The Old City of Jerusalem is less than one square kilometer. It takes about an hour to walk around its walls. And yet this tiny enclosure contains more religious, historical, and emotional weight per square meter than any other place on earth. The Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, and the Via Dolorosa are all here, within a few minutes’ walk of each other, in a maze of narrow streets where Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian quarters meet, overlap, and occasionally collide.
Four Quarters
The Old City is divided into four quarters, each with its own character. The Jewish Quarter, rebuilt after 1967, is the newest and most orderly, centered on the Western Wall and the excavated Cardo. The Christian Quarter is, home to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and dozens of smaller churches, monasteries, and pilgrim hostels. The Muslim Quarter is the most densely populated, with the busiest markets and the most vibrant street life. And the Armenian Quarter, the smallest, maintains a quiet, insular identity that has survived in Jerusalem for 1,600 years.
Walking the Walls
The Ottoman walls that surround the Old City were built by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century. A walking path along the top of the walls is open to visitors and offers views into all four quarters and out to the surrounding hills. The ramparts walk is one of the best ways to get your bearings before diving into the streets below.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
The Old City cannot be understood without a guide. Hoshen Tours designs Jerusalem itineraries that connect the quarters, the holy sites, and the layers of history into a coherent narrative.