ESTAMBUL +JEREUSALÉN + BELÉN

About the destination: Istanbul owes its historic importance and its amazing cultural and architectural heritage to its perfect strategic location, straddling the Bosphorus straits which separate Europe and Asia Minor. Through most of its 2,500-year-long history, the city (first known as Byzantium, then as Constantinople and since 1930 as Istanbul) was a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of more than 13 million is almost exclusively Turkish, and many of its people are recent migrants from provincial Turkey, lured by the promise of jobs and careers in this vibrant, fast-growing city. Istanbul is no longer the nation's capital, but is Turkey's economic and cultural powerhouse - a status underlined by its role as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the award of UNESCO World Heritage listing to many of its most important landmarks, which range from stunning Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs to the columns of Hellenistic temples and the remains of massive medieval city walls. But there's more to Istanbul than Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A fast-growing economy contributed to a flourishing arts and music scene, with a plethora of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants and designer fashion outlets.

About the destination: Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel and it’s a holy city to the three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Jerusalem is located in the Judean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. Despite all the troubles surrounding the city, the city presents a harmonious whole you feel that the weight of the spiritual environs descends on your shoulders as soon as you enter the city. The Old City and its Walls form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This ancient city is home to holy sites for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and is filled with sites of massive religious significance and a bustling approach to life. The three main sights inside the Old City are the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Supulchre and the Temple Mount area which includes the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosque. Via Dolorosa is the most popular street inside the Old City, especially among the Christian pilgrims since this was the path that Jesus Christ walked on the way to his crucifixion. There are 14 Stations of the Cross along the way .The 14th Station of the Cross and the final and most important location in Christianity is located in the Center of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Modern Jerusalem, where most of the hotels and restaurants are located, is built around the Old City. Jerusalem is the holiest of Holy Cities and offers so much to see and explore. The city is a fascinating blend of tradition, religion and modern life. It manages to feel totally exotic and mysterious, and yet completely familiar and welcoming.