The City of David in Jerusalem recently opened public access to the Pilgrimage Road, a roughly 2,000-year-old stepped street that led from the Siloam Pool to the Temple Mount.

The road, uncovered after two decades of excavation, features Herodian paving stones, remnants of ancient shops, a mikveh, and a ceremonial podium, offering visitors a direct connection to Jerusalem’s Second Temple period.

Tours are now available in multiple languages, attracting international tourists, Israelis, and dignitaries, including the Ganeles family from New York, who visited during their daughter’s bat mitzvah.

The site has sparked controversy due to its location in East Jerusalem and the involvement of the City of David Foundation, which seeks to strengthen Jewish presence in predominantly Palestinian neighborhoods, the Times of Israel has reported.

Visitors described the experience as powerful and immersive, providing a tangible link to biblical history and the city’s 3,000-year-old heritage.