Jerusalem architecture from the inside out
Ever hope to travel back in time and relive a
historical period? Ever wanted to know what lurked beneath Jerusalem's
newest luxury building projects? Ever wonder how the other half lives? Ever dream of living like a
Sheikh for a day? Or wonder why Jerusalem's beautiful
neighborhoods all look so different? Well, if you answered yes to any
of these questions, then you're in luck because this weekend,
nearly 100 of Jerusalem's most amazing and impressive sites and styles are open for
investigation as the Jerusalem Municipality's Houses from Within festival kicks off this Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12.
This free - and largely popular - festival returns to the Holy City for its third year with free tours and access to amazing structures and sites across the city. Led by certified tour guides, architects, city planners, historians, or Jerusalem lovers, learn about how the physical design of the building influences your experience of the place; or, in other words, how architecture works. While most tours are open to the public (just check the site for visiting hours), some tours are limited to 30 participants and therefore pre-registration is required (available through the website).
And the list of places to invade is long and varied, including Kiryat Moshe's Histadrut Veterans housing project, the Haim Hazaz house, the Anatot Light Ral depot and the Alhambra Palace, the Israel Museum restoration labs, historical synagogues and the Mormon university.
Some of the most alluring sites are those that pique one's
voyeuristic tendencies: the private homes. For example, the Shalom
House, 20 Ehad Haam Street, Talbia, belonged to Israel's leading lawyer
during the British Mandate, Shalom Horrowitz. Visit his home to see the
ceiling he imported from Damascus or the cedar trees he had shipped to
his garden from Lebanon. Experience Israel's earliest upper class
lifestyle for yourselves.
Aside from the tours, there are several related events, including tours geared towards children, bicycle tours and performances. Please keep in mind that barging into anyone's home this weekend is clearly not encouraged; we strongly suggest you stick to peeking into the homes and places listed as part of Houses from Within only.
Photo of the German-Syrian Orphanage in the Scheneler Compound courtesy of the Jerusalem Municipality.
2000+ tips and recommendations
Jerusalem, the city where kings ruled and sultans sat is no stranger to luxury. Today, even the visiting yeoman can find...
Jewish tradition holds that in the times of the First and Second Temples, all the Jewish people would gather in Jerusalem...
Technically, it's possible to visit Jerusalem without going to the Old City, but it would be hard to say you'd...
Looking for a place to begin your morning in luxury and style? Look no further than the American Colony Hotel, which offers...
The faithful may rhapsodize about the spiritual highs to be reached in the Old City; culture cognoscenti groove on the...
Once upon a time, options for eating out in Jerusalem were limited to local common phenomena such as falafel and schwarma,...
No results to show
|
Text text text
|
||
