The Three Worlds: Sacred Sites of Al-Quds
There are millions of visitors come from across the world to the Old City of Al-Quds. The city is less tahn one square kilometer in size and contains some of the world's most sacred sites. It is difficult to underestimate the Palestine's cultural and historical significance. The region has deep significance for each religion such as Christian, Jew, and Islam. The historical places in Palestine are absolutely to leave a good impression no matter who you are.
Al-Aqsa Mosque
📍Jerusalem
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the second mosque that was built in Islamic history. This mosque holds very important part to the muslims. The Dome of the Rock is part of its larger complex which is considered as the third most sacred place after Makkah and Madinah. This dome is one of the structures that were built in front of the Mihrab during the Umayyad era. This shows early Islamic architectural traits. The exterior was designed with lead sheeting of silver color while the interior is designed with styles from the 14th century.
Church of Nativity
📍Bethlehem
The Church of Nativity was located in Bethlehem and created by Constantine the Great. It is believe to be the birthplace of the Jesus Christ. The Church of Nativity and the Roman Catholic Church of St. Catherine make the building's main attraction. It was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012 and it make the first Palestinian site.
Dome of the Rock
📍Jerusalem
The Dome of the Rock's designs inspired by Byzantine. The people believed that inside the dome still have the stone that have been used by Abraham (PBUH) in his attempt to sacrifice his son, although the exterior has been changed over the years.
Al-Sayed Hashem Mosque
📍Gaza
The Al-Sayed Hashem Mosque was built in 1850 by the Ottomans using materials from mosques that Napoleon Bonaparte had ruined. It contains the tomb of great-grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Hashem bin Abd Manaf. The original Ottoman tower was rebuilt in 1903.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
📍Jerusalem
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre or also known as the Church of Resurrection has the empty tomb of Jesus Christ. It is considered as the holiest place for Christians. The church was built in the 4th century where the Jesus Christ had been crucified. The church's key and seal were held by a muslim named Adeeb Jouda Al-Husseini and they have been handed down through the ages since Saladin Al-Ayoubi's era.
White Mosque of Ramle
📍Ramle
The White Mosque was built by Caliph Suleiman bin Abdul Malik during Umayyad era.The mosque's massive tower is all that's left of it today. The mosque was made of marble and have been rebuilt multiple times after earthquakes. The archaelogists have revealed the remnants of its barrel-vaults and pillars.
Church of the Annunciation
📍Nazareth
The Church of the Annunciation was believed that the Virgin Mary was englightened about her miraculous pregnancy by an angel who appeared to her there. The decorations used the gifts from Indonesia and Spain that were given during the Mamluk's and other dynasties.
Great Mosque of Gaza
📍Gaza
The tower of the Great Mosque of Gaza or also known as the Great Omari Mosque was destroyed by an earthquake. However, the Mamluks rebuilt it in the 13th century. Even after the Mongols destroyed the mosque, it was rebuilt. It was ruined again after getting struck by another earthquake before the Ottomans reconstructed it. After being bombed during the World War I, it still stands in the middle of Gaza's old city which is currently being destroyed by Israeli occupation.
Church of Mary Magdalene
📍Jerusalem
The Church of Mary Magdalene was built by Tsar Alexander III. It is a Russian Orthodox church in the late 19th century with a view of Jerusalem as it was placed on the Mount of Olive Trees. It is a symbolic of the popular designs of 16th century in Russia as its roofs were tented and has the gilded onion domes.
Cultural Deep Dive
Explore the cultural traditions that related with these sites on our Culture page or view more images in the Gallery.
Sources & References
- Karim, A. (2023). Historical Buildings Across Palestine. Retrieved from (scenehome.com)