Gates in the Old City by Ekaterinburg
If a city is walled then it must have gates. The Old City walls in Jerusalem have eight gates, seven of them made during the construction and one added in the 19th century. Gates are heavily symbolic and the very act of going through one is of significance. It's a much more exciting way to enter a city than via a motorway or a tunnel and calls to mind all kinds of dramatic scenes from ancient legends.The Damascus Gate is the entrance into the Muslim Quarter.
The Jaffa Gate is the traditional entrance for pilgrims, next to The Citadel.
The New Gate is indeed the newest of the gates, opened in the 19th century to give access to the Christian Quarter.
Herod's Gate is very close to the Damascus Gate and allows access to the Muslim Quarter also.
St Stephen's Gate/Lion's Gate is on the eastern wall and gives access to the Mount of Olives.
The Dung Gate is on the southern wall and is the smallest of the city gates. It gives access to the Western Wall Plaza.
Zion Gate was added to give access to the Franciscan monastery left outside the walls by Suleyman's architescts.
Golden Gate is perhaps the most interesting of all. The entrance to the Temple Mount, it is sealed and some believe it will only be opened when the Messiah comes.
Before you come to Jerusalem, looking at the location of all these gates and checking which area of the Old City the give access to is a very good way of orientating yourself.
