Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest place in Islam and is perched on a hill in the old part of Jerusalem, known as Temple Mount by the Jews and Mosque Esplanade by the Muslims.
The current structure of the mosque is essentially from the 11th century. The plan corresponds to that of a basilica with a central nave flanked by six side aisles. It does not have the usual courtyard of the mosques, where the ablutions are performed. The dome of the building is clad in silver.
