Religious Site#5

Mount of Olives

הר הזיתים

The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge east of the Old City, separated from the Temple Mount by the Kidron Valley. It offers the single most famous panoramic view in the world — the golden Dome of the Rock framed by the Old City walls, with the Judean wilderness beyond. The mountain has been a Jewish burial site for over 3,000 years; its cemetery contains an estimated 150,000 graves, including those of biblical prophets. In Christianity, it is where Jesus taught, wept over Jerusalem, ascended to heaven, and will return. The Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed before his arrest, lies at its base.

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Matthias Kopp (Public domain)

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Don't Miss

Take in the iconic panoramic view of the Old City from the observation point
Visit the Garden of Gethsemane with its ancient olive trees
See the Church of All Nations (Basilica of the Agony)
Walk through the ancient Jewish cemetery
Visit the Chapel of the Ascension

The Panoramic View

The viewing platform at the top of the Mount of Olives provides what is arguably the most photographed vista in the world. From here you see the entire Old City spread before you — the golden Dome of the Rock gleaming at center, the silver dome of Al-Aqsa beside it, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre's dome visible in the Christian Quarter, and the city walls running in a complete circuit. Below, the Kidron Valley drops away steeply, filled with ancient tombs including the Pillar of Absalom and the Tomb of Zechariah. Come at sunrise for golden light or at sunset for dramatic colors.

Walking Down the Mount

The best way to experience the Mount of Olives is to start at the top and walk down. Begin at the observation point, then visit the Chapel of the Ascension and the Church of the Pater Noster (where the Lord's Prayer is displayed in 140 languages on ceramic tiles). Walk downhill past the Dominus Flevit Church, shaped like a teardrop to commemorate Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, with its famous window framing the Dome of the Rock. Continue to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations at the base. The whole walk takes about an hour and covers roughly 1 kilometer downhill.