About City of David

Jerusalem. What more can be said about you?

The city where history treads its pavements. A city that has known thousands of years of cultures, empires, and religions, all leaving their mark. A city born approximately 3,000 years ago as the capital of Israel on a small hill, surrounded by mountains, it has evolved into a spiritual center, disseminating foundational beliefs and universal values to the entire world.

Yet, Jerusalem’s journey has not been easy. The city of King David, which became the capital and home to the Temple, where many biblical stories unfolded in its alleys, also attracted military leaders and countless battles, leaving their scars until the city was completely destroyed in 70 CE.

Thousands of years later, in 1867, the British explorer Charles Warren rediscovered this lost city, long buried beneath ruins. Beneath the ground, among shafts and tunnels, he found the first evidence of the city’s ancient water system. A new chapter in the city’s long history of destruction and renewal began. A new chapter in the story of the Jewish people.

Since then, the City of David has become the most extensively excavated biblical archaeological site in the world. In the City of David National Park, fascinating archaeological discoveries are made daily, revealing true wonders before our eyes.

At the City of David sites, history comes alive. Here, you can walk underground through the Siloam Tunnel, preserved just as it was carved some 2,700 years ago. Here, you can explore the drainage channel, the final hiding place of the rebels before their capture by the Romans. You can even uncover archaeological finds yourself, by sifting through the soil unearthed daily from sites across ancient Jerusalem.

At the City of David Foundation, we are dedicated to revealing and preserving the birthplace of Jerusalem, transforming it into a premier national tourist center. Each day we strive to make this historic site accessible to you through our various locations: the City of David National Park, the Agricultural Farm in the Valley of Hinnom, the Information Center on the Mount of Olives, the Archaeological Experience at Emek Tzurim National Park, the ‘Mitzpe David’ Visitor’s Center on the Armon HaNatziv Promenade, and the lodging complex in the Peace Forest.

Our experience has shown that your visit here will be unparalleled. Encountering the city of King David, the vibrant heart of Jerusalem, a place that has united Jews from around the world for generations, provides every visitor with a profound connection to a vital source of life. While we may not be able to fully convey in words the soulful experience you will have here, we promise it will remain with you long after you leave.