City of David

Jerusalem is a city where past and present seem to merge, and monuments that have borne witness to thousands of years of human activity are commonplace. To get a sense of the city as it was in biblical times, a visit to the City of David archaeological site is a must. As the site is constantly being excavated it can be tricky to get a grasp of what you are looking at, so a guided tour is strongly recommended.

As well as pointing out the structures revealed by archaeologists, a guide can enrich your understanding of how some scholars have come to conclusions they have about the links between these sites and those

described in the bible. Some of the most interesting places to explore within the City of David site are the various springs, pools and tunnels which lead down to the Gihon spring.

Of these, the Siloam tunnel is often a visitor favourite. You have to wade through water up to one metre deep in places, and at times the tunnel is only just wide enough – you might even need to turn side-on to get through – but the fact that the 500-metre-long water ‘pipe’ is still in action 2,700 years after construction is simply awe-inspiring.