The city of Jerusalem
The word "unique" is sometimes scattered right and left, but Jerusalem does have it all right. One of the oldest cities in the world capital of the ancient Kingdom of Judah, the center of three world religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. They say that when God created the world, he gave him 10 pieces of beauty, and 9 of them went to Jerusalem.
Surrounded by the picturesque Judean hills, Jerusalem is at an altitude of 750 m above sea level in the center of the country, on the watershed between the Mediterranean and Dead Seas. 3,5 thousand years ago King David moved here and the capital of his kingdom - possibly affected the nature of poetry: Gihon River flows through the Kidron Valley wondrous, in the mountains, a narrow chain okruzhayushih valley carved stone houses of ancient settlements, above all this rises the mountain of Olives with its endless groves, the ocean of silver leaves, sparkling in the sun and wind, the source of the wealth of the city. From its summit a view of the parched Judean desert, which stretches up to the Dead Sea. In this wilderness with a big ritual every year Jerusalemites releasing the sacrificial goat, the scapegoat, who carries with him away all the sins of the city.
The great King Solomon, son of David, built the magnificent temple of Jerusalem. 400 years later Judah was conquered by Babylon, the city and the Temple were destroyed, residents driven into captivity. After 70 years of exile the Jews returned to Judea, rebuilt Jerusalem and built the Second Temple, which was one of the most magnificent buildings of its time. For all the years of its existence, Jerusalem more than 80 times was subjected to invasions and destruction. His stones are the memory of the Roman, Byzantine, Arab rule, dominion Crusaders and Mamelukes. But in the wars of Jerusalem has not lost its grandeur and its amazing appeal. The famous map of Renaissance portrays the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, like the petals of red clover, joining in this holy city - the truth is not only geographically, but also the spiritual, historical.
A place of pilgrimage from all over the world - the Temple Mount and the Old City, surrounded by high walls of the XVI century. Old City is divided into 4 parts for each of 4 different religions - Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Armenian.
Home Jewish shrine - The Wailing Wall is the last remaining wall of the ancient Temple: one of the most sorrowful and majestic monuments of the world - a symbol of the inviolability of the Jewish land.
For over 2000 years, Christians also revere Jerusalem as a city, the birthplace of their faith - a place of death and resurrection of Jesus Christ: Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built directly on Calvary, where Jesus was crucified.
In Islamic tradition, the mosque of Omar - the third of the main shrines after Mecca and Medina. It was here, on Mount Moriah, created from the stones of Eden, Mohammed ascended to heaven. Muslims believe that on a piece of rock in the center of the dome regal splendid mosque can still see the handprint of the archangel Gabriel, stretched the great prophet.
Perhaps the most interesting part of Jerusalem - its people. Ultra-Orthodox Mea Sharim and hectic Arabic bazaar, bustling Damascus Gate and peaceful hills of Ein Kerem, filled with prayers in three languages during the morning service the Old Town and the modern West Jerusalem, the white stone building, cast in gold, crimson sunset - after one day in Jerusalem, you will understand that in the mystical power of Jerusalem holds over the hearts and minds for millennia.
