National Park Jerusalem Walls

Jerusalem is said to have begun some 3,000 years ago, when David conquered a narrow hill south of today’s Old City, making it the capital and spiritual center of Israel.

The City of David, the ancient nucleus of Jerusalem, is located on a narrow spur south of the Temple Mount, surrounded on all sides by valleys, near the Gihon Spring that was its liquid lifeline. During your visit you will see walls and towers that protected the city from its enemies and discover its water systems.

After David reigned for a short time in Hebron, he conquered Jerusalem in around 1000 BCE, making it his capital and transforming it into a spiritual center by bringing the Ark of the Covenant there. David`s son Solomon finished what his father started, building the Temple and a royal palace.

The House of David continued to rule for 500 years, but according to the Bible, the power of the city frequently waned.

During the Return to Zion in the Persian period, the city once again became a spiritual and political center for the inhabitants of Judah. The Second Temple period saw most of the construction in the city concentrated on the upper part of the hill, where the Jewish Quarter is located today. The city of David apparently declined in importance.

In the 19th century, a number of archaeological expeditions took an interest in the ancient remains in the City of David, and the biblical city began to come to light.