Soo many debates and disagreements relates to a small part in the city.
But it is one of the most important sites in the square kilometer we call the Holy city of Jerusalem.
Place of the Jewish Temple or the third place sacred to Islam after Mecca and Medina or perhaps both.
Lots of people wait hours and hours to take the photos of the beautiful mosques.
The beautiful golden dome is located above the rock of foundation,
the first place that god created in this world. It was inside the first Temple, built by King Salomon,
and the second
Temple, built by the children of Zion when they came to Jerusalem after the Babylon’s diaspora.
King Herod wanted to please the Jews, who didn’t like him so much. He rebuilt the Temple,
making it one of the wonders of the old world. But it didn’t survive for long.
The Romans conquered the city in 70 a.d. and destroyed the Temple.
The place was forgotten with Christianity for hundreds of years till Muhamad came to the city riding his magical horse.
According to th
e Muslim tradition from the rock he went up to the heavens to receive the five prayers of the day.
The golden dome was built during the days of the Calif Abed El Malek at the end of the 7th century.
It is one of the oldest buildings in the Islamic architecture.
The entire platform of the mountain contains beautiful buildings like the Al Aqsa mosque
or the fountain of Kait Bey, a Mameluke General how built an Islamic school as well.
Look for the decorative gates on the western part of the platform.
Or go to the eastern part and admire the Golden gate, which is blocked with stones.
The Temple Mount is open for non-Muslim visitors between Sunday and Thursday.
On Summer time the visiting hours are 7:30-11:00 and 13:30-14:30.
In winter time it is between 7:30-10:00 and 12:30-13:30.
The entrance is from the Mughrab’s gate and bridge, near the western wall. Don’t forget a passport.
Ladies come with wide pants and not skinny ones.
