Jerusalem and it's Metropoletan area

Jerusalem presents a mixture of well-preserved historical artifacts and the characteristic developments of a modern urban area.

The greatest concentration of religious and historical sites is in the Old City, which was part of East Jerusalem when Jerusalem was divided.

A wall constructed in ad 1538 during the reign of the Ottoman ruler Süleyman I contains the Old City. The area inside the wall is roughly divided into quadrants, named for their dominant ethnic communities: the Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Armenian quarters.

An Arab market, or suq, lines the main axis of the Old City, giving it a crowded and bustling atmosphere.

Modern Jerusalem surrounds the Old City. Somewhat older neighborhoods are located to the east and south, and newer neighborhoods, to the west and north.

The center of economic activity is to the west of the Old City, as are Israeli government institutions including the Israeli parliament, called the Knesset (completed in 1966), the Supreme Court Building (1992), and the City Hall complex (1993).

Monuments commemorating recent national events and accomplishments are also found in the modern sections of Jerusalem, as are many points relating to the first Arab-Israeli war (1948-1949) and to the Six-Day War (1967). The national cemetery is located on Mount Herzl to the west of the Israeli government buildings.

A number of features make Jerusalem’s landscape distinct from that of other cities. Planning regulations dating back to the early 20th century have limited the height of most structures in the city and channeled construction to hilltops; the valleys are intended to remain as open space.

The British, who ruled the area from 1917 to 1948, also mandated the use of local limestone, known as Jerusalem Stone, for all facades.

The pinkish-white color of the stone changes throughout the day, turning different hues as the light shifts. Because of the strict control on building, Jerusalem has a compact and uniform character. Its total area is about 123 sq km (about 47 sq mi).

The boundaries of the city are frequently disputed, however, since Israel has confiscated and settled areas adjacent to Jerusalem considered by Palestinians to be part of the West Bank.