The Damascus Gate in Jerusalem

Old gate below the current gate

The Damascus Gate is one of the main entrances to the Old City of Jerusalem. It is in the wall on the city’s northwest side. In biblical times, it was the gate that connected to a highway leading out to Shechem and from there to Damascus, the capital of Syria. The gate is located at the edge of the Arab bazaar and marketplace in the Muslim Quarter.

The current gate was built in 1537 under the Ottoman Empire. Beneath the “new” gate, the remains of an earlier gate that dates back to Roman times can be seen. Above the gate are the ramparts where you can walk to get a great view of the city.

During the summer, Jerusalem celebrates the “Festival in Light”. When I visited in 2017, one of the most fascinating exhibits was at the Damascus Gate where a powerful light projection transformed the Gate into several other gates inspired by iconic gates of different cultures and histories. See the slide show below.

The Damascus Gate is very close to the Cave of Zedekiah. Watch for another fascinating article with photos soon.

Our trip to Israel and Greece has been postponed to November 4-18, 2020. We have opened it back up for registrations. Our trip for 2021 will be in April and we will visit Israel and Petra in Jordan. To read more about the tours, click here.