THE TOWER OF DAVID

A truly must-see Middle Eastern historical site and one of Jerusalem's most prominent silhouettes. The citadel actually dates back to the Middle Ages, despite being named after the biblical king of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah, David. The Herodian Period (37 BC-70 AD), the Hasmonean Period (141-63 BC), and the First Temple (from 1006 to 586 BC) are all represented in the complex's walls and towers. One of the main reasons the beautiful fortress is so important to history is that it is on a strategic high point between eastern and western Jerusalem, close to Jaffa Gate. The Museum of the History of Jerusalem is now housed in the citadel complex, where visitors can discover more than 3000 years of the city's history.