The Cardo, Jerusalem, Israel
The Cardo is an impressive colonnaded-style street in the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Following the Bar Kochba Revolt (in the 130s AD), the Romans built a new city, Aelia Capitolina, in the place of Jerusalem. They divided the city into four quarters by building two large perpendicular streets that intersected in the middle. The main street running north to south was the Cardo Maximus. It was a 22 meter wide road with large columns on either side.
The Cardo lead to the Christian Roman city and the commercial center of the town. It started at what is today Damascus Gate in the north and reached today’s Zion Gate. It was discovered in archaeological excavations after 1967.
The northern section – from Damascus Gate to David Street, dates back to the Roman Period. From that point, through the western side of the Jewish Quarter, is a section built during the Byzantine period, in the 6th century CE.
The paving stones are the originals, dating back to the Byzantine Period. Nowadays, in addition to archaeological remnants, the Cardo is lined with galleries, souvenir, Judaica and other tourist-oriented shops.
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