City of David and Hezekiah's Tunnel

The City of David is the oldest settled part of Jerusalem, a narrow ridge south of the Old City walls in the Silwan neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, Israel. Excavations here have exposed Bronze and Iron Age fortifications, a large stepped stone structure, and houses burned during the Babylonian destruction of 586 BCE. The site is run as City of David National Park, and its management by a settler-linked foundation makes it politically contested, so guides present it from differing perspectives and visitors may want to read widely beforehand. The visit usually begins at the visitor centre with a short film and a viewpoint over the Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives. A path descends past the excavated structures to the Gihon Spring, the city's ancient water source. From there visitors choose between two routes. The Canaanite tunnel is a dry, lit passage dug in the Middle Bronze Age. Hezekiah's Tunnel is a 533-metre channel cut in the 8th century BCE, reportedly to bring spring water inside the walls ahead of the Assyrian siege. The wet route has knee-deep, cool water of roughly 40 cm in places, low sections and total darkness without a light, and ends at the Pool of Siloam. A newer dry route also connects to the Pilgrimage Road, the first-century street that once led pilgrims up to the Temple. Visitors should wear shorts, water shoes or sandals with grip, and bring a torch or phone light. A typical visit takes two and a half to three hours. Mornings on weekdays are quieter, and groups with children are heavier around midday. Summer heat makes the tunnel pleasant, while winter rain can raise the water level and lead to temporary closures. The site closes early on Friday and is shut on Saturday. Guided tours add context for the layers of history, and audio guides are an option. It lies about ten minutes on foot from Dung Gate.