In your tour today you will visit a huge archeological garden which is the site of the ancient city of Jerusalem. Its multiple layers, spread over a large area, tell the story of Jerusalem over a range of historical periods.
Panoramic view (Haas Promenade or Mount of Olives)
We start on either the Mount of Olives or south Jerusalem’s Haas Promenade, where you will enjoy a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Old City and its surrounding area. Besides being visually spectacular, this “all-in-one” outlook introduces you to the sites you will visit during the day. Seeing these varied elements in context helps you appreciate the interplay of history, geography and politics and how they have shaped the city.
The City of David – Hezekiah’s Tunnel
The City of David is home to one of the most exciting archeological sites in Israel. As an active ‘dig,’ it is constantly yielding forth new finds, artifacts that are used by scholars to refine their theories about ancient Jerusalem. This is the site of biblical Jerusalem. It offers us a view of the earliest years of Jerusalem, beginning with the Canaanite era, followed by the Israelite period started by King David, through the first Temple period.
You will walk through the remains of citadels, walls, homes, water systems and tunnels dating back 2500 – 4000 years.
The Southern Wall archeological garden
The Southern Wall archeological garden provides essential insight into life in ancient Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. The first thing you notice is the impressive walls of the Temple complex built by King Herod. You will walk the same streets as the residents of the ancient city, see the ruins of the Temple destroyed by the Romans, climb the steps the people used 2000 years ago on their way into the Temple, see the mikves (ritual baths) they used purify themselves before entering the holy area. The archeology reveals the procession of historic eras in Jerusalem, from the Second Temple period to the Roman, Byzantine, Moslem, Crusader, Mameluke and Ottoman empires, each one of which left its own unique imprint on the history of this city.
The Western Wall tunnel
Excavations conducted under the Old City streets have revealed the continuation of the Western Wall, built 2000 years ago to support the Second Temple compound. Known as “The Western Wall Tunnel,” it affords the opportunity for a unique and fascinating tour.
During your visit you will learn about the central role the Temple played in Jewish life in ancient times and about the great engineering achievements of King Herod and his builders. You will see evidence of the ruins left along the Wall following its destruction by the Romans, artifacts that reveal much about the last moments of the Second Temple.
The Herodian Quarter and the Burnt House
Hidden beneath the modern Jewish Quarter is another quarter of 2000 years ago. The homes found here tell the story of Jerusalem in the late Second Temple period, where this wealthy neighborhood was located. Archeologists have uncovered multi-storied villas, cisterns, mikves (ritual immersion baths), beautiful mosaic floors, furniture and other artifacts of the period that reveal details of the life style of the Cohanim (priestly caste) who lived here two millennia ago. Traces of fire and other signs of destruction tell the story of the sacking of the city by the Romans soldiers in 70 CE. During the tour you will have the opportunity to watch a multi-media presentation on the lifestyle of the Cohanim just prior to the destruction of the Temple and the city.
The Archeological Garden of the Ancient Basin
Surrounding the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City is an extraordinary collection of remains that span an historical timeline from the second millennium BCE to 200 years ago. As you stroll through this site covering hills and valleys, you will view the remains of city walls, homes, reservoirs, tombs, aqueducts and tunnels, all in the surrounding area of ancient Jerusalem. It was here that countless people, prophets, kings, generals and soldiers, belonging to a diverse collection of cultures and civilizations throughout 20 centuries of history walked, lived, fought, left their mark and disappeared.
The Ancient Tombs of Jerusalem
In the area surrounding ancient Jerusalem there are hundreds of tombs. This is sometimes referred to metaphorically as “The graveyard of historical Jerusalem.” Since each culture, from the Canaanites and the early Israelites through those of the recent past, had its own burial rituals, a tour of the area's tombs provides a narrative of the city's 5000 year history. These tombs are the basis of stories and legends that have endured to this day.