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The Jaffa Gate is one of seven open gates to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old City of Jerusalem. It provides immediate access to the Christian and Armenian Quarters.
History
The Jaffa Gate was built in 1538 by Ottoman Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent as part of the city walls. It has an L-shaped entry that was sealed with heavy doors. The gate is named after the port of Jaffa, an ancient city that has since been annexed by Tel Aviv. It opened to Jaffa and Hebron.
The section of the walls next to the Jaffa Gate was destroyed in 1898 to allow Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany a triumphal entrance to the Old City.
Ottoman Structures
Two Ottoman structures were built around the gate that have since been demolished. They included a clock tower (1908-1922) and a fountain (1900-1921). Inscriptions in Arabic script above and near openings in the gate still survive.
There are also two Ottoman tombs hidden behind a fence next to the gate inside the city walls. They’re easy to miss if you don’t look carefully.
Plaza
In the early 2000s, a plaza was built outside the gate. The plaza, which is heavily used by pedestrians, connects the Jaffa Gate to the Mamilla Mall.
