Two Days in Jerusalem

✨ Stayed at the Seven Arches Hotel on the Mount of Olives. Only after checking in did I realize that the area in front of the hotel is full of tombs. However, the view of the Old City of Jerusalem is just outside the door, and it's only a 30-minute walk to the Old City. 🍷 Jerusalem is one of the oldest, holiest, and most contested cities in the world, located in the hilly region at the border between Israel and Palestine. It holds unparalleled religious significance for the three major Abrahamic religions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — and is regarded as a holy city. With a history spanning over three thousand years, Jerusalem has been conquered and rebuilt many times, leaving behind a rich legacy of archaeological sites and religious landmarks. 🍷 The Old City of Jerusalem is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is divided into four quarters: the Jewish Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Muslim Quarter, and the Armenian Quarter. It is home to world-famous religious sites such as the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. 🍯 The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, is the most sacred Jewish site in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is a remnant of the western wall of the Second Temple. After the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, Jews came to regard this wall as the closest point to the Holy of Holies. They come here to pray, mourn the past, and place written prayers into the cracks between the stones. ✨ The Dome of the Rock, built in 691 CE, is a landmark of Islamic architecture, featuring a striking golden dome and located on the Temple Mount. Muslims believe this is the site where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven during the Night Journey, while Jews believe it is the place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son. 🍯 Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam, located at the southern end of the Temple Mount, near the Dome of the Rock. The mosque is named after the "farthest mosque" mentioned in the Quran and is believed to be the destination of Muhammad’s Night Journey. ✨ The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City, is one of the most sacred sites in Christianity. Christians believe it is the place where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. The church is jointly managed by several denominations, including the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Armenian Apostolic churches. Its interior is complex and clearly divided, making it a central pilgrimage destination for Christians from around the world. ✨ The Armenian Quarter is the smallest but one of the oldest of the four quarters in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is one of the oldest Armenian communities outside of Armenia. As early as the 4th century, Armenians established churches and monasteries here, marking them as one of the first nations to adopt Christianity. #LostCivilizations #WhereHistoryMeetsModernity #Jerusalem l #JerusalemOldCity