What better way to take in the diverse life of the Old City then from above? A walk along the ramparts affords an intimate look into the various quarters of the ancient town as well as a real sense of the awe-inspiring work that went into building the walls. The imposing project was the brain-child Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and follows the route of the Old City's Roman-era ramparts, erected some 2,000 years ago.
The walls stretch for some 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles), rising to a height of up to 15 meters, (49 feet), with an average thickness of 3 meters (10 ft). Along the course of the walls are 11 gates to the Old City, seven of which are open: New Gate, Damascus Gate, Herod's Gate, Lions' Gate, Dung Gate, Jaffa Gate, and Zion Gate.
The walls stretch for some 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles), rising to a height of up to 15 meters, (49 feet), with an average thickness of 3 meters (10 ft). Along the course of the walls are 11 gates to the Old City, seven of which are open: New Gate, Damascus Gate, Herod's Gate, Lions' Gate, Dung Gate, Jaffa Gate, and Zion Gate.
Although they're striking all year long, one event that really makes the walls shine is the annual Festival of Light. During the week-long event,Jerusalem is flooded with a series of scintillating displays, with some of the world's top light designers and artists illuminating the ramparts of the Old City in bold and unexpected ways and to create a world of dazzling beauty.
