City of David is definitely one of the top attractions for anyone visiting Jerusalem. It’s in the middle of a political controversy, but while it’s still accessible and thriving you’d be wise to go and experience a bit of fantasy of how things might have been back then. There’s little doubt that that excavated hill held high significance for the Jewish history in the area, probably tied to the emergence of the Temple Mount based Jerusalem, as well as serving as the capital of some of the ancient tribes who settled in the area (like the Jebusites). Though even as an Israeli I sometimes felt the attempt to tie all that back to the bible was over emphasized and too political, there’s no denying that if we look beyond that – the findings in the area are fascinating for understanding the regional – not only Jewish – history.
Bringing a friend there for a tour, we had a really gorgeous weather that allowed for especially beautiful photo taking…
(Photos looking east form the City of David towards Silwan and the Kidron valley)
Wikipedia helps with the background:
The City of David (Hebrew: עיר דוד) (Ir David) (Arabic: مدينة داوود), biblical Jerusalem, is the oldest settled neighborhood of Jerusalem and a major archaeological site. It is a narrow ridge running south from the Temple Mount. It was a walled city in the Bronze Age and, according to tradition, it is the place where King David built his palace and established his capital. The City of David was naturally defended by the Tyropoeon Valley on its west, the Hinnom valley to the south, and the Kidron Valley on the east; although over time the once-steep valley to the west has been largely filled in.
Today the archaeological dig and visitor center are one of the major tourist destinations in Israel. Although there is currently both Muslim and Jewish housing in the area, archeological digs are ongoing under many of the homes and it is proposed to make the entire ridge into an archaeological park.
Watch the promo video with the slogan “where it all began” :
This is an attempt at showing what the city used to look at back in the days :
More photos with the view from the city of David…
Some panoramas too…
Take the local tour to go around the excavation sites, going through what seems like an ancient royal toilet, bath houses or plain street life…
Then, head down into the tunnels going underground to the walled water system…
The underground water tunnel exploration tour is really recommended, and I did it back in 2007. Bring flippers or sandals and shorts so that you feel comfortable walking in water, and it’s highly recommended to bring a torch…
Be sure to book your tour in advance, and check the opening hours and schedule before hand to choose the right language.
Enjoy.
Related links:
- JPost – City of David – Gone but not forgotten
- Jerusalem: The City of David?
- Did I Find King David’s Palace?
The world to know the real jewish people. 2 orthodox jewish men praying at the ocean on Rosh hashana and most of the people on New Years Day say their blessing at the Bar while the jewish people fill the Temples.