around, within, and beneath the monumental walls of Jerusalem, it is vital to take a moment to absorb the sheer weight of the history we have traversed. We have walked in the footsteps of…