What other destination lays claim to as many historic, cultural, and religious sites set so close to each other as the Old City of Jerusalem? To visit Jerusalem without at least a wander within the Old City’s ancient walls would be to miss what makes Jerusalem so important.

Al-Haram al-Sharif (as it is known in Arabic) is located on Temple Mount in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City and considered to be the third holiest site in the world for Muslims. According to the Quran, the mosque is built where the prophet Mohamed ascended into heaven. Whether you're here for religious observance or not, the architecture, history, and location of this historic landmark are all draws.

The ancient remains of Jerusalem’s Second Temple is a place of prayer, sacred to Judaism. The devotion and practice of faith and tradition here is a marvel to behold.

The route that Jesus is said to have walked to his crucifixion is a steep, winding, and narrow one that offers a rich glimpse into Jerusalem’s past. This is a place of Christian pilgrimage, where the faithful of many denominations come to retrace Jesus' steps.

At the end of the Via Dolorosa, this 4th century church is arguably the most important religious location in Christendom, and among the most visited places within the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is believed by some to be both the location of Jesus' tomb and the site of his resurrection.

Located in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City, this 12th century Armenian cathedral is a beautiful example of living religious history. If you’re fortunate enough to visit during a service, you will be as amazed by the sounds of adherents performing the rites as you are by the visual splendor.

This holy site in East Jerusalem is associated with many of the most significant moments in the life of Christ. Views of the rest of Jerusalem from the top of the hill are stunning as well.

At the foot of the Mount of Olives, Jesus is believed to have prayed with his disciples the night before his crucifixion. The garden is also the location of the grotto where Jesus and his disciples are thought to have often slept.

Located on the Mount of Olives, this ornate and impeccably restored church was first built by the Byzantines in 379 AD and later rebuilt in the early 20th century. The church marks the place where, according to the Bible, Jesus threw himself to the ground and prayed in anguish the night before his crucifixion. It is named the Church of All Nations because so many contributed to the cost of its restoration.

North of the Damascus Gate entrance to the Old City, this is where some Christians believe the Resurrection occurred. Whatever their beliefs, many visitors to Jerusalem find the Garden Tomb to be an ideal setting for contemplation and reflection.

The Israel Museum houses one of the most impressive collections I have ever seen, but is worth a stop even just for what many believe to be the star of the show: The Dead Sea Scrolls, which include some of the oldest remains of the original Hebrew Bible. If that’s not enough, you will also find more contemporary acquisitions such as works by Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin, and Henry Moore.

This ancient village, now set within the municipal boundaries of modern day Jerusalem, is the birthplace of John the Baptist. Ein Kerem is also believed to be the place where Mary, pregnant with Christ, met with her cousin Elizabeth to tell her the good news. Visitors to the village today enjoy the picturesque setting and the opportunity to see holy sites and attend church services.

For many, a visit to the ultra orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Mea Shearim in northwestern Jerusalem represents a trip back in time. For others it’s an opportunity to observe the traditions of age-old customs and religion, still alive and well in the 21st century.

Located in the little town of Bethlehem about six miles outside Jerusalem, this is the oldest church in the Holy Land that’s still in use today. The Church of the Nativity dates back to 339 AD and is, according to the Bible, built upon the grotto where Christ was born.