Harat al-Wad – also called “Wady Road” – is one of the neighborhoods of the Islamic Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is located in the center of this holy city, and is an extension of Bab al-Amud and ends at the entrance to the Buraq Wall. It includes many archaeological and Islamic landmarks and shrines of saints.
It is one of the neighborhoods that is most targeted by the occupation authorities, as Israel has established many Jewish schools in confiscated houses, and the late Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon built a house there.
the site
Al-Wad neighborhood is the main road leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque. It starts from Bab Al-Amoud market near Al-Shorbaji Mosque north of Jerusalem, and ends at the Israeli occupation security barrier at the entrance to the Buraq Wall to the south.
At its end, the “Wadi Road” connects to the Bab al-Silsila market, which is long and parallel to the Khan al-Zeit market, and a number of obstacles connect to it, such as the Tut obstacle, Qanater Khadir, the Mufti obstacle on the Via Dolorosa, the Tekiya obstacle, and the Khalidi obstacle. It connects to the Holy Sanctuary on the eastern side of the city via the Asilah obstacle, Bab al-Asbat.
The neighborhood is distinguished by containing many Christian and Islamic archaeological landmarks, shrines of saints and obstacles, which made it a target for the Israeli occupation, which confiscated many of the neighborhood’s houses and turned them into Jewish schools, and occupied many of the shops that came under the control of the settlers, in addition to establishing two Israeli police stations inside the neighborhood.
Monuments
Harat Al-Wadi is distinguished by a large number of Christian and Islamic archaeological landmarks, including:
Wadi Road Market
The Wadi Road included ancient markets located within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. Decades ago, the Wadi Road Market, along with the “Musrara Market,” was the main place frequented by traders of wheat, barley, flour, rice, lentils, and fodder. However, craft and clothing shops later invaded it.
The Way of Sorrows
The valley’s lanes pass through the Via Dolorosa, which Jesus Christ walked more than two thousand years ago carrying his cross (according to the Christian faith). It occupies a distance of more than two hundred meters, making this road one of the most vibrant markets, as crowds of local and foreign Christian worshippers cross it carrying crosses and incense burners in celebration of Christian religious holidays.
Austrian Hospice Hostel
The historic Austrian Hospice is one of the most important tourist inns for the Austrians on the Wadi Road. It was built at the end of the 19th century, and in 1948 the British Ministry of Health decided to convert it into a military hospital.
Then it was transformed into a government civil hospital during the period when the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan administered East Jerusalem, and it remained the only hospital within the walls of Jerusalem until 1985, when it was returned to Austria again, which decided to close it and renovate it to resume its role as a tourist hotel that receives guests.
Sultan’s Bath
Sultan’s Bath – one of the most important baths in the old town – is located on the Wadi Road opposite the Hospice Inn, and is the third station on the Via Dolorosa.
Its construction dates back to the Ottoman period. It was mentioned in the Haseki Sultan Tekke that this bath was ordered to be built by Haseki Sultan (Roxelana), the wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, in 959 AH/1551 AD.
Obstacle of the Tekke
It is one of the obstacles (stairs) that run through the neighborhoods of Old Jerusalem, many of which were built during the Ayyubid period, and their names go back to people or families. They are like arteries that connect the neighborhoods of Old Jerusalem.
Aqbat al-Takiya – also called “Aqbat al-Sitt” – is located within the walls of the old town, and connects the valley road to the end of the Khan al-Zeit market. It was named after the Haseki Sultan Tekke, which is located there, and where food was distributed to the poor. It later became part of the Islamic Orphanage School.
Way of the valley
It is one of the six wall fountains of Sultan Suleiman, and is located on the eastern side of the Wadi Road, specifically near the southern entrance to the western Qattanin Market. It was built by Sultan Suleiman in the year (943 AH 1536-1537 AD). It is a rectangular building with interwoven columns on both sides topped by two carved crowns.
The way of Bab Al-Nazer
It is located at the crossroads where Bab al-Nazer Road meets Aqbat al-Takiya. This fountain was established during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (926-974 AH 1520-1566 AD).
It consists of a wall niche (arch) surrounded by an arch decorated with plant and geometric shapes and elements.
On its chest is a circular stone ornament, under which is placed a plaque inscribed in Ottoman Thuluth script. It also contains a rectangular basin that used to collect water.
Cotton market
It is one of the most important markets in the city of Jerusalem, and it was named thus because it specializes in selling cotton and silk products (fabrics). It is located on the western side of the western wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, between Bab Al-Mutahara and Bab Al-Hadid, opposite the Dome of the Rock from the outside, and extends from the east of the city to its west. It was established by Prince Saif Al-Din Tankiz Al-Nasiri, the deputy of the Levant during the reign of King Al-Nasir Muhammad bin Qalawun.
It is 100 metres long and 10 metres wide, and has two entrances: the first from Wadi Road on the western side and the second from Al-Aqsa Mosque on the eastern side. It was previously known as the Cotton Merchants Gate.
On both sides of it are shops facing each other in two rows separated by a semi-barrel vault roof supported by 30 pointed arches. It has a passage leading directly to Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In the middle of the market there is a bathhouse known as “Hammam Al-Shifa”, and at the end of it to the west is Hamam Al-Ain, and in front of it to the west is the Islamic Orphanage, and so on to Al-Qarmi Quarter and then to Khan Al-Zeit.
Eye bath
Hammam Al Ain is located in the Qattanin Market, specifically on the right side of the market from Al Wadi Road. It was named after a spring called Ain Al Arub, and was established by the Mamluk prince Saif Al Din Tankiz Al Nasiri in the year 1337 during the reign of Sultan Al Nasir Muhammad bin Qalawun.
The Ain Bath is similar in its layout and construction to the Al-Shifa Bath, and forms part of the Qattanin Market complex. It has been in use since the Mamluk era, but was abandoned in the 1980s. It is owned by the Naseeba family of Jerusalem.