Sights of Jordan

The ancient city of Jerash (northern Jordan)
What to visit in Jordan to better understand the history and lifestyle of its inhabitants? The city of Jerash is second in popularity after Petra. And this is not surprising, because people have been living here for 6,500 years.

In 63 B.C. the city was conquered by Pompey and became part of the Roman Decapolis. The time of its heyday was the years under the rule of Rome. Then Jerash was called Gerasa. Until the beginning of the 20th century, it was hidden in the sands. Archaeologists managed not only to find the city, but also to restore its streets paved with stone, temples located on the hills, amphitheaters, baths, magnificent fountains, etc.

Jerash is a harmonious combination of two cultures: eastern and western. This is reflected in all areas of urban life: in architecture, in the religious views of the inhabitants and in the local linguistic diversity.

Tourists who decide to visit Jerash in July will be able to attend the annual festival. Various performances are held here around the clock. The most popular are dances, performances of opera singers, musical compositions. In addition, everyone has the opportunity to watch the competitions of orators and poets, as well as see the products of local artisans and artists.

Jerash and other sights of Jordan are part of the historical heritage of all the inhabitants of the Earth. Therefore, they deserve attention and respect.

The ancient city of Petra (Wadi Musa Valley)
Guides in Petra strongly recommend visiting the remains of the ancient city of Petra, lost in the sandy mountains in the Valley of Moses. The city of Petra can be safely included in the list of the most beautiful places in the world . Why is it so attractive to travelers?

According to scientists, Petra was carved into the rocks about 2,000 years before the birth of Christ. It took more than 5 centuries to build it. During this time, the city was able to become an important trading center. This was facilitated by the fact that he was at the crossroads of several trade routes.

Petra is surrounded by rocks, and you can get here only through a small collapse. It is this collapse that can be seen in one of the films about Indiana Jones. According to legend, Moses passed through these lands when he led his people out of Egyptian slavery. Here he struck with his staff, which led to the formation of a gorge.

There is a lot to see in the city. Tourists are waiting for about 800 attractions: temples, tombs, columns, an amphitheater, palaces, canals and much more. And it's all carved in stone.

One of the priests said that Petra is a city of the color of red roses, that it is as ancient as time. That is why visiting the ruins of the city of Petra is like taking a trip into the past. Only rare sights of Jordan give such an opportunity.

Amman Citadel (Amman)
The sights of Jordan are, first of all, the history of the state, its secrets and mysteries. One of them is the Amman Citadel or the Fortress Hill. Tourists who have already visited this place believe that it must become part of the route. This applies even to those who do not like history, because the citadel is a unique opportunity to become a part of the past, at least for a few minutes, which is incomprehensibly intertwined with reality.

The building, rightfully called the heart of Amman, consists of three parts:

ruins of the temple of Hercules;
Byzantine church;
ruins of the Umayyad palace.
But the main attraction is the archaeological museum. It attracts not only historians and scientists, but also travelers from all over the world. It is in this place that you can see the Qumran scrolls, containing texts from the Bible.

In other parts of the citadel, mosaics and Corinthian columns are on display for tourists. All of them were found and restored by scientists. When climbing the Fortress Hill, you should pay attention to the huge amphitheater. Once upon a time, up to 6,000 people gathered in it to watch gladiator fights.

The Amman Citadel is a part of Jordanian history that has played a big role in the development of modern life.

Dead Sea
Amazing and unusual nature - that's what everyone should definitely see in Jordan. Many people know about the Dead Sea - a very salty and healing reservoir. What is special about it?

In another way, this sea is called Salty or Asphalt. The reservoir is located in a valley that extends between the mountains of Moath and Judah. Due to a deep fault in the ground, the sea, as it were, “drowned” more than 400 m below sea level. In fact, this is not even a sea, but a large lake that has no outlet to the ocean. It is fed by the Jordan River and underground mineral springs.

The Dead Sea coast is very popular among tourists. And this is not surprising, because it has healing properties:

Mineral waters improve blood circulation, smooth the skin, saturate the body with useful substances.
Air masses coming from the Indian Ocean calm the nervous system and fill the body with oxygen.
Even the sun on the Dead Sea has an exceptionally beneficial effect on a person. Doctors recommend sunbathing here up to 8 hours a day.
Therapeutic mud has no analogues on the whole planet. They rejuvenate the body and prolong the life cycle of each cell.
The Dead Sea should definitely be part of your Jordan travel itinerary.

King Abdullah I Mosque (Amman)
Excursions to Amman usually include a visit to the mosque of King Abdullah the First, built in the capital in the eighties of the last century. This is the only Islamic temple in Amman where non-Muslims can enter.

The peculiarity of the temple is that there is a polygon at its base, and the top is crowned with a dome of huge diameter - 35 meters. In the design of the domes, blue is used, which symbolizes the blue of the sky, and the golden rays of the sun illuminate 99 names of the Muslim god.

The inside of the building is also beautiful. In the central hall, tourists see a luxurious crystal chandelier, on which inscriptions from the Koran are applied.

The section where women can pray is located to the right of the main mosque and can accommodate five thousand people.

In memory of King Abdullah I, a museum has been set up in the mosque, where you can see the personal belongings of the ruler, his photographs, as well as various ceramic products, coins, stone engravings.

Ajlun Castle (Ajlun)
An interesting example of a historical landmark in Jordan is the Ajlun Castle. They say that once there was a monastery on the site of the castle, and the monk Ajlun lived in it, whose name gave the name to the building. In appearance, it resembles a square and has several architectural elements reminiscent of its military purpose:

big ditch;
drawbridge;
massive walls;
gates;
4 big towers.
Inside, the castle is a labyrinth of endless staircases, corridors, and huge rooms. There are also over a dozen water storage tanks and a stone bath for the owner.

Climbing the walls of the castle, you can see the endless Jordanian expanses. It was at them that the guards peered, trying to determine whether they were in danger or not. Tourists will also be able to see the Dead Sea and the Jordan. You can get to the castle through the preserved bridge.

During recent excavations under the building, archaeologists found a church. And this means that the legend about the monk and the monastery in which he lived may turn out to be true.