Guests will be picked up from their Tel Aviv and Jerusalem hotel location in the early morning. Today, we will embark on a tour of the most interesting parts of the
Old City of Jerusalem and the
City of David. We will encounter some of the more recent archaeological discoveries from different periods in the Old City's history, like the 2nd Temple, Roman, and medieval periods.
We will begin the day on the summit of the Mount of Olives, where we will overlook the Temple Mount. From here, we will travel through Kidron Valley to view the Garden of Gethsemane and the City Walls.
Our next stop will be Mount Zion to visit the Tomb of King David, located on the ground floor of the remains of a Byzantine Church. The upper floor of the same building holds the place traditionally believed to be the Hall of the Last Supper. Then, we will enter the Jewish Quarter via the Lions' Gate, walking along the Cardo the main street built by the Romans in ancient times. In the Jewish Quarter, we will visit the Four Sephardic Synagogues that date back to the 16th century.
We will then proceed to examine excavated Herodian Mansions dated to the period of the 2nd Temple. While in this area, we will visit many other archaeological excavations, helping us get a sense of the geographical significance of this ancient city. At the end of the day, guests will be returned to their hotels. Please see "Departure and Return" for more detailed information regarding pickup and drop-off.