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The Armenian Quarter of the Old City
The Armenian Quarter is the smallest quarter of the Old City. It occupies the southwestern side of the city and is dominated by the great compound of the Armenian monastery and the Citadel with its minaret and towers. The Armenian compound is in fact a city within a city. It has its own schools, library, seminary, and residential quarters, all arranged around the 12th century Orthodox Cathedral of St. James, just south of the citadel. Much of the quarter, and especially the area of the citadel, was once occupied by the palace of Herod the Great. The Citadel is known today as the "Tower of David", an identification that was given to the site by the Byzantines.
The fortifications of the Citadel were built by the Mamluks during the 14t century. Suleiman the Magnificent contributed the monu mental entrance and the platform for cannons. The minaret was built in 1655. The Citadel now contains the city museum on the history of Jerusalem: a multi-screen show as well as a sound and light show can be seen there. The Armenian quarter can be reached from the Jaffa Gate. The small Armenian community of the Old City boasts an extensive and exquisite array of ceramics and pottery which can be found in many shops in that Quarter. Furthermore, restaurants offering Armenian pizza and other specialties are abundant, with a homely atmosphere and excellent food.