Between the past and the present... historical tourism in Jordan has a different flavour

Weather of Arabia - The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, deeply rooted in history and culture, is full of a rich heritage that you will feel from the moment you arrive. Wherever you turn, you will see that you are surrounded by ancient civilizations, the ruins of which are still present, in addition to the ancient values rooted in the fabric of this interesting kingdom and the spirit of its people.

Discover purposeful and cultural trips in Jordan

Historical places in Jordan worth visiting

• Oman

Amman is the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and it is a modern city that is not devoid of the nobility of the past. It extends over 19 hills/mountains. It was known as “Rabbath Ammon” in the Iron Age and then Philadelphia when it was part of the ten cities of the Decapolis, and now it is still standing and contains 4 million people. Amman - sometimes referred to as the "White City" because of its stone houses - contains a collection of historical sites dating back to various eras. Many ongoing searches and excavations have revealed antiquities dating back to the Stone Age, Hellenistic and Roman eras, all the way to the Arab Islamic era. The most prominent site is known as the “Citadel Mountain” and includes a number of buildings such as the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace, and the Byzantine Church. As for the bottom of the Citadel Mountain, there is a Roman theater that can accommodate six thousand spectators. It is a concave amphitheater carved into the rock of the hill and is still used today for cultural events. There is another restored theater nearby called the Odeon, which can accommodate 500 people and where concerts are held. There are three museums in the area that give the visitor a look into the past and its history, which are the Jordanian Archaeological Museum, the Jordanian Folklore Museum, and the Folklore Museum.

• Ajloun

Here, where the wonders of nature meet with the genius of military architecture of the Arabs of the Middle Ages, all the beauty is revealed thanks to this wonderful combination. Northern Jordan has two of the most important environmental and historical landmarks in the Middle East: the Dibbin region, which is rich in sprawling pine trees, and the Ajloun Castle, which stands high on a hill, bearing witness to historical events since it was built by the Ayyubids and its role in helping them defeat the Crusaders eight centuries ago. Ajloun is a popular area for Jordanians, as it gives them the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of green nature away from the hustle and bustle of city life, as well as contemplate and integrate with nature.

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• Madaba

Head south of Amman on a trip along the five-thousand-year-old Royal Road, to live an unforgettable journey in the Holy Land while crossing a group of archaeological sites, to meet your first city, Madaba, “the city of mosaics.” The city is famous for its stunning Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. This city houses the famous mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land dating back to the sixth century AD. The map was made up of two million colored mosaic stones, depicting hills, valleys, villages and towns all the way to the Nile Delta. There are other mosaic creations in the Church of the Virgin, the Church of the Apostles, and the Madaba Archaeological Museum, which depict the abundance of flowers, plants, birds, fish, and local and foreign animals, in addition to scenes from mythology and scenes from daily life such as hunting animals, fishing, and agriculture.

Discover in pictures... religious tourism in the Jordanian capital, Amman

• Petra

The ancient city of Petra is one of Jordan's most prominent national treasures, and an undisputed most famous tourist attraction. Petra was built by the Nabataeans, a hard-working Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than two thousand years ago. Petra is still admired around the world, as it is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The site gained its unparalleled distinction thanks to the culture it contained, the grandeur of its architecture, and the engineering genius in creating a complex system of dams and water channels. The most important feature of Petra is that it is carved into the rocks of narrow valleys, and a narrow passage (Siq) takes you to the site, one kilometer long, surrounded by walls that are 200 meters long.