Jerusalem has conjured up strong emotions and special feelings for people all over the world for thousands of years. You can feel the history in the air. Three major religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all call Jerusalem a holy place. Millions of people have engaged in historic battles over Jerusalem throughout the millennia. Even today, Jerusalem's ultimate fate is at the center of unrest in the Middle East. But amid all of the political maneuvering and religious fighting, you will find a destination unmatched for its combination of natural beauty, climate, history, attractions, and meaning. To visit Jerusalem is to be forever changed.

Jerusalem's history has been well-chronicled. Abraham's visit to Melchizedek (King of Salem), chronicled in Genesis, is the first written reference to the city. In 1004 BC, King David captured Jerusalem and made it the capital of the kingdom of Israel. David's son, Solomon, built the great Temple in 960 BC, and his progeny ruled Jerusalem for over 350 years. Over time, the city has been ruled by, among others, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, European Christians, Ottomans, and the British, before finally coming back under Jewish control in the 20th Century. Of course, Jerusalem has been a source of conflict since the establishment of Israel in 1948. After the Six-Day War in 1967, Jerusalem was united under Israel's control. Today, the city's demographics are split largely along geographic lines: with the Western portion of the city Israeli and the Eastern part mostly Palestinian.

Cataloguing all of Jerusalem's historical sites would require an entire volume. Some of the more important religious sites are spotlighted here, along with other places you may not be as familiar with. It's hard to visit Jerusalem on a limited time budget, but chances are that after a taste of what Jerusalem has to offer, you will be back for more.