The capital of Israel, full of golden-hued buildings that reflect the desert sunshine, attracts pilgrims from three faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Among the sites revered by Christians are the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (where Jesus is believed to have been buried and resurrected), the Mount of Olives (where Jesus prayed during the night of his betrayal), and the Via Dolorosa (which tradition says is the route taken by Jesus to the cross). The steps of the Via Dolorosa are the oldest Christian pilgrimage path in the world, a route taken by countless pilgrims through the centuries as they relive the last hours of Jesus’ life. Sacred sites honored by both Christians and Jews include the Western Wall, the only remnant of the Second Temple, and Mount Zion, where King David’s tomb is said to be located.
Did You Know? Many pilgrims to Jerusalem also visit Yad Vashem, the museum that serves as a memorial to the six million victims of the Holocaust.
Learn more at Israel the Holy Land
Return to home page for Christian Pilgrimage Sites Around the World
Lori Erickson is one of America’s top travel writers specializing in spiritual journeys. She’s the author of the Near the Exit: Travels With the Not-So-Grim Reaper and Holy Rover: Journeys in Search of Mystery, Miracles, and God. Her website Spiritual Travels features holy sites around the world.
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