Welcome To Jordan (Ahlan Wa Sahlan). Jordan is a land of ancient heritage that until relatively modern times had lived in the fold of great empire. Most often existing as an important trading and communications link. Jordan's millennia of human settlement have left it with varied archaeological treasures that range from Neolithic villages and four thousands year old frescoes to the Greco-Roman splendor of Jerash, the mosaic riches of Byzantine Madaba and the rock-carved wonders of Nabataean Petra. These historical sites, combined with a moderate climate and central location in the Middle East, make the kingdom idea for tourism. And as the country is small and communication is good, much can be seen in a minimum of time. The Jordanian people are friendly, warm, and hospitable. You are bound to be attracted by fascinating natural surroundings under bright blue skies. Memories that can never be forgotten.
The modern jordanian capital city of amman is only the latest in A long series of communities that have flourished on the same Spot for thousands of years. One of mankind’s earliest settled Farming villages developed at ain ghazal, along the northern Entrance to the city, between 7000-6000 bc. Bronze and iron age Cities continued the tradition, culminating in the rise of Rabbath ammon as the capital city of the ammonite kingdom in the 12 th century bc. Greeks and romans built their own cities, and The roman city of philadelphia has left its mark in the form of The downtown theater and the forum, and the temple of Hercules remnants on citadel hill. In the byzantine and early Islamic era, the city continued to play an important role in the Region of modern jordan.
Among amman’s most noteworthy places to visit are the Archaeological museum on citadel hill, the jordan museum of Popular traditions and the jordan folklore museum flanking the Roman theater, the jordan craft center and the jordan national Gallery.
East of amman, you can visit half a dozen desert castles built by The early islamic umayyad caliphs in the 7th and 8th centuries ad, Such as qasr amra, qasr kharanah, qasr el-hallabat and azraq Castle. Here are some of the best preserved examples of umayyad Art and architecture, including castles, baths, mosques, water Systems, and frescoes. The resthouse at al-azraq, with its thermal Mineral water baths, is an ideal base for a tour of the umayyad Desert castles.
Um-El Jimal (Gem of the black desert)
This curious place has extensive ruins of a roman - byzantine - Umayyad town built on an earlier nabataean settlement and Constructed entirely of black and steel gray basalt. It Flourished as a frontier city of the roman and byzantine empires And continued to prosper in the umayyad period. It was destroyed By earthquake at the end of the umayyad period.
Jerash is perhaps the best preserved and most complete provincial Roman city anywhere in the world. To walk through the ancient City is to step back into the world of 2nd century provincial Cities along the southeastern frontier of the roman empire.
Jerash, called gerasa in roman times, is important not only for It’s individual monuments, but also for it’s strict and well Preserved town plan, built around the colonnaded main street and Several intersecting side streets. It’s most noteworthy monuments Include the colonnaded street (the cardo), the south theater, the Temple of zeus, the oval piazza, hadrian’s arch, the nymphaeum, The artemis temple complex and the smaller north theater, or Odeon.
Perched atop a solitary mountain in the cool hills of ajloun, 14 miles west of jerash, is qalat al rabad, a 12 th century arab Castle built in defense against the crusaders. The massive Structure affords a 360-degree view for as far as the eye can see. Surrounded by a moat, the castle is in a fairly good state of Repair and its many rooms, which cling to the mountain top, are Invitingly mysterious.
The ruins of gedara, modern umm qais, perch on a splendid hilltop Overlooking the north jordan valley and the sea of galilee, Complete with theater, colonnaded streets, shops, mausolaea and Baths. Half an hour away, north of the city of irbid, are the Remains of the greco-roman city of abila, still being excavated Today.
The sprawling city of pella in the north jordan valley may be Jordan’s richest archaeological site, besides the excavated remains from the greco-roman period, including a theater, pella offers Visitors the opportunity to see the remains of a chalcolithic Settlement from the 4 th millennium bc, bronze and iron age walled cities, byzantine churches and houses, an early islamic (umayyad) Residential quarter, and a small medieval islamic (mamluke) mosque.
Just 20 minutes south of amman, on the kings’highway, is the Mosaic filled city of madaba. Both private and public buildings In the city house byzantine mosaics, but the most famous is found In the greek orthodox church of st. George. It is the map of the Holyland, with a large easily recognized depiction of jerusalem.
It is only another six-miles where moses overlooked the dead sea. A magnificent panorama of the holyland is before you, and you Can see the springs where moses smote the ground to bring forth Water.
The church at mt.nebo houses sixth century mosaics which are Being uncovered as you watch. Many believe this church was built Over the burial site of moses.
The dead sea offers natural beauty and uniqueness which Humankind did not create but can constantly enjoy at 1306 Feet below sea level. This is the lowest spot on earth.take a swim Where it is impossible to sink, read a newspaper while lying on Your back in the sea. Bathe in the waters that have flowed from The river jordan and from the hills of moab and gilead.
After the fascination of swimming in this briny sea with no outlet, Your return trip to amman through the jordan valley and climbing Slowly up the hills in the sunset will offer you beauty you will Not soon forget.
South - west of madaba are the thermal mineral springs at zerqa -mai’n and zara, where people come for thermal treatments or simply To enjoy a soothing hot soak since the days of rome, when these Were known respectively as the baths of baris and callirhoe. A new Hotel and thermal water treatment center at zerka ma’in makes This spot one of the leading thermal water centers.
Umm er rasas is a walled settlement about 30 kilometers southeast Of madaba. Its main feature is a byzantine tower 15 meters high used By early christian monks seeking solitude. Archaeologists have Also unearthed the church of st.stephen whose remarkable mosaic Floor of the umayyad epoch is decorated with jordanian, palestinian And egyptian city plans.
Less than 40 kilometers south of madaba lies mukawir, ancient Machaerus. This was the fortress built by herod the great, which After his death passed to herod antipas. Here is where herod Imprisoned john the baptist, and where the beautiful salome danced For herod, who presented her with the head of john the baptist To honor her wishes. The remains of the fortress thick walls, Which were largely destroyed by the romans, dominate mukawir Which has a splendid view across the dead sea to the hills around Jerusalem. Ten kilometers west of madaba is the hilly district of Mount nebo, on the western edge of the plateau with a spectacular View across the jordan valley.
Kerak is one of the two major crusader castles in jordan on a craggy plateau 4.300 feet above sea level, it is a majestic fortress which was built to protect the approach to jerusalem the crusaders managed to hold it for 50 years until 1189 ad, when salah al din (saladin) defeated them and took the fortification into the fold of the arab world.
Petra is magnificent, mysterious and always thrilling, two thousands years ago, the Nabataean carved a city out of the Rose-Red Rock, and built an empire based on advanced agricultural techniques and control of area's strategic trade routes. Petra was protected for several hundred years by a ring of impenetrable mountains, breached only by the kilometer-long fissure through the mountains known as the Siq. When the Romans finally captured Petra in 106 AD, it was a large, thriving and beautiful city. An overnight stay at Petra is recommended for those who have the time to see the city's most important monuments. These include:
The Treasury (Al Khazneh):
The first monument you encounter as you peach the end of the Siq and enter the city proper.
The Monastery (Ed Deir) :
An numerous temple situated in a hillside at the end of an hour's hike.
The Royal Tombs:
A row of six carved monuments from the 1st to 5th. Centuries, along the inside face of Petra's eastern monuments.
The high Place of Sacrifice:
At the end of a 45 minutes hike above the theater, still shows the altar and drains for the blood of scarified animals. The path down from the high place passes by a series of important tombs and monuments.
Half an hour north of Petra by a paved road is the "Suburb" of al Barid, a miniature Petra with a small Siq, carved tombs and monuments and some painted ceilings. Near Barid is the village of Beidah, where humankind made the transition some 10000-year ago from nomadic hunter-gatherer to settled villager, plant cultivator and animal domestication.
Northeast of aqaba is one of the world’s most famous wadis, or Valleys. Wadi rum is the route t.e : lawrence and sheriff hussein Took in world war i when fighting the ottoman armies
Its wide valley, bordered by rugged wind and sand-carved-cliffs, Provided the backdrop for much of the filming of “lawrence of Arabia”
Jordan’s only seaport is aqaba, located at the northern tip of The read sea and the southern tip of the hashemite kingdom. World renowned for its placid water for water skiing and its Underwater plant life for the pleasure of scuba divers. Boasting 360 days of sunshine, aqaba is a popular winter and summer resort.
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