The Roman Plaza

Damascus Gate has been one of the most important Gate of the Old City since Roman times, and continues to beautify the wall today. Impressive artifacts from the original Roman gate, and the plaza that stood inside it, were uncovered beneath the Ottoman period Damascus Gate.

The Roman gate, built during the time of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (135 C.E.), had three entrances. The eastern entrance remains almost in its entirety, and it is possible to walk through it to the Roman Plaza, still paved with original stones. A 22 meter-high filler at this site registered the distances from Jerusalem to the other cities in the land of Israel in ancient times.

The museum in the plaza includes illustrations of the history of Damascus Gate through maps, photographs and drawings. Two large guard towers, built from huge stones, stand on both sides of the plaza. The stones stand on both sides of the plaza. The stones used to build these towers were taken from ancient buildings in Jerusalem, dating back to the Second Temple period. The eastern tower still stands, and it is possible to ascend the original staircase straight to the Ramparts Walk - a unique experience in itself.

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The Roman Plaza, Jerusalem

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Questions and Answers

Is the Roman Plaza under the Damascus Gate now open for visitors? The last few times we've been in Jerusalem it was closed--I assume for renovations....

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Activity Hours
Saturday - Thursday: 9 AM - 4 PM (Summer time: until 5 PM)
Friday: closed
Saturdays the entrance to these sites will be possible only by purchasing tickets in advance