One of Jerusalem's most beautiful buildings, designed by the same architect who designed the Empire State Building (Arthur Loomis Harmon) and opened in 1933. The building blends Byzantine, Romanesque, and Near Eastern influences into a harmonious stone pile crowned by a bell tower that serves as one of West Jerusalem's landmarks. The tower is open to visitors and offers good views over the city.
The YMCA sits directly opposite the King David Hotel on King David Street and houses a swimming pool, gym, concert hall, and a café that are open to the public. The building predates the State of Israel and was designed specifically as a meeting point for people of all faiths and backgrounds — its inscription in Hebrew, Arabic, and English above the entrance still reads "Spirit, Mind, and Body." The concert hall hosts regular classical music performances.