Points of Interest

On the edge of the Jewish Quarter stands the Western Wall, or Wailing Wall, the holiest shrine of Judaism. Also highly revered by Jews is King David's Tomb, on Mount Zion just south of the city wall. The building that houses the tomb is also holy to Christians, who regard its second floor as the place where the Last Supper was held.

On what Jews call the Temple Mount and Muslims call Harem esh Sharif, in the Old City, are the Dome of the Rock and Aksa mosques-the main Muslim shrines in Jerusalem. The Dome of the Rock, topped by a glistening gold dome, is built over a rock from which Muslims believe Mohammed ascended into heaven.

In the Christian Quarter is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, marking what is believed to be the area where Jesus Christ was crucified and buried. The present church dates from the 11th century. Nearby is the Via Dolorosa, the street on which Jesus is thought to have carried the cross on his way to crucifixion. Just east of the city wall, beyond the Valley of Kidron, are the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives.

The New City is the site of the Knesset (Israel's parliament), Hebrew University, the Jewish National and University Library, and the Israel Museum. The Israel Museum, the nation's largest museum, houses ancient and modern art collections and major archeological treasures, including the Dead Sea Scrolls.

In East Jerusalem is the Rockefeller Museum, featuring extensive collections of Holy Land artifacts. The Museum of Islamic Art is in the Old City near Aksa Mosque.