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  City Center
  Downtown Jerusalem is the heart of the modern metropolis, with nightlife, dining and culture to rival any major city. The area is made up of several neighborhoods, including the colorful Mahane Yehuda Market, charming Nahalat Shiva, bustling Ben Yehuda and Yafo Streets. Each has its own unique personality and atmosphere that you won’t want to miss out on.
  
  South
  South Jerusalem is an up-and-coming area that has seen the development of numerous attractions in recent years, including the state-of-the-art Jerusalem Payis Arena, which hosts some of the biggest international musical acts and sporting events. It joins places like Emek Refaim Street, Malha Mall, the Biblical Zoo, Teddy Stadium, Gazelle Valley and Ramat Rachel tourism complex in making up an area that is particularly popular with families.
  
  West Jerusalem
  West Jerusalem includes some of Jerusalem’s most charming neighborhoods and interesting attractions. Head to the picturesque Ein Karem at the foot of the Jerusalem Hills for a day of nature, quaint shops and elegant dining with a view. And for an unbeatable cultural experience, check out the Museum District, home to the world-class Israel Museum, the Bible Lands Museum, Science Museum and much more.
  
  Old City
  The Old City of Jerusalem has been a center of culture, religion and history for thousands of years, from the time of the Judean kings and the Roman era through the times of the Islamic Empire to the modern State of Israel. Every brick and stone is teeming with history. No trip to the Middle East is complete without wandering through alleys of the bazaar, walking the ramparts and exploring the Old City’s rich history at the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa) or Tower of David Museum.
  
  NEAR OLD CITY
  Not far from the Old City, you can find some of Jerusalem’s most vibrant entertainment and shopping centers. Mamilla Mall is just a few steps from Jaffa Gate and counts as one of the most luxurious shopping centers in the city, replete with high-end shops, Mamilla Hotel’s Akasha Spa and a collection of restaurants with amazing views. And if you follow Hebron Road, you’ll find the First Station cultural complex and the Yes Planet movie theater and entertainment center.
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Home > Attractions > Mount Zion – Jerusalem

Mount Zion – Jerusalem

Mount Zion, Jerusalem
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Between 1948 and 1967, when Jerusalem’s Old City was under Jordanian rule, the closest that Israelis could come to the Temple Mount was Mount Zion, a hill just outside the walls on the southern end of the Old City. The hill has been called Mount Zion since sometime in the Middle Ages, even though Jewish scripture refers to the Temple Mount by the same name.

Interestingly enough, legend has it that Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent initially meant for Mount Zion to be inside the walls of the Old City. However, the Turkish engineers who were planning the restoration of the walls accidentally left Mount Zion and King David’s Tomb outside the walls, prompting the livid sultan to execute them. Among the important sites and landmarks on Mount Zion are the Room of the Last Supper, King David’s Tomb, the Chamber of the Holocaust, and the Protestant Cemetery. In addition Oskar Schindler is buried here as a righteous gentile, and the Dormition Abbey is located here.