Jerusalem Half Day Tour

Start with an overview of Jerusalem from Mount Olives, looking down at the Old City and the Temple Mount.  See the Garden of Gethsemane and the monumental  burial tombs while driving along the Kidron Valley. Walk through the Armenian Quarter and along the 1500 year old Byzantine Cardo to the Jewish Quarter and to the Kotel - the Western Wall. Follow the Stations of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Enjoy the bazaar in  the Christian and Moslem Quarters.

The tour ends in the Old City!

Tour № 202: Click here to see the tour.

Including immediate return to Tel Aviv / Ben Gurion Airport approximately at 13:30 o'clock.
Price: Economy - $109 / Business - $124

* Modest dress: Covered shoulders/ No shorts required.
* Business class - small groups in luxury van / minibus

Places along the Jerusalem Half Day Tour route 

Before entering the Old City of Jerusalem take in the breathtaking view from the Mount of Olives and gaze below to the Garden of Gethsemane where several ancient burial tombs are carved into the rock. Just across the Kidron Valley the Old City of Jerusalem glistens in the sunlight as you enter the Zion Gate into the Armenian Quarter.

Armenian Quarter

The Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City is perhaps the one tourists know least about, the Jewish, Moslem and Christian Quarters are self explanatory but what about the Armenians?

The Armenian Quarter was established between 95BC and 640AD. During the Roman era Armenian craftsmen and professionals were brought into Jerusalem to work, simultaneously Christianity reached Armenia, and it was declared a Christian nation then pilgrims began to make their way to Jerusalem. Armenians began to build homes in the Old City as well as many monasteries.

The Armenians community was concentrated around Mount Zion and the site of the present Armenian Quarter. The Armenian Christians preserved their unique culture including crafts, language, traditions and national costume separating themselves from the predominantly Arab Christian residents. In 451AD the Armenian Church separated from other Christian churches. The Armenian Church is headed by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem who resides close to Saint James Monastery in the center of the Armenian Quarter.

Through the centuries the Armenians have suffered persecution in their own country and this has been one of the motivations for them to come to Jerusalem, today there are about 2,500 Armenians living in Jerusalem. The Armenian Quarter is the smallest of the Quarters that were divided according to the high concentration of each denomination in the different areas. The Armenians are expert ceramic craftsmen producing colorfully painted ceramics which have become synonymous with Jerusalem. As you wander through the Old City's Armenian Quarter you can shop for their unique ceramics, textiles and jewelry.

Cardo

When the Romans ruled Jerusalem they built their city around the main road or Cardo, centuries later the Cardo which used to run from the north end of the Old City to the south, has been excavated and in some parts restored and reconstructed. Today it is possible to walk through the 6^th century Cardo passing ancient pillars, arched doorways and even peek down into a lower level of excavation though to be that of the early Jewish Holy Temples.

Wailing Wall

The open plaza slopes gently down towards the huge Kotel or Wailing Wall constructed from enormous blocks of stone which are now colorfully highlighted by the green plants which grow through the crevices in the wall. This wall being the last remaining wall of the second holy Jewish temple is the focus point of Jewish religious prayer. The Wailing Wall serves as a synagogue for those who come here regularly to worship. It is possible to write a prayer of thanks or hope on a piece of paper and place it is one of the gaps between the stones of the wall.

Stations of the Cross

Since the Byzantine period Christian pilgrims have followed the Way of Suffering or Via Dolorosa retracing the path Jesus took when carrying his cross towards the place of his crucifixion. Along the way Jesus paused 14 times, seven times along the route which passes through the Muslim Quarter and market and five times within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is on the spot where the Holy Sepulchre stands that Christians believe that Jesus was finally put to death.  Along the route of the Via Dolorosa you can see where Jesus was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate; the Monastery of the Flagellation; where Jesus fell; where Mary came to help her son and each of the significant points along his fateful route.

The Via Dolorosa takes you though one of the most interesting markets in Jerusalem, the Arab Shuk where unique traditional clothes, textiles, jewelry, kitchenware and even musical instruments can be bought.

Modest dress: Covered shoulders/ No shorts required. Business class - small groups in luxury van / minibus.