Description

Half Day Jerusalem

Western Wall, Church of Holy Sepulchre

Tour departs on a daily basis – Tour won’t be operated on: 09/10/19

Our tour begins on the Mount of Olives where we have a panoramic view across the holy city of Jerusalem. From this elevated point we have the ancient Jewish cemetery beneath us and beyond that the Old City with the shining Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount. As we look down on the Old City it is easy to imagine the Second Temple which once stood on Temple Mount and the bustling ancient city as it would have been almost 2000 years ago.

Then we take the winding road down to the Kidron Valley giving us a view of the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was arrested the night before his crucifixion and we also see the Church of All Nations or the Basilica of the Agony. In the valley we can see the ancient burial tombs of Absalom and Jehoshapat, Benei Hezir and the tomb of Zechariah. We enter the Old City through the Zion Gate into the Armenian Quarter and continue on to the Byzantine Cardo. This was the main street through Jerusalem 1,500 years ago, later under Moslem rule it was left unused and then during the Crusader period the street was once again a busy thoroughfare. Today after extensive excavations, which are ongoing, specialty stores are open where Crusader stores once stood.

Going through the Jewish Quarter we reach the most holy site in the Jewish faith, the Western Wall. Here Jews from around the world come to pray and put prayer notes between the wall’s stones. This 2,000 year old wall was part of the outer supporting walls of the holy Second Temple which was destroyed in AD70. We continue on to the Via Dolorosa or the Way of Sorrows where Jesus walked towards his crucifixion. Along the way we pause at several Stations of the Cross and finally we reach the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The basilica is constructed on the site where Jesus is believed to have been crucified and within the church is his burial tomb. The Byzantine church has been renovated, rebuilt and expanded over the years; today it is a vast and ornate place of worship.

To end our tour we take a walk through the busy markets of the Old City where you can buy unique souvenirs from the City of Gold.

Remarks

  • Tour ends approx. 13:00 at the Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem. There is no return back to your hotel.
  • This tour includes a reasonable amount of walking; comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
  • Modest dress is obligatory for visits to holy sites; covered knees and shoulders.
  • Tour may be bilingual (English and another language).