Jerusalem is the first city of Israel in importance, and one of the oldest cities in the world. Throughout its turbulent history, it has undergone many trials, survived earthquakes, wars, destruction, the domination of various empires and, despite the numerous prophets' predictions about its imminent death, to this day it remains the Holy City and the center of attraction not only for believers of three religions - Jews, Christians and Muslims, but also everyone who at least once heard about him. And tourists, vacationing in resorts so rich in sights of Greece, do not miss the opportunity to go on an excursion from Greece to Jerusalem. The most convenient way to do this is from Crete, a plane from Heraklion to Jerusalem takes less than an hour and a half. And even a one-day excursion allows you to see the beauty and grandeur of this city.
A magnificent panorama of Jerusalem opens from the observation deck at the top of the Mount of Olives. And the first thing that catches your eye is the golden dome in the center of the Old City. This is the Dome of the Rock, an Islamic sanctuary, one of the first and most beautiful monuments of Islamic architecture, erected in the 7th century on the top of the Temple Mount, above the rock ledge, from where the Prophet Mohammed ascended into the sky. Next to it is the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third after the Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, the shrine of Islam.
Wall of Tears
The most holy place for Jews in Jerusalem is the western wall of the second Jerusalem Temple destroyed by the Romans, the Wailing Wall. Jews from all over the world come here to mourn the destruction of the Temple and pray for the revival of Israel.
Church of the Holy Sepulcher
For Christians, the greatest shrine is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, erected on the site where Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and then resurrected. This is a whole temple complex, consisting of three main structures: the Temple on Calvary, the Chapel of the Holy Sepulcher, the Temple of the Resurrection, and many side-altars, chapels and monasteries of different denominations.
In the central building of the Temple, above the cave in which Christ was buried, there is a marble chapel. Its two windows serve for the transmission of the Holy Fire, which annually descends on Great Saturday before Easter.
In the Temple on Calvary, the place where the cross of Jesus was dug is marked with a silver circle, the places of the robbers' crosses are marked with black circles.
A stone vase is installed in the Church of the Resurrection, symbolizing the "Navel of the Earth".
Via Dolorosa
In order to feel what the Son of God experienced on his last Earthly Path, Christian pilgrims walk the Road of Sorrow, the Way of the Cross, along which Jesus walked from the place of judgment to the place of execution, carrying his cross. For various reasons, the mournful procession was interrupted by stops. 14 stops or stations are canonized and marked with chapels or churches.
Other famous places in the city
- Gethsemane garden
- Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene
- Church of All Nations
- The chamber of the Last Supper and the tomb of King David
With those who came to Jerusalem not as a pilgrim, but as a simple tourist, the city will share its secrets and charm with incredible beauty, will make you feel its mysterious aura in the narrow streets of the Nachlaot district, with many small synagogues, old houses with courtyards, shops selling souvenirs, ceramics, olive tree crafts, food and clothing. And the market of Mahane Yehuda, a huge kaleidoscope, dazzling with a continuously changing pattern of multi-colored fruits, vegetables, cheeses, wine, sweets, will intoxicate with the aromas of flowers, spices and coffee.
Numerous museums in Jerusalem await their visitors. The most popular among them
- Israel Museum
- Temple of the Book
- Rockefeller Museum
- Institute of Islamic Art named after Mayer
- Bible Lands Museum
- Bloomfield Science Museum
- The quarries of King Solomon
The Jerusalem Historical Museum is open in the Tower of David, which is also a sacred site. There is a night light and sound show, where the entire centuries-old history of Jerusalem will rush in 45 minutes. And from the top of the tower there is a magnificent view of the entire city, both old and modern.
