*Damascus Gate: Sultan Suleiman St. (facing the road to Damascus)
the largest and most impressive gate - Sha'-ar Shechem in Hebrew and Bab
el-Amud in Arabic (after a pillar with Hadrian's statue on top, which once
stood inside it). Built in 1538. The first gate here was probably built by
Herod. About 150 years later came Hadrian's construction, which is below
today's gate it marked the northern entrance to his Aelia Capitolina, and part
of it can be seen below the present gate. There is a museum in the Roman
Square, at the beginning of the Cardo, showing the history of the gate. A Roman
hall and staircase lead to the top of the gate and the ramparts. Entrance fee
to the museum and to the ramparts which are open from 9 a.m. to. 5 p.m. daily.
Down the steps, Damascus Gate Road forks into El-Wad Road (left, leading to the
Via Dolorosa and Temple Mount) and Suq Khan Ez-Zeit (right, to the Holy
Sepulchre and the heart of the market).
(Walk No. 2. Bus Nos. 1 , 23, 27)
Davidka Memorial: Kikar Herut, Jaffa Road. Mortar designed by David
Leibovitch. Used in War of Independence.
(Bus Nos. 5, 8, 11 , 13, 18, 20, 21, 23, 27, 31, 32, 39)
*David's Tower (Migdal David): see Tower of David, (Museum of the
History of Jerusalem) and also Citadel.
*Dome of the Ascension: a small 13th-century structure to the left as
you approach the Western Gate of the Dome of the Rock, it serves to remind of
Mohammed's ascension to heaven. Visually, it's a remarkable replica of the
Byzantine monument commemorating Jesus' ascension on the Mount of Olives.
(Walk No. 2)
*Dome of the Chain: an interesting 8th-century structure located near
the Paradise Gate of the Dome of the Rock or behind it if you're facing the
Western Gate. Arabs once used the dome to store treasure, and the Crusaders
insisted on turning the place into a church. A remarkable feature is that every
one of the seventeen columns may be seen at once when viewed from any angle.
(Walk No. 2)
*Dome of the Rock: erroneously also known as the ``Mosque of Omar''
(which once stood nearby and was completely destroyed), the Dome is built
around the Sacred Rock upon which Abraham was about to sacrifice his son and
from which Mohammed ascended on his horse Buraq to Paradise. Both the First and
Second Temples stood here. The splendour of the mosque is dazzling and after
the gingerbread-cluttered churches the relatively stark simplicity of the intricate
mosaics under the golden dome cannot but create a strong impression. Built in
691 by Abd el-Malik as a counter-attraction to Mecca, the octagonal structure
has four entrances: the Western Gate (the entrance), Paradise Gate, Judgement
Gate and Mecca Gate. The ceiling is inlaid with gold, red and black chips
verses from the Koran are inscribed on the golden frieze at the base
decorations picture fruits or are abstract - no human or animal likenesses the
columns were taken from Byzantine churches - no two are alike and some are
marked with crosses. The windows were added in Saladin's time. It is said that
David, Solomon, Jesus and Abraham were in the habit of praying at the Well of
Souls downstairs and that the dead gather here twice a week to pray. Tradition
and several maps have it that this is the very centre of the earth. Converted
to a church during the Crusades. Open: Sun.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Museum open
Sun.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 12.30-3 p.m. Closed Fridays and Moslem holidays.
Entrance fee (includes El-Aksa Mosque and the Islamic Museum).
(Walk No. 2. Bus Nos. 1 , 99)
Dominus Flevit (The Lord Wept): About halfway up the Mt. of Olives, on
one of the spots where Jesus is said to have stopped to weep over Jerusalem.
Planned in the shape of a tear drop by the same Barluzzi who designed the
Basilica of the Agony, this Franciscan church includes relics from a Byzantine
structure that once stood here in honour of the prophetess Anne (mentioned by
the physician Luke). An interesting find on this site was a 3,000-year-old
Jebusite tomb.
(Walk No. 4)
*Dung Gate: closest to Western Wall. Overlooking the Ophel. Since 2nd
century CE the city's refuse has been carted through this gate to be dumped
outside - hence its name.
(Bus Nos. 1 , 38)