معان الجديدة

About Jordan

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan lies approximately at the geographical heart of the regions namely, the Middle East, North Africa and the Muslim states of Central Asia. Bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the north-east, Saudi Arabia to the south-east, and Israel and the Palestinian National Authority to the west, Jordan is accessible by road from all of these lands.

I) Amman

Stretching over 19 hills or jebels and still growing, Amman has been the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan since the early twentieth century. More than the centre of government, it is also a bustling, modern city that features many fine hotels, restaurants, art galleries and museums. Visitors can browse the old gold souq or shop at modern boutiques offering impressive local handicrafts and quality goods from abroad.

Neolithic remains prove that Amman was inhabited in ancient times, but only in the Iron Age did it become the city known as Rabbath ‘Ammon and, later, Philadelphia, a member of the Graeco-Roman urban confederation known as the Decapolis.

Excavations at the site popularly called Citadel Hill (Jabal al-Qal‘ah) have unearthed a wealth of remains from the Neolithic to the Hellenistic, Roman and Arab/Islamic periods. The site contains such structures as a temple of Hercules, an Umayyad palace and a Byzantine church. Nestled below the Citadel is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world, capable of seating 5,000-6,000 persons and still used for cultural events. In the same vicinity, visitors can find Jordan’s Archaeological Museum, Folklore Museum and Museum of Popular Tradition. A short drive away is the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Art, with a unique collection of contemporary sculpture, painting and calligraphy from all parts of the Muslim world.

II) Nearby Attractions

SDHR  participants who just have enough time for a few short excursions in Amman’s immediate vicinity should consider Jerash, Madaba, or the Dead Sea. Only a 30-minute drive to the north of the capital, Jerash has been continually inhabited for more than 6,500 years. Second only to Petra as a tourist destination, it is a fine example of a Roman provincial town established in the Middle East, complete with cobbled and colonnaded streets, and temples, theatres and public baths. Alternatively, visitors can stop at Madaba, which lies thirty minutes to the south of Amman along the ancient Kings’ Highway. Madaba’s Church of the Virgin and Apostles is the location of the world’s oldest preserved mosaic map of the Holy Land, the famous Madaba Map: other spectacular Byzantine mosaics may be found in this and other churches and in Madaba’s archaeological museum. Nearby is the Dead Sea, the lowest (-410 metres) point on earth, rich in a range of mineral salts and famously buoyant: those with the time might wish to benefit from the sea’s medicinal properties by spending a day in one of the relaxing spas on its shore.

III) Other Important Sites 

Located about a three-hour drive (260 km) south of Amman, the Nabataean city of Petra is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the world. Visitors approach the ruined city on foot, by horseback, or by carriage along a sandy, undulating track, stopping to explore the scattering of tombs carved from solid rock. The trail narrows as you enter a dramatic, natural chasm (siq), with sheer sides soaring 200 metres overhead and newly-restored paving stones below. The passage seems endless, the journey timeless -- until rose-coloured stone appears directly ahead. Suddenly emerging into sunlight, you find yourself before the impressive Treasury, Petra’s most famous monument, but only one of its many surprises. Be sure to climb the stairway that clings to the rocky hillside in order to see the magnificent view and the centuries-old monastery at the top: if you have the stamina, consider Petra’s other climbs and hikes. Those less interested in archaeology than hydrology will also be fascinated by the site’s ingenious complex of dams and water channels, which are currently being restored. Petra is one of three UNESCO World Heritage sites within Jordan’s borders, the others being Quseir Amra (see below) and Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa‘a), known for its stunning mosaics and still under excavation.

In an ancient land like Jordan, there are too many points of interest to describe here. Those involved in religious studies will want to visit Mount Nebo, the burial place of Moses; Bethany across Jordan, where John the Baptist lived, Jesus was baptized and Elijah rode a whirlwind to heaven; and the tombs of prophets and companions to the Prophet, most notably, Zeid ibn Haritha, the only companion mentioned by name in the Qur’an, and Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib, the elder brother of ‘Ali. Those interested in early Islamic history will want to see the desert ‘castles,’ imposing structures from the early Islamic period with art and architecture reflecting Persian and Graeco-Roman traditions. Clustered to the east and south of Amman, the five restored castles (Amra, Mushatta, Kharrana, Tuba and Hallabat) can be visited in as little as a day. Specialists in modern history will recall that the black basalt fort at Azraq was Lawrence’s headquarters during the Arab Revolt. Finally, those interested in nothing more than a little relaxation can visit a Dead Sea spa, as mentioned above; Aqaba, to unwind on the sandy beaches and snorkel in the turquoise waters; or Wadi Rum, to admire the austere beauty of the desert and perhaps even sleep beneath the stars in this “Valley of the Moon.”

For more background information about these and many other tourist attractions in Jordan, we recommend that you visit the Jordan Tourism Board’s excellent