Jerusalem is the holiest and oldest city in the world. It is a city that promises a religious and spiritual experience and a city of overwhelming emotions. This city has known war and peace, love and hate, riches and poverty, destruction and renewal, happiness and pain. Jerusalem is a city that has become home to people from many different faiths, traditions and ethnic groups.
Here some of the best historical places in Jerusalem:
- Gorny Monastery – it is a Russian Orthodox Monastery which was built in 1871 as a part of Russia's attempt to establish its hold in the Holy Land. It is also known as “Moskovia” after the city of Moscow. The Gorny Monastery has a well-kept gardens, stone houses, an inn for pilgrims, cemetery, as well as a living quarters of the nuns. It spreads over a hundreds of dunams and includes three churches – two small and one big. The large church which is the Church of Holy Trinity has domes and golden crosses that makes it recognized. At the Gorny Monastery live 48 Russian nuns and 2 priests who run the prayer services.
- Ammunition Hill – it is a hump lying between the modern neighborhoods of Ramat Eshkol and French Hill. It was also the site of some of the 1967 Six Day War's bloodiest fighting. Ammunition Hill is a national memorial site commemorating the liberation and unification of Jerusalem. Nowadays, Ammunition Hill houses the main Jerusalem induction center for new IDF recruits, an extensive museum and the well preserved trenches and fortifications from the battle itself.
- The Lion's Gate – is among the old city gates that have played a significant role in the history of the Holy City of Jerusalem. For Arabic, it is also called as the “Bab Sitt Maryam” which is named after Mary the mother of Christ. For Christians, the gate is called as the St. Stephen’s Gate after St. Stephen who is the first Christian martyr. The Lions Gate is very significant to the Jewish people since this is where processions are being held during Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday from the Mount of Olives. This is to commemorate the tradition of Jesus Christ welcoming to the city of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is also a historical site of its own for being almost 4000 years in history. The city of Jerusalem is rich in heritage and cultural artifacts. It also the best place to travel if you are in for a historical sight seeing.