Whether you’re Jewish, Christian, or Muslim, Israel is a must-visit destination. Each religion has its own top holy site in Israel. As a tourist, you should visit them all (in my opinion). They are iconic global landmarks, and they are worth seeing, even if you’re an atheist. So, whether you visit Israel’s top religious sites to pay your respects, or simply as a curious tourist, you should put these three sites on your Israel bucket list.
What is the top Christian site in Israel?
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The top Christian site in Israel is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (or Sepulchre) in Jerusalem’s Old City. The church was built in 335AD by the first Christian Roman Caesar, Constantine to mark the site where Christ was crucified and where he was buried. If you follow the Via Dolorosa along stone-paved lanes in the Old City, you’ll reach the church. This is the route Jesus took as he carried his cross towards the site of his crucifixion on Golgotha (Calvary). Along the way, Jesus paused or stumbled at 14 places that are called the Stations of the Cross. The last five Stations of the Cross are within the Sepulcher church and include Golgotha and Christ’s tomb.
You can enter the huge church freely and wander around at your leisure. There are over 30 chapels and shrines in the church, belonging to different Christian denominations. It is a fascinating, and awe-inspiring church, with ancient artifacts, dazzling religious icons, and visitors dressed in a variety of traditional religious outfits. To add to the mesmerizing atmosphere, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is dark and eerie, with light coming from oil lamps hanging from above the shrines. This is a must-see for tourists of all religions.
What is the top Jewish site in Israel?
The Western Wall
The Western Wall, Wailing Wall, or Kotel is a stretch of wall measuring 50 meters (160ft) wide and 60 meters (20ft) high. It stands in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City and is the western supporting wall of Temple Mount. The wall was once part of the Second Holy Jewish Temple that stood on Temple Mount. In 70AD the Temple was destroyed and this stretch of wall was the only remaining part of the structure above ground. The continuation of the wall runs beneath the Old City’s Muslim Quarter. It has been excavated and can be seen in the Western Wall Tunnels.
The Temple was the most sacred Jewish site in the world. It held the Ark of the Covenant in the sacred Holy of Holies. As the Western Wall is the only remnant of the Temple, it has become a “Mecca” for Jews. Today the Kotel is used as a synagogue, with religious services held facing the wall. People come to pray at the Kotel and to place prayer notes between the wall’s massive stones. It is also a popular venue for bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah celebrations. If you’re lucky, your visit will coincide with one of the many celebrations that take place in the adjacent Western Wall Plaza.
What is the top Muslim site in Israel?
The Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of the iconic structures on Temple Mount, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary (Haram al-Sarif). Temple Mount is a large flat plaza in Jerusalem’s Old City Muslim Quarter. The mount is surrounded by retaining walls, including the Western Wall. Al-Aqsa’s neighbor, the Dome of the Rock is another of Israel’s top religious sites.
The Quran describes how Muhammad was transported from Mecca to al-Aqsa during his Night Journey. This impressive mosque was constructed during the Umayyad Period in 1035. It has two large domes and ten smaller ones. Al-Aqsa is a functioning mosque where hundreds of local Muslims worship daily.
Temple Mount is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and all tourists are welcome to visit, under certain conditions. Visitors must dress modestly and respect local customs. Only Muslims can enter the Dome of the Rock, and non-Muslims can only enter Temple Mount from the Moors Gate. Entrance to the Temple Mount may be restricted without warning due to political reasons.
How to visit Israel’s top religious sites?
Conveniently, all three of Israel’s top religious landmarks are within the Old City, just a few minute’s walk from each other.
Open Hours:
- The Western Wall is open 24/7
- The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is open year-round from 05:00 and closes at 20:00 April-September and 19:00 October to March.
- Temple Mount is open to Non-Muslims visitors Sunday-Thursday (summer-April-September 8:30-10:30 and 13:30-14:30; winter-October-March 7:30-10:30 and 12:30-13:30). Temple Mount is closed to non-Muslims on Fridays, Saturdays, and Islamic holidays.
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