A Guide to Jerusalem's Old City: Its Quarters, Gates and Holy Sites
Jerusalem's Old City covers less than a square kilometer, but it's one of the most important places in the world for Muslims, Christians and Jews. For Palestinians, it's also home: a living city of families, markets and schools, and the center of their national identity.
Along with the rest of East Jerusalem, the Old City has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The walls and gates
The walls you see today were built in the 1530s under Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The busiest entrance is Damascus Gate, which leads straight into the markets of the Muslim Quarter.
Four quarters
The Old City is traditionally divided into Muslim, Christian, Armenian and Jewish quarters, linked by narrow stone lanes full of spice stalls, bakeries, craft workshops and centuries-old homes.
Al-Aqsa and the Holy Sepulchre
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, called al-Haram al-Sharif by Muslims, includes the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the golden Dome of the Rock and is Islam's third-holiest site. Nearby, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is revered by Christians as the place where Jesus was crucified and buried.
For Palestinians, getting to these sites often means permits, checkpoints and restrictions, and tensions around them regularly make headlines. Knowing the history helps explain why Jerusalem is central to any real peace. For more, read about the symbols on Palestinian apparel.
FAQ
+What are the four quarters of Jerusalem's Old City?
The Muslim, Christian, Armenian and Jewish quarters.
+When were the Old City walls built?
In the 1530s, under Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
+Why does Al-Aqsa matter so much?
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is Islam's third-holiest site and a key symbol of Palestinian identity.
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