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While Israel gained control of the western portion of
the city at that point, Jordan occupied the eastern
areas, including the Old City, barring Jews from visiting
key holy sites. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel
defeated the Jordanian army and captured the eastern
part of the city, including the Temple Mount, which had
not been in Jewish hands since the fall of the Second
Temple. At that point, Israel opened up access to the
city’s holy sites to members of all faiths.
SEE HOW ADHERENTS OF THE THREE MAIN
MONOTHEISTIC FAITHS SHARE ONE COVETED
PIECE OF REAL ESTATE
To this day, you can experience remnants of all of
these cultures throughout the city, including Judaism’s
primary pilgrimage site, the Western Wall. This structure
forms part of the base of the larger Temple Mount
complex, which housed both Jewish temples for about
1,000 years until AD 70. Atop the Temple Mount sits the
vast Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, which
are Muslim holy sites built approximately 1,000 years
after the Second Temple was destroyed. The Old City
is also home to several of Christianity’s holiest sites,
including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Via
Dolorosa and the Stations of the Cross, in addition
to monasteries and houses of worship specifically
associated with the Armenian church.
CROSSING JERUSALEM IS LIKE TAKING A
STROLL AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY
The best way to experience Jerusalem is on foot.
Within a few blocks, you can visit traditional Arab
neighborhoods in the eastern portion of the city, cross
the street and experience the ultra-orthodox Jewish
enclave of Mea Shea’rim and walk a few streets over
and enter the Russian Compound, which features the
Holy Trinity Cathedral. The ability to interact with a
variety of ethnic groups in such a small geographical
area gives Jerusalem an international feel that is hard
to match.
In addition to the people and holy sites, Jerusalem is
also a visually stunning city, with many of its buildings
constructed from a pale local limestone that takes
on a golden hue when the sun sets and rises. In areas
like the Old City, almost every facade is covered in
Jerusalem stone, with bursts of purple bougainvillea
exploding from the cracks in spring and summer. With
strict building and zoning regulations in place since the
British ruled Mandate Palestine, Jerusalem is pleasantly
lacking in tall buildings and modern architecture and its
skyline is completely devoid of skyscrapers.
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Jerusalem