Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins
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Ancient Ruins in Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem Ancient Ruins
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Ancient Ruins • History Museums
Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins
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Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins
Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins
Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins
Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks
What travelers are saying
- Brenda SAuckland Central, New Zealand8 contributionsViewing platforms have been place to seperate the none believers from the Jewish worshipers. Some prayed at the wall rocking backwards and forwards, others sat quietly on chairs, while some wash as the joyous sounds of those dancing and singing add a melodic rhythm to the atmospheric vibe.. The women enjoyed a smaller space to the side as there were less of them. Go with an open mind and enjoy. Understand that although tight security is not onourous. Dress respectfully when in the city you don't know where you could end up and you don't want to feel out of place by showing too much skin.Written 23 March 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jeffry bEssendon, Australia12,463 contributionsThe Wohl Archaeological Museum is result of excavations in the Herodian Quarter. Herod was a Roman client ruler. He is known as Herod the Great. He was a great builder, but people resented the heavy taxes needed to pay for his building.Written 30 October 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- I visited this place🇺🇸🇳🇱🇬🇧🇨🇭🇦🇪Israel13,945 contributionsYes- these excavations are incredible and unbelievable- outstanding almost beyond words. An unforgettable experience!
The thrill to walk on the paths of such history- to see it and to stand there next to it.
Again this year, I took two Buc Junior Juniors for a late night expedition exploring these historical ruins. And again, I chose that night of nights, know as 9 Av, when all are fasting from food and water for 25 hours in order to mourn the destruction of the very structures whose ruins lay within hand touching as we three again do our impromptu and unguided tour.
See my photos of the Givati parking lot- massive humongous excavations revealing the Jewish settlement in the Silwan district more than 2000 years ago, and see my photos of our passage through the drainage duct connecting that area to our Holy Temple- what a thrill to walk through that exact passageway that the Jews used to flee the barbarian Romans- and on the exact calendar day that commemorates the cataclysmic events. And to see pure unadulterated pristine Western Wall stones that have not seen the light of day in almost 2000 years- don't touch them... I never touch the Wall!
We saw and stepped into the remnants of Second Temple stores and ritualariums.
And then a "piece de resistance": when we climb back to ground level, we see the huge massive boulders that were toppled by those tyrannical idol-worshipping Romans- those stones more than anything else represent the destruction that we mourn on that day- and we stood right next to them- we can even touch them, but don't- I never do. See my photos of these.
It was already midnight and I wanted to explore again the Southern Wall excavations and go back to the double doored Rat Gate (Hulda in Hebrew) as we had done last year, but the guards were nervous and directing the crowds in a firm manner so the senior Buc Junior asked to leave.
Then we went to what's called "Israel Section" (Ezrat Yisrael)- that's the area assigned for Reform and Conservative Jewish worship, but since it's always empty and no one goes there- more and more religious people find their way there, (somewhat) "far from the maddening crowd(s)" of the Western Wall Kotel, which was our final stop at close to 1am.Written 12 August 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Eileen108Mount Shasta, CA4,203 contributionsThis is an interesting area with structures hundreds of years old, and with the Tomb of King David and the Upper Room (Last Supper Room) available to visit. Would definitely recommend a visit here for an hour or two, if you have time!Written 6 February 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Emily MUnited States1,328 contributionsBe sure to spend 10-20 minutes by the pool when visiting the Church of Saint Anne. Worth walking through and reading the placards.Written 31 December 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- glennharroldScotland, UK3,107 contributionsScenic views and panoramas of Jerusalem - handy to get your bearings of the city and see iconic landmarks high up on the hill. Gardens uneventful tho!Written 29 September 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- I visited this place🇺🇸🇳🇱🇬🇧🇨🇭🇦🇪Israel13,945 contributionsWhen we read the article in the newspaper Haaretz dot com of 19 December 2019 titled “Bible-Era Temple Found Near Jerusalem May be Linked to Ark of the Covenant,” we knew that we couldn’t wait for the month of April to repeat our pre Passover holiday excursion (see and read my previous two reviews of tours attraction).
So we came and spent the 10-15 minutes to climb to the top. There, we attached ourselves to a group of American religious people who were already there- with a guide.
It wasn’t a long time until we were taken to the excavation of a room where the famous stone table is- and I stood alone in the room, staring at that stone table in awe and reverence and contemplation, considering that I was in a place next to where the Ark of the Covenant had been placed (read the story for yourself in the Book oh Samuel). Of course I did not touch it after such sanctity had been there, even though it was 3000+ years ago. I am attaching photos for you to see, though.
Hey- also consider that the path on which the Ark of the Covenant was brought to the town of House of the Sun is described in the Bible in Hebrew as a “track” (maslul), and today, there are train tracks on the same path, using that same Hebrew word.
Next, we were taking down a treacherous metal and then hewn slippery narrow dark and difficult stone (not quite wide enough for one person at as time) steps into a magnificent ancient water quarry (see my photos of that, including of looking up from the bottom to the top opening).
We were then taken to see a perfect excavation of a villa house, which sits directly on the edge of the highway a mere two meters away, and we were told that this one is from First Temple times too- that’s 3000+ years ago.
.... and all that was just of the old established excavations from decades ago.
Then the group went to the other side and into the city to see the ongoing active new excavation since last year, and of course we followed- it is still massive and there were at least 50 workers!! We saw crates of discarded ancient shards of pottery (see my photos).
We heard again about the ongoing conflict of preserving our past and the struggles to build a modern highway straight through the middle of these excavations.
The place remains totally undeveloped and totally unprepared to receive and educate the average tourist visitor.
Suffice it to say that these seem to me to be among the most important, significant massive and large and well preserved excavations in the entire State of Israel.Written 18 March 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Jeffry bEssendon, Australia12,463 contributionsThe ancient Broad Wall was built in the time of King Hezekiah, around the 6th century BC. The Broad Wall was part of the original fortifications of Jerusalem and formed the foundations of the latter wall. The wall today is near the Cardo. The Cardo is the main north-south axis around which the Roman city was built, which is now in the Jewish Quarter.Written 21 November 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- B TLondon, UK1,093 contributionsThis is excellent, it is a museum right next to the western wall and temple mount area. You can get right up close to a part of the western wall, you can see the old gates that would have originally led into the temple mount. There are even old stones left on the floor that the Romans pushed off the top of the temple mount when they destroyed it. It is extremely interesting and well worth a visit.Written 17 March 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- airport2015Tel Aviv District, Israel1,011 contributionsORIGINALLY ONE OF THE BIG SYNAGOGUES IN THE Jewish qUARTER
Absolutely destroyed in the 1948 war, Since 1967 many attempts and plans of reconstructionFinaly plans approved 2012,than reconstructed by the Government of Israel to serve as a historic Museum and home of IDF soldiers
Unfortunately, theBoyan Hassidic group took over thew placeWritten 13 October 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - NB0313Mevaseret Zion, Israel19 contributionsvery interesting cave and the story behind it's discovery is also interesting. an archaeological proof of Jewish life 2000 years ago. there's a latter to climb down so be aware.Written 13 August 2015This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- stanbrochRehovot, Israel172 contributionsNow that the isolation from the Corona virus has abatted my friend, who knows Israel very well, took us to see the Ramat Rachel Archaeological Garden. It is right next to the Kibbutz Ramat Rachel sport center. It is a small park but has nice benches for a picnic. There are also many interesting sculptures and trees. It also has ruins from two thousands years ago.
If you want a secluded spot to relax in Jerusalem, I recommend this park.Written 3 June 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Hint of PepperNuneaton, UK2,738 contributionsThese remains of a cross was where the crusaders slaughtered thousands of residents of Jerusalem when they took the city. When Salahuddin Ayyubi took back the city, he destroyed the cross, and the remains are still present.Written 17 March 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Jerusalem
- These places are best for ancient ruins in Jerusalem:
- Western Wall
- Mount Zion
- Pools of Bethesda
- Mount Scopus National Botanical Garden
- Ophel Archaeological Garden (Yitzhak Ben Youssef Levy Garden)
- These are the best places for groups seeking ancient ruins in Jerusalem:See more ancient ruins for groups in Jerusalem on Tripadvisor
- These are the best places for budget-friendly ancient ruins in Jerusalem:
- Western Wall
- Pools of Bethesda
- Mount Scopus National Botanical Garden
- Ophel Archaeological Garden (Yitzhak Ben Youssef Levy Garden)
- Broad Wall