Nearby Sites

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also referred to as the Church of the Resurrection, is located a short distance from the Muristan in the Old City of Jerusalem. Revered by Christians since the fourth century, it houses two of the holiest sites in Christianity: Calvary (or Golgotha), where Jesus was crucified, and the empty tomb where Jesus was buried and later resurrected.

The final five Stations of the Via Dolorosa, depicting the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, are located within the church. Over the centuries, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been a major destination for Christian pilgrims. Today, it serves as the headquarters for the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem. Control of the church is shared between several Christian denominations under a Status Quo arrangement that has been largely unchanged since 1852. The primary denominations with authority over different parts of the church are the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, and Roman Catholic (Franciscan) churches, while smaller communities like the Egyptian Copts, Syriac Orthodox, and Ethiopian Orthodox also maintain a presence.

The ‘El Hakawati” National Theatre officially opened its doors to the world by the “El Hakawati” troop in May 9th, 1984 as the first Palestinian specialized cultural center and theatre. One year later, the theatre’s administration was handed to an independent Board of Trustees that included a number of authors, artists, poets, and Palestinian figures that are active on community and national levels.

The National Theatre, “El Hakawati”, made it its mission to be the theatre that acts as a cultural and artistic platform that provides the grounds to develop strategies and activities that upscale the theatrical and artistic works on the national level. The activities of the theatre evolved to become not only preservers of the Palestinian cultural heritage, but also a method to implant this civilizational record in the heart of the Palestinian society, add further achievements to it, and look for unprecedented ideas and constructive guidance to allow more room for Palestinian artists for experimentation and innovation.

The residence of the Exarchate shared the vicissitudes of the wars and revolutions that took place between 1900 and 1973. In 1973, it purchased a property and settled definitively at 6 Chaldean Street. In 1986 the church of Saint Thomas was built along with other facilities that include the Saint Thomas Center for Pilgrims. The St. Thomas Home offers simple lodging for pilgrims to the Holy Land and commands sensational views of the Old City and the Russian compound towards the West.

The “Educational Bookshop” (EB) was born in the year 1984 through a simple twist of fate.

Today, the EB is a well established and leading bookstore focusing on Middle Eastern culture and the Arab-Israeli conflict. The books are mostly research-based and published by highly respected institutions and publishers world-wide. Their book collection also includes a selection of Arabic literature, guidebooks, dictionaries and Arabic teaching books.

In addition, the EB carries all kinds of stationery and office supplies; maps; local and foreign magazines & newspapers; as well as an audio-visual selection of DVDs and music. Express photocopying, laminating and binding services are also available.

Their flagship location “Books @ Café” has received uplifting reviews from local as well as international media.

The bookshop constantly organizes book launches, talks, film screening and other culture activities.

The late Ms. Hind Husseini first thought of the concept of establishing a Palestinian Heritage Museum in 1962 with the emergence of an urgent need to protect the rich and diverse Palestinian cultural Heritage. Museum items were initially collected from private Palestinian donations and from other significant contributors like Mrs. Violet Barber, a British resident of Palestine, at the time, who provided a sizable collection of authentic clothes and Arab traditional items. The Palestinian Heritage Museum (PHM) re- opened in May 2012 within the compound of Dar Tifel Arabi Organization in Jerusalem and is located in a 200-year-old Ottoman building.

Elya “Al Aytam” Islamic Elementary School is an all-boys school located in the vicinity of the old city of Jerusalem. Established in 1980, the school operates under the Ministry of Awqaf and teaches the Palestinian curriculum. The school was initially a Palestinian family house built in the early 1900s but was later purchased and transformed into an educational institution.

The school comprises seven classrooms and caters to students from kindergarten to the 4th grade. Although the school is composed of Muslim students and owned by the Islamic Waqf, it offers a regular curriculum and is not specifically an Islamic school.

Dar al Aytam Islamic Elementary School is part of the Dar Al-Aytam Al Islamiya organization, which also operates an industrial school and an academic school within the complex. The institution plays a crucial role in providing education and support to young Palestinian boys, contributing to their intellectual, social, and emotional development.

The British Council is an international organization founded in 1934 that promotes cultural relations and educational opportunities between the United Kingdom and other countries. The organization’s aim is to build trust, understanding, and lasting relationships between people worldwide through the sharing of language, arts, education, and cultural heritage.

The British Council opened its office in Palestine in 1943 and has been working to strengthen ties and enhance mutual understanding between Palestinians and the UK ever since. The organization’s activities in Palestine include English language teaching, arts and education programs, and promoting social cohesion through cultural exchange.

The current director of the British Council Occupied Palestinian Territories office is Martin Daltry, who has worked for the British Council since 1998 in various countries, including Egypt, Turkey, Algeria, and the UK. The British Council’s work in Palestine is part of its broader mission to promote international cooperation, understanding, and mutual respect through cultural and educational exchange.

The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Jerusalem is a community-based, Palestinian non-profit organization that has been empowering youth and communities since its establishment. The organization started in East Jerusalem after the city’s division in 1948, when Palestinians lost access to the International YMCA on King David Street.

The YMCA’s philosophy centers around the intellectual, spiritual, and physical development of individuals, fostering their voluntary involvement in social, cultural, and athletic activities. Based on Christian principles, the organization strives to build and empower individuals and communities, offering programs that promote healthy spirit, mind, and body.

The East Jerusalem YMCA is an inclusive association that welcomes people of all ages, incomes, abilities, races, religions, ethnicities, and genders. The organization provides a variety of programs, such as classes, social clubs, summer camps, and vocational training, to approximately 3,000 members.

The Jerusalem International YMCA, founded in 1878, also runs educational, cultural, and recreational programs with the aim of strengthening the city’s religious and cultural divides.

The Balian family, a prominent Armenian family in Jerusalem, has been creating unique and exquisite hand-painted ceramic tiles and pottery since 1922. The story of Balian Armenian Ceramics began when Neshan Balian fled Turkey on foot to Greece in 1917. Eventually, he settled in Jerusalem, where he introduced the art of ceramic tile-making to the region.

The family’s legacy continued with Marie Balian, who became especially known for her distinctive ceramic tile murals, combining traditional Armenian elements with Middle Eastern art. Her works have been exhibited worldwide, with a notable solo exhibition at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. in 1992.

Today, Balian Ceramics continues to create beautiful hand-painted ceramics that combine tradition and innovation, reflecting the unique history and cultural heritage of the Balian family and their contribution to the arts in Jerusalem.

The Albright Institute of Archaeological Research, formerly known as the American School of Oriental Research, is a renowned academic institution located in Jerusalem. Established in 1900, it is the oldest American research center in the Middle East, specializing in ancient Near Eastern studies. The Institute was renamed in 1970 to honor its most distinguished director, William F. Albright, who is often referred to as the father of biblical archaeology.

The Albright Institute’s mission is to advance and disseminate knowledge about the literature, history, culture, and civilizations of the Near East, from prehistory to the early Islamic period. Its facilities include a research library, workshops, computer labs, residential spaces, and archaeological laboratories. The Institute also offers fellowships, public lectures, and research programs in various fields such as archaeology, anthropology, art history, Bible studies, epigraphy, historical geography, history, language, literature, philology, and religion.
The Albright Institute is affiliated with the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR), and it is one of three separately incorporated institutes alongside those in Amman, Jordan, and Nicosia, Cyprus.

Saad wa Saeed mosque is part of Al-Masoudiyyeh, a late nineteenth century neighborhood better known as Sa’ed and Sa’id. Houses were initially erected during 1870-1890 and again during 1895-1918 around an administrative Ottoman building in the center of the neighborhood. In 1905 there were 119 Jerusalem families living in the neighborhood. A traveller Khan known as Sa’ed and Sa’id, linked to the Islamic scientist Ibrahim Ben Ahmad Ben Falah Al-Masoudi, existed next to the mosque. The Mosque was built in 1905 in the endowment property of Shams Eddin Al-Balquini. The Mosque suffered a number of incidents because of its proximity to the 1948 border. It was abandoned between 1948-1950 and later rehabilitated by the Islamic Waqf.

St. George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem is a significant center for Anglican worship and the residence of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. The Diocese has a rich history dating back to the mid-19th century and serves a diverse community of around 7,000 Anglicans across Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.

The cathedral, located at 31 Salah Ad-din Street, offers a warm welcome to pilgrims and visitors of all faiths. St. George’s Cathedral hosts regular services, with a schedule that includes both Sunday and weekday services.

The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem also oversees numerous institutions, including hospitals, schools, clinics, rehabilitation centers, guesthouses, and retirement homes. The Diocese’s peace and reconciliation work promote ecumenism and interfaith dialogue, making St. George’s Cathedral an essential hub for spiritual growth, learning, and community engagement.

The Dominican Monastery/ The St. Stephen’s Basilica has a rich and complex history, starting with Empress Eudocia’s construction of the original church in the fifth century. This church housed the Relics of St. Stephen, the first Christian Martyr, and served as a gathering place for thousands of monks. Despite the monastery’s destruction and reconstruction during periods of conflict, its legacy continued through the efforts of Father Marie-Joseph Lagrange, who established the Ecole Biblique in 1890.

The Ecole Biblique is a prominent academic institution, known for its research and teaching in biblical studies. It offers a first-class library, archaeological laboratories, and a community of intellectuals who strive to deepen their understanding of the Bible in its historical context.

Today, Dominican monasteries can be found around the world, where monks and nuns come together in the name of Christ to live a life of contemplation, prayer, and community. These monasteries serve as oases of peace and spiritual rejuvenation for visitors seeking respite from the stresses of modern life.

Schmidt’s Girls College, also known as Schmidt-Schule, is an esteemed educational institution established in 1886 by the German Association of the Holy Land (DVHL). As a private Catholic school managed by the Congregation of Jesus (CJ), also called The Mary Ward Sisters, the college is dedicated to providing top-quality education to girls from both Christian and Muslim faiths.

Schmidt-Schule is renowned as one of Jerusalem’s leading schools, granting its students access to some of the world’s most prestigious universities. Since 2008, it has been recognized as one of the official “German Schools Abroad” and received full accreditation in 2015 as an “International German School Abroad of Excellency.” The school offers both local Tawjihi certification and the German High School certificate, Abitur.

For over 160 years, the DVHL has served as a bridge between German Christians and the people of the Holy Land, focusing on charitable and educational projects. The association’s commitment to interreligious dialogue, understanding, education, and peace remains steadfast in a region often plagued by conflict and uncertainty.

The Garden Tomb, often referred to as “A Haven of Peace, A Place of Hope, An Empty Tomb,” is a revered Christian Holy Site located in Jerusalem. Owned and managed by The Garden Tomb (Jerusalem) Association, a non-denominational Christian charitable trust based in the United Kingdom, the garden serves as a place of pilgrimage and spiritual reflection for visitors worldwide, who come to commemorate the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The tranquil gardens offer ample space for worship and contemplation, with numerous areas for visitors to sit and enjoy the serene surroundings. The site remains a quiet sanctuary dedicated to Christian faith and worship.

Although some archaeologists question the authenticity of the tomb due to certain typological features, the site remains a significant and meaningful location for many Christians. The Garden Tomb provides free gospel-centered tours, worship events, and resources for visitors and partners to deepen their spiritual connection to this historical location.

Dominating Jerusalem’s skyline, the al-Aqsa mosque is the jewel in the crown of the historic Old City.

Holding a rich history for Muslims, its beauty is both physical and transcendental to the thousands of worshippers who visit every year.

Covering 144,000 square meters, the complex includes the golden-topped Dome of the Rock – arguably Jerusalem’s most recognizable landmark – and the ancient al-Qibli Mosque.

The mosque complex serves several functions: a house of worship, a community space, and a center of culture and history.

The area’s name – al-Aqsa – has a double meaning in Arabic. The first is “the furthest”, referring to its distance from Mecca, and also “the supreme”, referring to its status among Muslims.

It is considered as one of the holiest sites in Islam along with the Kaabah in Mecca and Prophet Muhammad’s mosque in Medina.

Muslims also believe that it is the site where the Prophet Muhammad led his fellow prophets in prayer following a miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, known as Isra-wal-Miraj, and then ascended to the heavens to speak with God. This site is what later became known as the Dome of the Rock. Which continues to define Jerusalem in many ways.

Resembling a crown, the towering and turreted walls of the Damascus Gate are a significant landmark in the city of Jerusalem.

Called Bab al-Amoud (“Gate of the Column”) by Palestinians and Sha’ar Sh’khem (“Nablus Gate”) in Hebrew, the structure has symbolic and cultural importance for the people of the city and further afield.

Brimming with tourists visiting historic Jerusalem and its myriad religious sites, the area is also full of Palestinians and Muslim pilgrims visiting one of their most important national and spiritual symbols; the al-Aqsa mosque.

The Damascus Gate is located on the northern side of the Old City, towards the middle of the wall that historically surrounded it.

Walking through the gate takes you into the heart of the historic city; a maze of souvenir shops, eateries, and cafes.

The gate gets its Arabic name Bab al-Amoud from the pillar – featuring a statue of Emperor Hadrian – that stood at the center of its courtyard during the Roman-Byzantine era.
The name Damascus Gate refers to its role as the point of exit for those travelling to the Syrian capital Damascus.