Explore the Northern Ramparts of Old Jerusalem 

Walk on the Ramparts of the Old City Walls from Jaffa Gate to Damascus Gate and learn the history of these ancient and not-so-ancient walls, what lies beneath, what you see inside and outside and more...

Walk down through the ancient Damascus Gate tower to discover the old Roman Plaza:  Built during the time of the Roman emperor Hadrian, the plaza had three entrances. The eastern entrance remains almost entirely intact, The plaza is made of the original stones laid in 135 CE. At the site is a museum depicting the history of Damascus Gate with maps and drawings, including a good reproduction of the Byzantine-period Madaba Map. 

Continue out of the Roman Plaza area and up to view the front of the mid-16th century Damascus Gate, built by Sultan Suleimain the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire.  Notice the old Roman Gate down below (you just passed through it moments before).  Look up to see the guard tower sticking out above the open window - on the top in the middle - yes, that's where boiling oil was poured down onto the heads of invaders!  

Before entering the Old City there, turn to your left and walk up the steps and along the wall to enter Zedekiah's Cave. According to Muslim tradition, Korah and his followers were swallowed by the earth at this site. Also according to legend, during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, Zedekiah, King of Judea, escaped through this cave to Jericho. And yet another legend holds that King Solomon quarried the hewn stones for the first Temple from this site.  See the cut lines in the walls as yes, this was definitely a quarry.  Modern Freemasons use the "Great Hall" of this cave for their meetings as they consider King Solomon the founder of their society.  You can explore way down into the cave (maybe not all the way to Jericho), but please stay on the marked path! 

Now - back to Damascus Gate and enter into the Old City for more exploring and adventure!