Places to see in the Old City

After the old city was recaptured
from the Arabs in 1967 and the rebuilding began, many interesting
discoveries were made. Many relics from the past were uncovered and can now
be seen. Here are some of the interesting places you may want to visit.

Actual
floor stones from the time of the

2nd Bais HaMikdash that are still walked on today

• The Broad Wall

For many years no one seemed to know how far the ancient
city of Yerushalayim reached out into the north. No one seemed to
know where the northern wall of the city once stood. There was much
speculation as to how far north the city extended. The discovery of this
wall (in 1970) which dates back to the time of the first Bais
HaMikdash, finally ended the debate. Standing on the corner of Rechov
Plugat Hakotel one can see what is left of this ancient wall.

The wall is about 23 feet wide and only about 10 feel
tall. The original height was probably more than 25 feet.

• The Israelite Tower

A little farther down the street they discovered an
ancient tower more than four meters thick and still standing about eight
meters high. Here they also found the remains of arrowheads and ashes
probably dating back to the time of the destruction of the first Bais
HaMikdash. Built into this tower is another tower from the time of
the Chashmonayim.

• The Burnt House

Here stands a house dating back to the time of the
destruction of the second Bais HaMikdash by the Romans. One
can see charred wood, burned vessels, a Roman spear, a mikvah and
even the skeletal remains of a woman’s arm.

Most of the vessels found here were made of stone.
That’s because stone does not become tomei (unclean) when it contacts
something that is tomei . In fact, one of the weights found here, had
the name Bar Katros on it. This is the name of a family of
Cohanim mentioned in the Gemorah (Pesochim 57). One must
pay to get into this house and you’ll get to see a beautiful slide
show giving you a full explanation of what life was like in those days, and
the discoveries made here.

• The Cardo

The Cardo is one of the two main streets of the
ancient Roman city that once stood here. After the destruction of the
Bais HaMikdash, when the Romans captured the city, they kept
these streets as a marketplace. One can see the remains of the giant columns
that once stood here. They stand more than 16 feet high. The width of the
road was more than 50 feet including the sidewalks. Along both sides were
the markets.

The wells you see in the middle, allow you to look down
and see the original street that once stood here. One can also see parts of
the ancient walls from the times of the first and second Bais
HaMikdash.

• The Wohl Archeological Museum

When they began building the Yeshivat HaKotel
and dug build to put up the foundation, they made some startling
discoveries. You must pay to enter this fascinating museum in the basement
of the Yeshiva. Here you can see what the houses once looked like
nearly two thousand years ago. There are some very interesting mosaic
floors, stone furniture, ornamental artifacts, mikvaos as well as wall
paintings called frescoes. There are signs that explain everything.

• The Citadel
  (Tower of David): The Citadel

The Citadel includes the Tower of
David, an attractive minaret jutting high above the old Jerusalem walls and
named after the Jewish King David (the one responsible for kicking Goliath’s
butt), although it was originally built by King Herod – who also built the
Western Wall. The citadel dominates the Jaffa Gate area of the Old City at
the edge of the Christian Quarter. Like much of the Old City it has been
rebuilt, resdesigned, renovated and knocked back down again countless times
as the city has changed hands between Romans, Byzantines, Muslims,
Crusaders, Ottomans and so on.

• Walk on the Ramparts

Walking aroung the Ramparts of the Old City is a great way to get your
bearings & see the Old City.

For security reasons, parts of the ramparts are no longer open to the
public, which is a shame.

It is Possible to join the Rampart walk next to various gates Jaffa, Zion,
Dung, but I went up next to the Damascus Gate.

It is advised not to walk the Ramparts alone, particulaly women.

• The Siebenberg House

Here one can also see some interesting discoveries such
as water cisterns, mikvaos, and mosaics.

• Western Wall Tunnel Tours

In front of the Western Wall of the Temple Mount in
Jerusalem, an incredible labyrinth of tunnels, arches, and passageways
remained untouched for centuries. At last, revealed through extensive
archaeological excavations during the last few decades and culminating in
the explosive opening of in autumn of 1996, the Tunnels beckon us to enter.

Today we will explore that remnant of the Temple,
known as the Western Wall, “Kotel” in Hebrew, and the adjacent tunnel
system. Along the way we’ll be priviliged to view some wondrous
archaeological discoveries. But more then just bricks and stones, we’ll also
discover a whole new spiritual world – literally under our feet, and all
thanks to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, who over the years has (and
is continuing) to excavate and restore this most precious and holy site.

• Southern Temple Mount Excavations

These excavations begun by Benjamin Mazar in 1968
were the largest earth-moving archaeological projects in Israel. Work
continued until 1978 but has since resumed in the 1990s under the direction
of Ronny Reich. These excavations are the most important for understanding
the Temple Mount because of the impossibility of excavating on the mount
itself.

First Century Street

This street was fully uncovered in
the mid-1990s and dates to the decades before the city’s destruction by the
Romans in 70 A.D.

The street is 10 meters wide and was
paved with large slabs up to a foot thick. The street was covered with
massive stones pushed down by the Romans; only part of the street has been
cleared by the excavators.

• The City of David (http://cityofdavid.org.il)

Welcome to the place where it all began…

The story of the City of David began over 3,000 years ago, when King David
left the city of Hebron for a small hilltop city known as Jerusalem,
establishing it as the unified capital of the tribes of Israel. Years later,
David’s son, King Solomon, built the First Temple next to the City of David
on top of Mount Moriah, the site of the binding of Isaac, and with it, this
hilltop became one of the most important sites in the world.

Today, the story of the City of David continues.  Deep underground, the City
of David is revealing some of the most exciting archeological finds of the
ancient world. While above ground, the city is a vibrant center of activity
with a visitor’s center that welcomes visitors for an exciting tour to the
site where much of the Bible was written.

The tour of the City of David begins with a breathtaking observation point
overlooking Biblical Jerusalem which sends visitors 3,800 years back in time
to the days of Abraham, when the first foundations of the city were laid.
The journey quickly heads underground to some of the newest archaeological
excavations at the site.  Here, while exploring the recently excavated
fortresses and passageways, visitors relive King David’s conquest of the
Jebusite city as described in the 2nd Book of Samuel.  The underground tour
finally ends at the Gihon Spring, the major water source of Jerusalem for
over 1,000 years and where, according to the Book of Kings, Solomon was
anointed king.  Visitors seeking adventure can bring flashlights and wade
through the spring in King Hezekiah’s 2,700 year old water tunnel, one of
the wonders of early engineering.

A tour through the City of David brings visitors face to face with the
personalities and places of the Bible.  As such, this is the only place on
earth where the only guidebook needed is the Bible itself.

We look forward to seeing you in the City of David.