Tower of David – part of an ancient citadel located near the Jaffa gate, in the West of the Old town. Now here is the Museum of the history of Jerusalem.

The biblical king David, the founder of ancient Israel (X century BC), the tower has a very indirect relation – fortress at the highest point of the city was erected by the kings of the Hasmonean dynasty only in the II century BC After the Hasmoneans came to power, king Herod the Great, 37 – 34 years BC added to the citadel three powerful towers. He called them the names of loved ones: "Fasil" – in honor of brother committed suicide, "Miriam" – in memory of his second wife, who killed himself, and Hippicus" – in honor of one of friends. Countless siege and destruction of subsequent ages have experienced only the tallest tower, "Fasil", – its lower part and is called today the tower of David.

The name it refers, apparently, to the days of Byzantium: the Eastern Christians believed that it was on the Western hill of 773 metres, was located once the Palace of king David. The Arabs conquered Jerusalem in 638, strengthened the citadel so that the crusaders could not take it by assault in 1099. However, she was taken in 1187, the great warrior Saladin. It was destroyed and re-built in the XIII century the Mamluks, for four hundred years there were the garrison of the Ottoman Turks. They added to the tower minaret towering over the city still.

In the First world war, when British troops occupied Jerusalem, at the entrance to the tower of David, the commander of the British General Allenby solemnly took the surrender. Between the world wars it housed the Museum of Palestinian folklore. After the Arab-Israeli war of 1948 – 49, the strength at the time regained military role: it was based Jordanian Arab Legion. Only after the victory of Israel in the six day war of 1967, the citadel became a peace facility: since 1989 there is a Museum of the history of Jerusalem.

The exposition of the Museum allows us to represent the growing and developing Jerusalem for forty centuries. This process clearly illustrate the excellent three-dimensional models of cities, videos and holograms. Part of the exhibition is the courtyard of the Museum – the archaeological Park with the ruins of the age of 2700 years. Visitors have the opportunity to climb to the ramparts, from which you can survey the entire city of Jerusalem including the Old city.

Tower of David – traditional venue of urban festivals, crafts fairs, concerts. It regularly runs an impressive laser show: on the walls of the citadel under authentic music projected dramatized episodes from the long history of Jerusalem. The show is organized after sunset, and tourists are recommended to bring warm sweaters – night in Jerusalem when it's cold.