overview
Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel, is also the largest city in the country.
As a city dedicated to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, Jerusalem represents an important and major tourism center.
Amongst the familiar and significant tourism sites in the city you will find the Western Wall, the Western Wall tunnels, the Old City, the Dome of the Rock, the El Aksa Mosque, The City of David, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Via Dolorosa, many cultural centers such as the Israel Museum, the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum, the Yad Vashem Museum which maintains the most comprehensive information about the Holocaust, the Museum of Islamic Arts, the Khan Theatre and many more and good sites.
Some words about the history of the city of Jerusalem in the modern era.
In 1517 the city was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Suleiman built the familiar walls around Jerusalem and he renovated the citadel and David’s Tower.
When the empire faded the condition of the city also started to deteriorate and many parts of the Old City were abandoned.
During the 18th century the Jewish population of the city began to strengthen and in 1860 the first Jewish neighbourhood outside of the walls was constructed,the Mishkenot Sha’ananim neighbourhood. In 1917 control passed to the British Mandate which determined Jerusalem as the capital of the Land of Israel and concentrated in it the important governmental offices.
During the time of the War of Independence the city of Jerusalem was besieged and bombarded when bloody battles took place at its center.
At the end of the War the eastern part of the city of Jerusalem remained in the hands of the Arabs including the Old City.
There are many and diverse routes to the city, public transport is readily available and the railway station will bring you to Jerusalem and its environs.
By car you will be able to reach Jerusalem via the main traffic artery – Road 1 – as well as via Road 443.
As regards the weather in the city, Jerusalem is located on the edge of the desert in Israel, that same area between the Judean Desert and the Negev Desert and the Mediterranean region and therefore the summer is warm and dry and the winter very cold and rainy.
Many festivals take place in Jerusalem.
Each year there is a cinematography festival in Jerusalem which is considered to be one of the most important in Israel.
In addition you will find a jazz festival, an international book fair and an annual wine festival which takes place in the Sculpture Garden in the city.
Shopping lovers will find many shopping centers. A new and prestigious center is the Mamilla Boulevard, this is a boulevard with prestigious brands and it is a kind of display window for the entire city.
In addition you will be able to find a number of large malls including the Malha Mall and the Hadar Mall.
Jerusalem has an abundance of parks and gardens, you will find the Sultan’s Pools, the famous Chords Bridge, the Rose Garden in the center of the National City Complex, Liberty Bell Garden, Bloomfield Park with its beautiful observation point and more.
Lovers of trips will find an abundance of routes in the City, amongst them tours outside of the city walls, the Flute River, a tour of Ein Karem, the Mahane Yehuda Market which represents a tourist attraction in itself, the German Colony, the Mount of Olives with its observation points over the City and a visit to numerous churches.
