Old Town - square kilometer of history, surrounded by walls. Until 1860 it was the whole of Jerusalem, now - a small part of it, to be fed with the memory of millennia.

Today's old town originated in the XI century BC. e .: the biblical King David captured the importance of strengthening the Jebusites, and suffered here the greatest shrine of the Jewish people, the Ark of the Covenant. King David built the wall, the Wisdom of Solomon and erected their fortified Temple. Jerusalem was a desirable goal for conquerors: hence led away the Jews in Babylonian captivity, the city totally destroyed by Romans, Muslims were taken.

Old City is divided into four quarters, but their names (Armenian, Jewish, Muslim and Christian) have appeared only in the XIX century. Residents of the wall a little bit, about thirty-six thousand, mainly religious institutions are located here, monasteries, schools, museums. Today's walls and gates of the city look ancient, but built in the XVI century.

The historic center of Jerusalem, suffered severe test in recent times. In the war for nezavisimost1948 year old town got Jordan, Jews were evicted. In the Six Day War in 1967 Israel returned to quarters, but Jewish has become a pile of rubble. Restore it in the memory of centuries of life of the people in Jerusalem. Thus, of the four areas of the Old Town alone, Jewish, - new building. It is made by the best architects of Israel, the aura of antiquity mysteriously saved. The most inaccessible quarter - Armenian, most of it is closed to visitors, at ten o'clock local gates are locked.

The most populated quarter - Muslim, rich in historical monuments. From the Lion's Gate begins Via Dolorosa, which tradition associates with the Cross by Jesus. The most important points of this path marked by special signs. The Muslim quarter points are revered as the birthplace of the Virgin Mary Orthodox recognize this as the Church of Nativity, Catholics - the Church of St. Anne.

In the Christian quarter is one of the greatest shrines of Christendom, the Holy Sepulcher. To possess them for centuries sought to nations and peoples, because it begins a crusade.

A separate part of the Old Town - the Temple Mount, enclosed by high walls. Jews revere it as the place where the Temple stood (left of him famous Wailing Wall), the Christian tradition has it that at the Temple 12 years lived and raised Mary, Muslims believe that ascended into heaven from here the prophet Muhammad. Today, the Temple Mount Dome of the Rock shines grand, the third holiest shrine of Islam.

Old Town - the only place on Earth where there were key events of the three great religions of the world. On its streets were pilgrims, the poor, the conquerors, tyrants and slaves. Who are the crowds of tourists, but also in the crowd, you can feel the atmosphere of the space. Until now it pierces the soul white city whose stones are preserved carved swords markup dice - the same in which the Roman soldiers played each other bloody clothes of the Savior.