Visiting Jerusalem's Islamic Heritage

The Noble Sanctuary

The compound is a large raised platform in the southeastern corner of the Old City, enclosed by walls and entered through a number of gates. In Islamic tradition it is associated with the Prophet's Night Journey, and it became an early focus of Muslim devotion and building. The two most prominent structures on the platform are the Al-Aqsa Mosque, toward the southern wall, and the Dome of the Rock, at the centre.

The wider sanctuary also includes fountains, smaller domes, arcades and gateways added across many centuries of Umayyad, Ayyubid, Mamluk and Ottoman patronage. Walking the platform, you pass a remarkable range of Islamic architecture in a single enclosure, much of it beautifully decorated with stone, tile and inscription.

The Dome of the Rock

The Dome of the Rock is the visual centre of the sanctuary and one of the oldest surviving monuments of Islamic architecture, built in the late seventh century under the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik. Its golden dome, raised over an outcrop of rock, dominates views of the Old City from every direction, and its octagonal form and glittering exterior tilework make it instantly recognisable.

Inside and out, the building is covered with an extraordinary programme of decoration, including mosaics and Qur'anic inscriptions among the earliest of their kind. As a centrally planned, domed shrine it stands apart from the mosque nearby, and it has influenced the architecture of the Muslim world ever since. Access to the interior is often restricted, so it is frequently admired from the platform itself.

• A late seventh-century Umayyad monument
• The golden dome that defines the skyline
• Early mosaics and inscriptions of great importance

The Al-Aqsa Mosque

The Al-Aqsa Mosque proper is the large congregational mosque toward the southern edge of the platform, with its own silver-grey dome and a broad, columned prayer hall. It has been rebuilt and repaired many times over the centuries following earthquakes and changing patronage, so its fabric records a long architectural history within a single building.

The name Al-Aqsa is used in two senses: for this specific mosque, and more broadly for the whole sanctuary. Understanding that distinction helps when reading about the site. The mosque remains a major place of prayer, and it can be extremely busy at times of the week and year when large congregations gather.

The Old City and its quarters

The sanctuary sits within the walled Old City, a compact maze of covered markets and stone lanes traditionally divided into four quarters: the Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Armenian quarters. The walls and several of the great gates in their present form date largely from the Ottoman period, and passing through them is the classic way to enter the historic city.

The quarters flow into one another, and a visitor typically moves between them along the bustling market streets. The Muslim quarter, the largest, contains many historic Mamluk-era buildings, madrasas and fountains, and the approaches to the sanctuary's gates. Orienting yourself by the gates and the main market spines is the easiest way to navigate.

• Four historic quarters within the Ottoman walls
• Covered markets linking the quarters
• Mamluk-era architecture in the Muslim quarter

Visiting practicalities

Access to the compound is controlled, and entry points, opening hours and rules for visitors change and are not always predictable; some gates and buildings may be reserved for worshippers or closed to non-Muslim visitors at particular times. It is wise to check current arrangements locally before you go and to allow flexibility in your plans, as conditions can shift at short notice.

Modest dress is expected throughout, security checks are part of entering the Old City and the compound, and photography rules vary by area. Early morning is usually the calmest time to visit. Given the sensitivities of the place, courtesy, patience and following the directions of officials and stewards make for the smoothest and most respectful visit.

Planning your visit

Because access can be uncertain, it helps to think of a visit to the sanctuary as one part of a broader exploration of the Old City rather than a fixed appointment. The markets, gates, historic buildings and viewpoints reward a day of unhurried walking in their own right, and you can fit a visit to the platform into whatever window is open when you are there.

A little reading before you arrive transforms what you notice, turning a dome and a prayer hall into a legible history of dynasties and craftsmanship. You can sketch a day in the Old City with our itinerary planner and set it alongside the wider heritage of the region in the destinations catalogue.

Frequently asked questions