At the foot of the Mount of Olives, this small garden marks the place where Jesus is said to have prayed the night before his arrest. The eight olive trees at the heart of the garden are extraordinarily ancient — DNA analysis suggests all eight grew from the same parent tree, and carbon dating has produced dates of up to 900 years, though some researchers believe they may be remnants of the original trees from 2,000 years ago, since olive trees can regenerate from old root systems.
The adjacent Church of All Nations (Basilica of the Agony), built over the rock where Jesus is believed to have prayed, is one of Jerusalem's finest pieces of 20th-century religious architecture — dark interior, violet light filtering through translucent windows, and extraordinary mosaics. Early morning before the tour buses arrive is the only time the garden approaches the contemplative atmosphere it deserves. Access is free; the garden is managed by Franciscan monks.