Hallelujah! After a Decade of Construction, the Old City of Jerusalem’s Alleys and Hideaways Open to Wheelchair Users

The Centuries-old Old City of Jerusalem has received an accessibility overhaul, making it much more accessible to wheelchair users, baby carriages and other mobility devices.

“The Old City of Jerusalem has become one of the most accessible ancient cities in the world,” Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Minister Ze’ev Elkin said, The Jerusalem Post reported. Achieving “accessibility for the six kilometers was very complex, and it enriches the experience of the tourists in the Old City.”

The project, a decade in the making, involved the flattening of steep descents, as well as the addition of handrails. Additional improvements are also being made to increase accessibility for those with limited vision, including with the new mobile app Step Hear.

OUR TAKE: UNESCO World Heritage Sites have long delayed accessibility improvements, but the Old City of Jerusalem is proving that accessibility can coexist with historic preservation. We can’t wait to check out Jerusalem!

To read more about these exciting developments, read the article from Israel Hayom.