Damascus Gate
Also known as Nablus Gate, Damascus Gate is located in the northern wall of the Old City at the beginning of the slope of the Central Valley, which cuts through the Old City from north to south. Currently known as the Valley, it is one of the main entrances to Jerusalem. It is considered the primary and most important entry point to the city, noted for its architectural beauty and rich decoration.
The construction of Damascus Gate dates back to the Roman period during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, who rebuilt the city in 135 AD. In the inner courtyard of the gate, Hadrian placed a fourteen-meter-high column of black granite bearing his statue. The image of this column appeared on the Madaba Map, dating back to the sixth century AD. The current gate dates to the Ottoman period and was last restored during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1538 AD.