ANCIENT JERUSALEM

Where the Bible comes alive

We start our tour in the old town and walk through the Jewish quarter past the Hurva Synagogue and the remains of the ancient, 200-year-old Broad Wall from the time of King Hezekiah , the period of the First Jewish Temple.

Visit the Herodian Quarter, which is now underground, where the wealthy population and the Jewish priests (Kohanim) who served in the Second Temple lived in the times of Jesus. In a mural you can see a 2000-year-old illustration of the menorah, the seven-armed candlestick of the Temple. Some archaeologists are convinced that the House of the High Priest Caiaphas was located here in the Herodian quarter.

We walk down to the Western Wall, the only remnant of the Second Temple built by King Herod. Also Jesus wandered around and visited this magnificent Temple. From the stairs we enjoy a wonderful view of the Mount of Olives and the Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Then we visit the Archaeological Park along the Temple Wall., the so-called Davidson Center. Here we explore the trumpet corner and walk on the ancient original Pilgrimage Road, which Jewish pilgrims, and among them also Jesus used 2000 years ago to make their pilgrimage to the Temple. The famous Hulda Stairs, which once led up to the Temple, have also been partially preserved in their original form.

Then we walk towards the Via Dolorosa. We stop at the Ecce-Homo Arch. Here is also the Ecce Homo convent of the Sisters of Zion with underground excavations from Roman times. According to some archaeologists, this is the site where the Lithostrotos was located, and where Pontius Pilate presented Jesus to the crowd during the trial, others are convinced that this arch was built later on during Roman times. The Struthion Water Reservoir from the times of Jesus can also be visited here underground.

Then it goes to the Bethesda Pools, where Jesus healed a sick person. There are archaeological remains here that date back to the First Temple period to the times of the wise King Solomon.

Then we walk through the Muslim bazaar to the Garden Tomb . For most Protestant Christians, this garden with its ancient tomb is considered to be the place where Jesus was buried. The tour ends at Damascus Gate.

Duration of the tour: Full day tour (approx. 8 hours)