The Mount of olives is the mountain that Jesus visited regularly for meditation and worship. Rising about 100 meters above the Old City to the east  it offers a mag-nificent  panoramic view of the entire city of Jerusa-lem.  In addition to the residential quarters on all sides of the mountain  many churches were built there over the years due to its association with several events relating to Jesus Christ.

For a close appreciation of the mount and the sites one can start from the top of the Mount with a visit to the esplanade in front of the Seven Arches Hotel on the very top of the Mountain. The most splendid and panoramic view of Jerusalem  especially by night  can be appreciated on that spot. Walking back from there towards the Old City  you can take a downhill winding road across from the Mount of Olives Hotel. On top of the Mount is the Church of Pater Noster which was built on the place where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord's Prayer. The prayer is written on the walls of the church in 62 languages. The Chapel of the Ascension is also nearby  not far from the church of Pater Noster. From here Jesus ascended to heaven after blessing his disciples.

Midway down are two famous churches: the Church of St. Mary Magdalane  a beautiful display of old Russian style cupolas and domes which was erected in 1888 by Tsar Ale ander III. With its seven golden onion shaped  spires   it  is  one  of  the  most  attractive churches  in  Jerusalem.  The  second  church  is  the Franciscan Church of Dominus Flevit  a simple structure  built in 1890 over the remains of a fifth century monastic chapel to  commemorate Christ's  weeping over Jerusalem. The Church was designed to resemble a tear shaped shrine. The interior window above its altar has a breathtaking view of the city  including the golden Dome of the Rock in the distance.

On  the  bottom  of  the  road  are  three  other  famous churches: The Garden of Gethsemane  the Church of All  Nations  and the Tomb of  the Virgin  Mary which marks the traditional place of her assumption. The Crusaders  built this church in the 12th century because according to tradition  Mary was buried here. It replaced an earlier Byzantine Basilica. Moslems have the right to worship in this shrine.