THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM

The Temple in Jerusalem was originally built in ancient Jerusalem in c. tenth century B.C.E. Also known as Solomon's Temple, it was the national center of Israelite religious life, especially for the offering of sacrifices, but also as a cultural and intellectual center. It was located on Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Its architecture and rich furnishings are described in considerable detail in the Hebrew Bible. The most famous artifact in Solomon's Temple was the legendary Ark of the Covenant. According to the Bible, Solomon's Temple replaced the Tabernacle of Moses and was to be the sole place of legitimate sacrificial offering to God in both Judah and Israel.

The First Temple
(King Solomon's Temple)

 The Second Temple (Herod's Temple)

The Western Wall

The Western Wall in Jerusalem is the holiest of Jewish sites, sacred because it is a remnant of the retaining wall that once enclosed and supported the Second Temple. It has also been called the "Wailing Wall" by European observers because for centuries Jews have gathered here to lament the loss of their temple.
Click HERE or HERE and HERE for more information about the Temple of Jerusalem

DOME OF THE ROCK

The Dome of the Rock is a building of extraordinary beauty, solidity, elegance, and singularity of shape… Both outside and inside, the decoration is so magnificent and the workmanship so surpassing as to defy description. The greater part is covered with gold so that the eyes of one who gazes on its beauties are dazzled by its brilliance, now glowing like a mass of light, now flashing like lightning.                               
                                            —Ibn Battuta (14th century travel writer)
​Click HERE for a virtual walking tour of Al-Haram Al-Sharif
Click HERE for an exploration of the Dome of the Rock

WHITE TEMPLE & ZIGGURAT, URUK

Uruk (modern Warka in Iraq)—where city life began more than five thousand years ago and where the first writing emerged—was clearly one of the most important places in southern Mesopotamia. Within Uruk, the greatest monument was the Anu Ziggurat on which the White Temple was built. Click HERE to learn more about this Ancient treasure.

ANGKOR WAT

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia is the largest religious monument in the world. Angkor Wat, translated from Khmer (the official language of Cambodia) literally means “City Temple.” Click HERE to learn more about this masterpiece.
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VATICAN CITY

Tour the Necropolis at St. Peter's
The Vatican City, one of the most sacred places in Christendom, attests to a great history and a formidable spiritual venture. A unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces lie within the boundaries of this small state. At its centre is St Peter's Basilica, with its double colonnade and a circular piazza in front and bordered by palaces and gardens. The basilica, erected over the tomb of St Peter the Apostle, is the largest religious building in the world, the fruit of the combined genius of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderno.  

Baldacchino

St. Peter's Basilica
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St. Peter's Square

Sistine Chapel Ceiling