Mount Olives is a very good starting point for your Jerusalem tour. As you can see, it gives you the perfect view of The Old City - in the picture you can see the Dome of the Rock mosque in the background. The Mount is located east of The Old City (see further below for a map of the area).
The Mount is important to both Jews and Christians. It is first mentioned in the Old Testament when King David escaped through the Mount during the rebellion of his son, Avshalom.
The Mount of Olives is also mentioned a lot in the New Testament - it was a favorite teaching place for Jesus.
The Mount is best known for the big cemetery on its western side. There are over 150,000 graves in the Jewish cemetery, and many well known Jews are buried there.
There are also a few churches on the mount, among those:
Here is a satellite view and map of the Mount as well as some of the aforementioned churches and the big cemetery:
So, when you head to Jerusalem, make sure you take some time to tour around the Mount, and if you're smart, make it your first stop in the city so you can take in the great view from the top of the hill.
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