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Between the Arches Restaurant

In the 13th Century after the expulsion of the Crusaders from the Holy Land, the Mamluks (1250 – 1517) began construction and development work in Jerusalem, primarily in the area adjacent to the Temple Mount.  Due to the height difference between the Temple Mount and the surrounding city, the Mount had been, since before this time, connected to the city by only two gateways - Shalshelet Gate and MaShgiach Gate.

Starting at the end of the 13th Century, and well into the 14th and 15th Centuries, the adjacent parts of the city were made to be level with the Temple Mount. This was accomplished by constructing a system of arches and arched walls which can be seen all over the area, especially in the tunnels of the Western Wall. It was upon these constructs that the structures adjacent to the Western Wall were built.