Mount Zion - is not just a hill from the old town. For Jews, it is a sacred place (no wonder his name appeared on the word "Zionism", indicating the movement for the revival of national consciousness and the creation of a Jewish state in the Promised Land). It occurs, as it is believed this is where the Gospel events (the Last Supper, the questioning of Jesus Christ the High Priest Caiaphas, the descent of the Holy Spirit, Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the first Church Council) made Mount Zion holy for Christians. Muslims also revere the local shrine.

Building on top of the mountain unites the three religions: it is the tomb of King David, the Room of the Last Supper and on the roof - the remainder of the minaret of the mosque. King David, revered in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, supposedly in 1000 BC, conquered the territory from the Jebusites and placed the Ark on Mount Zion. At different times, different hills called Zion, including the Temple Mount. Gradually, the name has become a symbol. The prophet Isaiah spoke to Jerusalem: "... and they shall call thee The city of Jehovah, Zion of the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 60: 14). A psalm reads: "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God" (Ps 49: 2).

In fact, Zion is and old town - its southern wall runs along the top of the mountain. Legend says that the Turkish conqueror Suleiman the Magnificent in 1538 started reconstruction of the city walls. Two architect mistakenly moved the wall to the north, leaving the tomb of King David on the outside, without protection. Sultan furious beheaded architects. They say it's their graves are located in the courtyard of the Jaffa Gate.

In recent history, Israel Zion played an important role. The Arab-Israeli war in 1948 the mountain was an important strategic point. Until 1967, while East Jerusalem remained under Jordanian control, Zion came pilgrims from all over the world: from the roof of the tomb of King David can be seen the Temple Mount and Western Wall, and Jews could at least look at their shrines. On the roof, even located a small room of the second president of Israel, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi - now a tiny museum.

Now Mount Zion - a popular place among tourists. Go here in the heat difficult: helpful to wear comfortable shoes and take plenty of water. But it's worth it.

In the north of the Basilica Abbey of the Dormition of luxury adjacent to the Armenian monastery of the Holy Savior. Inspect the tombs of Armenian Patriarchs interesting, but there allowed only organized tours. The Franciscan monastery situated near the tourists are not allowed at all. But you can visit the tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper, and the next - the Chamber of the Holocaust. To the east of the museum of the Holocaust - a cemetery with the grave of Oskar Schindler, a German who saved from the death of more than a thousand Jews. Art lovers visit the museum of the Israeli sculptor David Palombo. On the eastern slope, near the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, excavated stone staircase First Temple period. These steps, which for thousands of years, remind tourists, in what place they are ancient.