Wall Tunnels ($, must be arranged in advance) or head up the steps into the Jewish
Quarter to see more of the synagogues or sights not covered in Tour 1.
Side trip: City of David(see 35). If you're not totally exhausted yet or don't have
extra days to explore Jerusalem, skip the rest of the Jewish Quarter sights and
head over to the City of David instead: exit Dung Gate, turn left on Ha-Ofel Rd. right
on Ma'alot Ir David St. and enter the Visitors Center on your left. Walk downhill to
the entrance for the Gihon Spring and wade through Hezekiah's Tunnel ($). On the
way back, use the last piece of your combo ticket to enter the Ophel Archaeological
Garden ($; see 24), to the right inside Dung Gate.
TOUR 3: ON THE PERIMETER
THE WALLS
The present walls of the Old City, with a total circumference of 4km, were built by
Suleiman the Magnificent in 1542. The city had gone without walls since 1219,
when al-Muazzan tore them down to prevent the Crusaders from seizing a fortified
city. There are eight gates to the Old City, some of which have names in three lan-
guages: Hebrew (Jewish), Latin (Christian), and Arabic (Muslim). The most com-
monly used names are listed below.
Topping the Old City walls, the Ramparts Promenade provides an amazing over-
view of the Old City. The most popular place to start is Jaffa Gate; climb the hid-
den steps immediately on the left, just before the jewelry store. The 20-minute
stretch from here to Damascus Gate curves around the Christian Quarter, afford-
ing views of Old City rooftops on one side and both West and East Jerusalem on
the other. At Damascus Gate, it is possible to either descend into the market or
continue on toward St. Stephen's Gate, the beginning of the Via Dolorosa. Ascent
to the ramparts is possible only at Jaffa and Damascus Gates. To ascend the ram-
parts from Damascus Gate, face the gate from the plaza outside and go down the
steps on the right, passing under the bridge and entering through the ancient car-
riageway to the left of the Roman Plaza. (Promenade open daily 9am-5pm. NIS14, stu-
dents NIS7; combined ticket to ramparts, Temple Mount excavations (Ophel), Roman Plaza,
Zedekiah's Cave, and Hezekiah's tunnel NIS35. Tickets good for five days.)
THE GATES
Jaffa Gate is the traditional entrance for pilgrims. It is the sole entrance in the western
Old City wall and thus the most convenient from West Jerusalem. There has been a gate
on this site since 135 CE; the fortified right-angle tower has since been breached by an
adjacent cobbled road.
New Gate was opened in 1889 to facilitate access to the Christian Quarter. The gate sits
just a few steps from Jaffa Gate, along the northern wall.
Damascus Gate Was built over the Roman entrance to the Cardo. It faces East Jerusalem
and provides direct access to the busy Muslim Quarter. Many of the Old City's cheaper
hostels are in (the vicinity.
Herod's Gate stands to the east of Damascus Gate and reaches the deeper sections of
the Muslim Quarter.
St. Stephen's Gate, also known as Lion's Gate, is along the eastern wall. It faces the
Mount of Olives and marks the beginning of the Via Dolorosa.
Golden Gate, blocked by Muslim graves, has been sealed since the 1600s. It is thought
to lie over the Closed Gate of the First Temple, the entrance through which the Messiah
will purportedly pass (Ezekiel 44:1-3).
Dung Gate, on the southern wall, opens onto the Western Wall plaza. First mentioned in
445 ВСЕ by Nehemiah, it was given its name in medieval times because dumping dung
here was considered an especially worthy act.