Underground Jerusalem

Underground Jerusalem is an archaeological site in ancient Jerusalem, located beneath the neighborhood of Silwan. It is said to be where Jerusalem was born. Situated on a narrow ridge south of Temple Mount in East Jerusalem, it is understandably one of the most extensively excavated sites in the city. The underground city is open to visitors, who can use the same underground tunnels that residents would have used 2,000 years ago. The most famous tunnel in the area is Hezekiah’s Tunnel. He constructed tunnels to bring water to the people within the city walls; this is even quoted in the Bible: “the acts of Hezekiah and all his might, and how he made the pool and conduit, and brought water into the city” (2 Kings 20:20). There are two other major underground systems in the area: Solomon's Quarries and Solomon's Stables. There is more than a mile (two kilometers) of pathways beneath the city, away from the hustle and bustle of busy Jerusalem, under most of the city’s major historical attractions.

Practical Info

The tunnels are one of Jerusalem’s main tourist draws, with over a million visitors in 2010. However, the continued archeological digs in the Old City are currently disputed in light of the Israeli Palestinian conflict.