The center of Israel-Palestine contains
most of the cities and sites associated
with the Holy Land, including Jerusalem,
Bethlehem, and Bethany. The area is
characterized by rocky hills and a
temperate climate. Below is an overview
of some of the sites of Central Israel.

The Temple
Mount was
the place on
which the
First and
Second
Temples
stood, where
the Ark of the Covenant resided, and where
the Holy of Holies housed the presence of
God. It is also the place where Abraham
tried to offer his son as a sacrifice. It is the
third holiest site in Islam, and today is the
location of the Dome of the Rock and the
Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The city of
Jerusalem
includes the
Old City of
Jerusalem
and a new,
modernized
Jerusalem
that spreads far outside the Old City walls.
Jerusalem is the number one tourist
destination in the country, and is
considered holy to the world's three
monotheistic religions. Read more about
the historic and religious sites of Jerusalem
below.
The Western
Wall, or
Wailing
Wall, is
famous as
the wall
where
Jewish
pilgrims come to offer prayers. It is the
western retaining wall of the Temple
Mount complex, and is near the
Jerusalem Archaeological Park, where
visitors can see archaeological strata
dating back to the time of Jesus.
The Mount
of Olives
overlooks
the Kidron
Valley and
the Temple Mount. The
hillside is
covered in Jewish tombs, including the
Tomb of Zechariah. Also famous to the
Mount of Olives is a site that is believed
to be the Garden of Gethsemane.
Connecting
the Mount
of Olives
with the
Holy Sepulchre,
the Via Dolorosa
is the traditional site for the Stations of
the Cross. The Via Dolorosa crosses
through the Old City, and passes by the
Church of Saint Anne, the pool of
Bethesda, and the palace of Pilate (the
Antonia Fortress).
Jerusalem's
Old City is
divided into
four quarters:
the Muslim
Quarter, the
Christian
Quarter, the
Armenian Quarter, and the Jewish Quarter.
Tourists can explore the Old City markets,
visit David's Citadel, walk the city
ramparts, and visit the many religious
sites of Jerusalem.
Located
outside the
Old City, the
Garden Tomb
is an archae-
ological site
believed by
Protestants
to be the place where Jesus was crucified
and laid to rest. The hill overlooking the
garden is shaped like a skull, and is
honored as Golgotha, while the tomb
nearbye belonged to a wealthy Jewish
man. The site is still preserved today as
a garden.

The New
City of
Jerusalem
is a modern
city, and
offers all the
amenities of
any other
major metropolis. In addition, one can tour
the exhibits at the Holocaust Museum, the
Israeli Museum, and the Museum of
Islamic Art, or visit the Jewish neighbor-hoods and markets of Meah Shearim.
The Holy
Sepulchre
(Tomb) is
honored by
Catholic,
Coptic, and
Orthodox
sects as the
location of the crucifixion and burial of
Jesus Christ. The land on which the church
is built is venerated as Golgotha, or
Calvary. Saint Helena, mother of the
Emperor Constantine, ordered the church
built there after discovering the site in
326 AD.

In Bethlehem,
Jesus was
born to Mary
and Joseph.
Today, many
shepherds
still tend the
surrounding
fields, and pilgrims gather to remember
the birth of Jesus at the Church of the
Nativity.