Why was a wide passage opened adjacent to the portal tower?

The wall between the citadel and the gate was breached to accommodate the arrival of the German Emperor, with part of the moat filled to construct an approach ramp.

Whose tombs are located beside the inner passage?

The tombs belong to Ottoman notables, although folklore claims they hold the executed architects commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent.

Who built the current gate structure?

Ottoman authorities constructed the gate during the rebuilding of the Old City walls under Suleiman the Magnificent.

How did General Edmund Allenby make his entry through this gate?

General Edmund Allenby chose to enter on foot as an expression of respect for the city before speaking near the Tower of David.

Which pontiff entered the Old City via Jaffa Gate?

Pope John Paul passed through the gate to reach the Old City during a Holy Year journey.

East Jerusalem · Palestine

Jaffa Gate: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

Residents crossing between western neighborhoods and the Old City navigate this stone gate daily, passing the citadel breach that handles pedestrian traffic between the sectors.

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About the place

Jaffa Gate stands as the primary western entrance through the historical fortifications of the Old City.

Ottoman builders erected the portal during the wall reconstruction directed by Suleiman the Magnificent. Folk tradition associates the iron-grated enclosure just inside the entryway with the executed architects of the defensive perimeter, though the burial plots belong to Ottoman notables. The gate serves pedestrians entering the Old City from western approaches, maintaining constant foot movement through the stone passageway.

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The wide vehicular gap beside the portal dates to an imperial visit by German Emperor Wilhelm, when authorities breached the rampart and filled part of the citadel moat. Later British administration cleared external housing along the stone facade to protect historical sightlines, while General Edmund Allenby entered on foot to address crowds at the citadel. Modern control shifted during regional conflicts between opposing armies.

Associations

Tower of DavidStands adjacent to the gate and served as the site for historic military addresses.
Citadel Moat BreachModifications to the wall created the modern road passage used by vehicular traffic.
Frontline ClashesThe gate remained an active combat zone during regional wars prior to border changes.
Ottoman TombsBurial plots behind iron grating reflect folklore about executed wall architects.

Facts

Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent ordered the construction of the gate during the reconstruction of the Old City walls.
British general Edmund Allenby entered the Old City on foot through this portal rather than on horseback.
Workers breached the wall and filled part of the citadel moat to accommodate an official visit by the German emperor.
Pope John Paul II passed through the gate during an official papal pilgrimage to the Old City.

Updated September 20, 2026Source: Wikipedia

Jaffa Gate: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

What is around42

Jaffa Gate stands as the primary western entrance through the historical fortifications of the Old City.

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