Garden of Gethsemane: base of Mt. of Olives. Within courtyard of Basilica of the Agony (Church of All Nations). Eight fruit-bearing olive trees believed to be so old that they witnessed Christ at prayer for the people of all nations. The Arabs still call it Zerubbabel's Garden. (See ``Grotto of Gethsemane.'') Open daily 8 a.m. - 12 noon and 2.30 - 6 p.m. (5 p.m. winter).
(Walk No. 4. Bus Nos. 1 and 42 or 43 from Damascus Gate, 64)

Garden Tomb: Schick St., off Nablus Road, one block from Damascus Gate. Gordon of Khartoum made a case for this skull-shaped rock being the original site of Golgotha (Mt. of Skulls), Calvary and the Crucifixion. Its situation and its well-informed caretakers make this a pleasant place to visit it is frequented by many tourists and pilgrims from every nation and denomination who find it a good place for prayer and meditation. Open 8 a.m. - 12.00 noon and 2.30-5 p.m. daily except Sunday. Group communion services conducted on request on weekdays between 8-11 a.m and 2.30-4 p.m.
(Bus No. 27)

*The Gates (see also Ramparts): The walls surrounding the Old City stretch for more than two miles. Built mainly by Suleiman the Magnificent (1538-41), parts rest on remains of the efforts of Saladin (of Crusader fame) and the greatest builder of them all: King Herod. The most interesting of the eight gates is Damascus (Shechem) Gate, in the northern wall, between New Gate and Herod's Gate. Recently a Roman gate was discovered under the magnificent Ottoman masonry. It is open to the public (entrance fee includes walk along the upper ramparts of the wall). Seven of the eight gates are open. But the eighth, the Golden Gate, will, according to tradition, open only on Judgement Day (see Golden Gate).
The other four gates are Zion, Jaffa, Dung and Lions' (St Stephen's).
(Walk Nos. l, 2, 3)

Gihon Spring: Siloam Road, base of City of David, down Kidron Valley. Fresh water underground spring and principal reason for earliest settlement in Jerusalem. David captured Jerusalem by entering the cave and scaling shaft above spring (see Warren's Shaft). Solomon anointed here. King Hezekiah built superb 8th-century BCE tunnel from Gihon to Pool of Siloam to channel water within his besieged city. Also known as Fountain of the Virgin as legend credits Mary with drawing its water. Gihon is Hebrew for gushing - water gushes out depending on season and rainfall. You can walk through the tunnel, but expect to get wet. Torch mandatory. (See Hezekiah's Tunnel.) Open: Sun.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.
(Bus Nos. 1 , 42, 43, 99)

*Golgotha: hill denuded of trees and resembling bald pate or skull during time of Jesus. Name derived from Hebrew word for skull. ``Crowned'' by Church of Holy Sepulchre. Open: 4.30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.
(Walk No. 3)

*Golden Gate: situated roughly in the middle of the eastern stretch of the wall also called The Gate of Mercy (Sha'ar Harahamim), it was erected in the 5th century over the traditional (Shushan) entrance to Solomon's Temple and Herod's ironically named Gate of Compassion. If the Damascus Gate is the largest and the most impressive, this one's probably the most beautiful. It was blocked several centuries ago in 1530, some say to prevent the coming of the Messiah, who, it is believed, will enter in Jerusalem (and the hallowed Temple Mount area) through this gate. All the dead will be resurrected on the day of the coming. There is a special cemetery on the Mount of Olives which faces the Gate and the Temple Mount - religious Jews are still brought from all over the world to be buried here.
(Walk No. 2)

Great Synagogue: (See Hechal Shlomo)

*Greek Orthodox Patriarchate: on the road of the same name a large complex comprising Crusader and more recent accretions. The roof leads to the cupola of the Holy Sepulchre. A new museum across the road contains many archaeological, historical and church artefacts, as well as a library with ancient manuscripts. Small entrance fee.
(Walk No. 3)

Grotto of Gethsemane: located near the Tomb of the Virgin, which lies in the Church of (Mary's) Assumption. Gethsemane is from the Aramaic gath-shamnah, which means oil press (there are traces here of such a press from before the Christian era). In this more-or-less unspoiled grotto Jesus would meet and rest with his disciples. The crypt of the former Abbey-Church of the Assumption of Mary stands next to a 5th-century Byzantine shrine over the tomb of Mary, mother of Jesus. The magnificent upper Gothic Church and the Cluny Monastery were razed to the ground after the Crusaders left Jerusalem. In the 18th century, Armenians and Greeks started using the shrine together with the Latins, and to this day various Christian sects and also Moslems have a right of worship here. Altars are dedicated to Mary's husband and parents. Open daily 8.30 a.m. - 12 noon and 2.30 - 5 p.m.
(Walk No. 4. from Damascus Gate, Bus No. 1 )