Few cities inspire as much passion as Jerusalem (Yerushalayim in Hebrew, Al-Quds in Arabic), rooted deep in the past and revered by three major religions.

With its pleasant, temperate climate, fine upland setting, extraordinary historical sites and world-class museums, Jerusalem fascinatingly contrasts ancient and modern, oriental and western.

The larger part of the city, including the city centre with its shopping and leisure district, is vibrant, Jewish West Jerusalem, characterised by broad avenues, busy pedestrianised streets and squares, cafes, restaurants and vivacious nightlife. Smaller East Jerusalem, predominantly Arab, is a 19th-century neighbourhood lying north of the Old City. It has a slow but chaotic pace of life, with crowded, colourful street markets.

The Old City, on the eastern boundary, is where most of Jerusalem’s main sights are found. Enclosed within awesome 16th-century stone walls, are a labyrinth of winding lanes where visitors to the city spend much of their time.

The Old City is divided into quarters, named after its four major communities in the 19th century: Arab, Jewish, Christian and Armenian, and preserving those sharp distinctions to this day. Within minutes, you may wander from calm squares where Jewish children play under the watchful eye of their mothers, to the hustle and bustle of an Arab souk, and into a tranquil Armenian garden, before arriving at the splendour of a medieval citadel.

Jerusalem came into being over 3,000 years ago as the site of the Jewish Temple. The Western (or Wailing) Wall at the foot of Temple Mount is all that survives of the Temple, destroyed by the Romans, yet it remains Judaism’s most revered place of prayer.

Extensive restoration and archaeological exploration gives astonishing insight into the structure and layout of the vast Temple in the time of Jesus.

For Orthodox and Catholic Christians, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre encloses the site of the Crucifixion and tomb where Jesus was laid, having carried the cross here along the Via Dolorosa.

The Muslim’s beautiful gilded Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount is Jerusalem’s most iconic landmark, while Al-Aqsa mosque, beside it, is proclaimed Islam’s third holiest shrine.

Israel declared Jerusalem its capital in 1950 but this is not internationally recognised. Most national institutions are in West Jerusalem, part of the state of Israel since the War of Independence following its creation in 1948. East Jerusalem and the Old City were first annexed by Jordan in 1948, then in 1967 by Israel, which integrated them into a reunited Jerusalem.

Ceaseless energy, lively avenues and squares, great shopping, cafe culture and buzzing nightlife make this vivacious, sophisticated Mediterranean city one of the most exciting in the world. Incredibly, it’s only 100 years old and celebrated its centenary in 2009.

The sheer dynamism and determination of the place makes Tel Aviv seem vastly bigger than it really is. In fact, the city is smaller in area than Haifa or Jerusalem, but almost one-half of Israel’s population live in the Greater Tel Aviv metropolitan area. For round-the-clock entertainment and sheer vigour, there are few cities to match it – Tel Aviv offers an abundance of bars, restaurants and entertainment within walking distance from one another.

Above all, Tel Aviv is a beach city. A broad expanse of fine sand extends more than 10km (6 miles) along the seashore. City residents pour onto the beach for air, space and relaxation every weekend and at any opportunity during the day.

Its wide promenade is a magnificent sight and runs all the way from the port leisure area in north Tel Aviv to the old quarter of Jaffa – a historic port-town in its own right, now a popular dining and leisure district of Tel Aviv.

At first glance, Tel Aviv may seem brash, but explore the city centre to discover elegantly restored pre-War Bauhaus architecture and world-class concert halls, theatre and museums. Those willing to look under the surface cannot fail to be moved by the idealism that has created the largest Jewish city ever to exist. In a short time, Tel Aviv absorbed tens of thousands of refugees from Europe, Asia, Africa and South America and turned them into free citizens in their own homeland – thousands more new immigrants settle here every year. Many bring exceptional talents and skills.

Tel Aviv was founded in 1909, when a small group of Jewish families moved from the overcrowded, insanitary and hostile Arab town of Jaffa to a selected desert spot where the construction of Tel Aviv began. The city took its name from the Hebrew title of Theodor Herzl’s inspirational Zionist novel Altneuland (Old New Land). The Hebrew title Tel Aviv combined the ideas of antiquity (tel, an ancient site) and radiant newness (aviv, springtime).