Trama

The two present pools lead us to suppose that, already in early times, water reservoirs existed in this valley. A simple dam would collect rainwater flowing down through the valley to form a natural lake. Later, this lake was transformed into an artificial reservoir of 40x50m, by means of a 6m. wide dam. The water was led to the Temple in an open-air canal.

Located at the start of the Via Dolorosa, the Church of Saint Anne is the traditional site of the home of Jesus' maternal grandparents, Anne and Joachim, and the birthplace of the Virgin Mary. Located in with the bustling streets and alleys of the Muslim Quarter, the Church of St Anne, the best-preserved Crusader church in Jerusalem, contrasts with its tranquility. It is a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture, to replace a previous Byzantine Church. The Church of Saint Anne is a Roman Catholic Church. The church stands in a courtyard with trees, shrubs and flowers. The austere stone interior and extraordinary acoustics make it a fine example of medieval architecture. Unlike other churches in Jerusalem, St Anne's was not destroyed after the Muslim conquest in 1189. Instead, it was turned it into an Islamic law school by the sultan Saladin, whose name appears in the Arabic inscription still above the main entrance. At the end of the Crimean War between the Ottoman Turkish Empire and Russia, the Sultan of Istanbul in 1856 offered the site to the French government in gratitude for its help during the war. France undertook extensive restoration, returning St Anne's as closely as possible to the original basilica. Strong lines and thick walls give St Anne's a fortress-like appearance. Its simple dignity offers a space for prayer and contemplation without distraction. It is also unusually asymmetrical in the detail of its design: Opposite columns do not match, windows are all different sizes, and buttresses differ in thickness and height. Three episodes from the life of the Virgin Mary are depicted at the front of the high altar in the Church of St Anne: - The Annunciation on the right; - The Descent of Jesus from the Cross in the centre; - And the Nativity of Jesus on the left. On the left-hand side of the altar is an illustration of the education of Mary by St Anne. On the right-hand side is a portrayal of the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple. A flight of stone steps descends from the south aisle to the crypt. This cave is the supposed remains of the house of Anne and Joachim, and the Virgin Mary's birthplace. Next to the church is the large excavation area of the Pools of Bethesda, where Christ healed a sick man. The Pools of Bethesda whose name means, "House of Mercy" located on the road to Beth Zeta Valley, were mentioned in the Gospel of John, chapter 5, as the place of Jesus' miracle of paralytic. This was the healing of the paralyzed man who had waited for 38 years for someone to help him into the pool "when the water is stirred" - an event believed to have curative powers. The description is made reports that two large pools with five porches surrounded it. The purpose of the reservoirs was to collect rainwater, principally for Temple use. This place invites us to take time for meditation and prayer. Everyone is confronted by Jesus question: Do you want to be well? So stand up, take your mat and walk! Walk within the Old City of Jerusalem and enter in the first century of Christianity.