Top architectural sightseeing and landmarks of Jerusalem - ideas on city exploration routes

» In commemoration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, the temple was built at the site where the Son of God was crucified and then buried. Thousands of pilgrims visit this sacred place to see the Holy Flame.
»  The first church, the territory of Golgotha, and the place where the Holy Cross was located were a coherent whole.
»  Only the elected eparchy has the right to possess sanctuaries.
»  Orthodox services are held at 1 am. Then, Armenian dioceses start at 4 am. The Catholics visit the mass at 6 am.
»  Following different religions, it was decided without conflicts that the church has been secured by the Arab-Muslim family since 1192. Other Muslim families can lock and unlock the door. These privileges are inherited from father to son.
»  This rule was established when the lightning struck and damaged one of the columns. On that day, Christians argued about the order of services.
»  Over the years of its existence, the building has faced a lot of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and fires.
»  It has two entrances. One of the doors is bricked up.
»  In the Jerusalem Museum, you can see picturesque paintings.

» The religious building was built many centuries ago.
»  The mosque is located on the Temple Mount.
»  The building is a magnificent marble octagon. The facade is decorated with a colorful inlaid panel. It is mostly green and blue. The shining dome is 34 m high and has a diameter of 20 m.
»  The vault was finished with 80 kg of gold.
»  Inner rooms are decorated with mosaic patterns too.
»  Originally, the construction belonged to Jews but was destroyed by the Romans. They built the temple of Jupiter at the site of the destroyed house.
»  After the fall of the Roman Empire, Muslims constructed the temple here.
»  The House of God became a mosque in the late 12th century. Those who don’t follow the Islamic belief can enter the mosque through the wooden deck situated at the entrance, near the Wailing Wall.
»  In the territory of the mosque, there is a place where you can see a 2-meter touchstone. It is the point of the world creation. It is surrounded with a gilded fence. The stone is called “the rock that covers the dome”. That is why the mosque is named the Dome of the Rock”.
»  In one part of it, there is a manhole that leads to the Well of Souls.

» The religious building is located in the mount. It is translated as “the Farthest Mosque” from the Arabic. The object was first mentioned in the 7th century.
»  About 5 000 followers of Islam can pray in the mosque. At one time, believers look at the mosque when praying, as they accepted it as main. There is a belief that the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven exactly from here.
»  The Al-Aqsa Mosque is not a building but a uniform complex that has a total area of 144 000 m2.
»  Originally, the mosque served as a small house of prayer.
»  When the city was conquered by the Crusaders, the building served as the Temple of Solomon. Later, the Knights of the Temple rebuilt the church and used it for their needs. The basement where the stall was located has survived until nowadays. It is called “Solomon’s Stables”.
»  During the reign of Sultan Saladin, the building served as a mosque again and all the traces of people of other faiths were dismantled.
»  The Muslim sanctuary has a huge dome. It is 17 m high. Its exterior and interior are decorated with mosaic patterns. The walls are covered with gray lead panels. The lower edge is decorated with white marble slabs with mosaic patterns too. Several preachers are buried here.

» The fortress wall and the citadel were built in the 2nd century BC to strengthen the defense of the city. This is attested by archeological artifacts aged over 2 700 years and found during excavations.
»  Over the years of its existence, the fortress was destroyed, rebuilt, and used for other needs many times.
»  Upon the order of Herod, three big and high buildings were constructed. They were aimed at protecting the palace from the enemy. The highest 44-meter construction was named after the leader’s brother. The Tower of Phasael has survived to this day.
»  The fortification had belonged to the Turkish natives for 400 years. They built the house of prayer and the minaret. Since that time, the defense complex has been called Tower of David in memory of the ancestor of Jerusalem.
»  After the First World War, the British occupied Jerusalem. The commander declared victory near the Tower of David.
»  Since 1989, there had been the museum of the chronicles of the Jews’ holy city. Its exhibits are displayed in several halls of the citadel and the fortress. Maps, chronicles, holograms, drafts, videos, and photos will let you trace the history of the area and learn more about its governors.

» The Orthodox Sorority and the Church of Mary Magdalene are located on one of the mountain slopes and surrounded by olive trees, cypresses, and pines. In Gethsemane, the part of the garden was purchased for the church construction in 1882. The Emperor’s family donated ₽165 000 for the construction of the House of God.
»  Alexander III ordered to build the church in memory of his mother, the Empress Maria Aleksandrovna. Her heavenly patroness was Mary Magdalene. The church is named after the Equal Apostles Saint.
»  The construction was completed in 1885. The seven-dome temple was blessed in three years when the 900th anniversary of Russia’s Baptism was celebrated.
»  The building is faced with light stone and has golden domes. The floor is covered with colorful tiles. The white marble fence with icons on it frames the dark bronze pattern. Wall paintings with golden patterns and the vault with sails are created by famous Russian artists.
»  The icon of St. Mary Magdalene keeps the particle of her relics.
»  The fragments of ancient steps have been dug up here. Christ used them to enter the city.

» The authorities cost $70 million on the suspended construction. The bridge was festively opened in 2008, on the 60th anniversary of Jerusalem.
»  The Chords Bridge is constructed at the entrance to the megacity. King David’s Harp unloads transport junction, as there is an above-ground subway on it.
»  The designer took into account both railway and pedestrian traffic.
»  The construction is supported by the 119-meter pillar. The pillar balances the 160-meter platform due to long optical fibers. 66 white cables with a diameter of 5 cm resemble the strings of the musical instrument.
»  The Spanish engineer called an ultramodern architect engineered the bridge as a reminder of David’s Harp. The King was an excellent musician.
»  The construction is aimed to show that modern Jerusalem is still the city of David.
»  The building is built of natural stone, concrete mixture, steel, and glass.
»  The Chords Bridge is the highest object in the city.
»  The lower pedestrian subway has glass panels. It links the distant district and the bus station.
»  There are tram rails at the upper level.
»  It is the first construction of its type in Jerusalem.

» The State Parliament was established in Jerusalem in 1949. It is called Knesset 120 individuals elected for 4 years address state issues. James Rothschild helped to open the state institution in 1966. When the pit was being dug, an unknown grave was found. The grave was covered with the transparent canopy and abandoned in the inner patio. The Parliament building is located on the hill (Givat Ram) and looks like a rectangle with chamfered sides. Each wall of red stone is supported by the column. There are 10 such columns. The exterior is covered with local limestone. The roof is reinforced concrete. It was quite solid not to let the Jordanian army destroy it with shells. It was planned to make the dome of glass. The additional wing was added to the palace. There are offices of specialists and a meeting room. The annex is named Kedma. Tourists can view the session from the glass gallery. It is held in seven languages for sightseers’ convenience. The room where all members of the organization gather together is divided into two sectors: the lower one for deputies and the upper balcony for invited persons.