Via Dolorosa
Walk the Via Dolorosa - the "way of sorrows" traditionally traces the last steps of Christ from where he was tried to Calvary, where he was crucified, and the tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulcre where he is said to have been buried. There is no historical basis for the 0.25 km 0.16 miles route, which has changed over the centuries. Nevertheless, pilgrims traditionally walk the route, identifying with Jesus' suffering. Along the route are 14 Stations of the Cross, each connected with a particular story or event. "Guides" hanging around the beginning of the Via will give you a tour for a small fee, accompanied by informed commentary, but this is not necessarily the best plan. Paying a token amount to get yourself started is not a bad plan, but if you have a guide book you can likely handle it better on your own from there, due to the crowded and winding nature of the Via through the Old City's narrow streets. Not all the guides are as respectful of the religious sites along the Via Dolorosa as they could be, sometimes walking headlong into occupied churches mid-service. First Station - Jesus is condemned to death. The traditional site of the Roman fortress where this took place lies inside a Muslim college. Second Station - Jesus takes up his cross after his flagellation and coronation of thorns. This takes place in front of the Monastery of Flagellation. Third Station - Jesus falls beneath the weight of his cross. This is commemorated by a small chapel with a marbel relief above the door. Fourth Station - Jesus meets his mother Mary. A sculpture above the door of the Armenian Church of Our Lady of the Spasm represents this. Fifth Station - Simon of Cyrene is ordered to help carry the cross of Christ. This point at the start of the ascent to Calvary is marked by a Franciscan oratory. Sixth Station - Veronica wipes away Jesus' blood and sweat and her handkerchief reveals an impression of his face. This story, not recorded in the Bible, is commemorated by The Chapel of St Veronica. Seventh Station - Jesus falls for the second time, as indicated by a large Roman column in a Franciscan chapel. Eighth Station - Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem Luke 23:28, and is marked by a Latin cross on the wall of a Greek Orthodox Monastery. Ninth Station - Jesus falls for the third time. This place is marked on a Roman column at the entrance to the Ethiopian Monastery. Tenth to Thirteenth Stations - These four stations Jesus is stripped of his clothes, nailed to the cross, dies, and is taken down from the cross are all in the place identified as Golgotha Calvary within the Church of the Holy Sepulcre. Fourteenth Station - the Holy Sepulcre itself, the purported tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea who asked Pilate for Jesus' body.
Ramparts Walk
Visitors can walk along two sections of the old city wall, from jaffa gate clockwise to st stephen's gate, and counter-clockwise from jaffa gate to the dung gate. access to the ramparts is only possible at jaffa and damascus gates, although walkers can descend at any gate. sa-th 9am-4pm, f 9am-2pm. âª16 adults, âª8 students and children.
First Station - Jesus is condemned to death. The traditional site of the Roman fortress where this took place lies inside a Muslim college.
Second Station - Jesus takes up his cross after his flagellation and coronation of thorns. This takes place in front of the Monastery of Flagellation.
Third Station - Jesus falls beneath the weight of his cross. This is commemorated by a small chapel with a marbel relief above the door.
Fourth Station - Jesus meets his mother Mary. A sculpture above the door of the Armenian Church of Our Lady of the Spasm represents this.
Fifth Station - Simon of Cyrene is ordered to help carry the cross of Christ. This point at the start of the ascent to Calvary is marked by a Franciscan oratory.
Sixth Station - Veronica wipes away Jesus' blood and sweat and her handkerchief reveals an impression of his face. This story, not recorded in the Bible, is commemorated by The Chapel of St Veronica.
Seventh Station - Jesus falls for the second time, as indicated by a large Roman column in a Franciscan chapel.
Eighth Station - Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem Luke 23:28, and is marked by a Latin cross on the wall of a Greek Orthodox Monastery.
Ninth Station - Jesus falls for the third time. This place is marked on a Roman column at the entrance to the Ethiopian Monastery.
Tenth to Thirteenth Stations - These four stations Jesus is stripped of his clothes, nailed to the cross, dies, and is taken down from the cross are all in the place identified as Golgotha Calvary within the Church of the Holy Sepulcre.
Fourteenth Station - the Holy Sepulcre itself, the purported tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea who asked Pilate for Jesus' body.
Christian Information Centre
Attend a church service, if you're so inclined. For Christian services and addresses of churches most denominations are represented in Jerusalem, call the Christian Information Centre, Jaffa Gate, telephone 6272692, open M-Sa 8:30AM-1PM.