
Jerusalem Tour Suggestion 3:
One City, Four Quarters
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Armenian Quarter and Old City Rooftop Observation Point
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Shuk (parts that only the locals know about)
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1,000 year old Tehini factory
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Armenian Ceramic factory
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Culinary experience - as per request
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Other possibilities related to this theme:
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Rampart’s Walk
In the year 70 CE, Jerusalem was conquered by the Romans and soon after transformed into the pagan city of Aelia Capitolina. With the rise of the Byzantine Empire, and following Christian and Muslim conquests of the city, new traditions developed as each new conqueror built institutions and worship places leaving their mark on the city.
In the mid-19th century, with the weakening of the Ottoman Empire, the European powers representing different Christian denominations began to compete with one another for a stake in Jerusalem and built institutions and Churches to promote pilgrimage to the Holy City. Most of these sites still function today and are part of the delicate fabric of the Old City that houses holy sites of three religions.
On this tour, we will walk through the passageways of the Muslim and Christian quarters including the Via Dolorosa and Muristan square. We will visit the Austrian Hospice (including the marvelous observatory on its roof), Church of Alexander Nevski, and Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. On the way, we will see original Mamluk architecture, colorful markets (great humus and Arabic coffee too!) and we will discover that the Old City’s street plan is based the on Roman city design.
We will meet with local merchants and get a feel of how Jews, Muslims and Christians of various denominations all live together in the one square kilometer of the Old City
Tour can be arranged with or without entrance to Churches as per preference