Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Judah, the center of three world confessions - Judaism, Christianity, Islam.
The alluring magic of Jerusalem was fatal in his fate. Countless conquerors sought to take possession of this key city, destroying its buildings and capturing the inhabitants. But every time Jerusalem was reborn from the ruins, sometimes completely changing its appearance. The new rulers rebuilt it, following their ideas of beauty, and today we can admire magnificent historical monuments illustrating the cultural and artistic traditions of different peoples and different eras. Jerusalem keeps its main treasures in the Old City. The Old City is at the same time an open-air museum, a bazaar, and a whole scattering of holy places for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Here, history is intertwined with modernity, and no one is surprised that a butcher trades in a shop whose corners are decorated with Roman columns, in a modest cafe you can see Byzantine arches, and the workshop of a local artisan is located in a room that keeps the memory of the times of the Crusaders. In Jerusalem, ancient shrines and archaeological reserves coexist with the most daring modern buildings that adorn the New City. The shopping malls that have existed here since the Middle Ages successfully compete with the network of huge fashionable malls, and Christian shelters greet travelers with the same cordiality as well-trained staff of high-class hotels. The cuisine of Jerusalem has absorbed all the flavors of Middle Eastern dishes, and getting to know the numerous cafes and restaurants of the capital can be no less exciting for travelers than visiting historical sights. Continuing to be the central point of a trip to Israel, as it was many centuries ago, Jerusalem does not lose its magical mysterious aura that causes excitement and excites the imagination of travelers.