Sightseeing
Jordan is a country that has a large number of different sights and attractions to offer its visitors.
So you shouldn’t miss the Temple of Hercules in Amman. The temple is located on the top of Jabal el Qala mountain and dates from the time of Roman rule under Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
The Temple of Hercules is extremely similar to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. Also worth a visit is the Byzantine basilica in Amman. The basilica is not far from the Omajjadenpalast. Today you can only see the ruins of her. The remaining Corinthian columns mark exactly the place where it stood. It is estimated that the church dates back to the sixth or seventh century.
For most tourists to Jordan, the Abu Darweesh Mosque in Amman is an absolute must. It was built by some of Amman’s Kyrgyz immigrants at the highest point in the city. The roof of the mosque is particularly special because it has a unique black and white check pattern.
The mosque of King Abdullah I in Amman is something special. The magnificent mosque was built by King Hussein between 1982 and 1989 to honor his grandfather. The mosque has a magnificent dome decorated with blue mosaics. You can see them from afar.
In the mosque itself up to three thousand devout Muslims can pray. It has its own women’s prayer room and two minarets.
According to ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG, the Moses Memorial Church should not be missed either. It was built in the fourth century on Mount Nebo. It is said that Moses was said to have seen the Promised Land here before his death.
Three other religious buildings worth seeing in Jordan are the St. George’s Church in Madaba (built in the years 560-65), the Roman and Byzantine churches in Geresa (both built at the end of the year 400) and also the church in Umm el Jimal. The church in Umm el Jimal is one of the oldest Christian churches in Jordan, which dates from 345 AD.
The Mijib Dam is one of the special structures that attract thousands of tourists every year. It was built between 1999 and 2003. The dam is 67 meters high and 764 meters long. It serves primarily to ensure irrigation in the field of agriculture.
Museum lovers don’t miss out in Jordan either. The Archaeological Museum in Amman is a must. It is not far from the Temple of Hercules. Here you can learn everything about the life of the people of Jordan from the Neolithic to the Byzantine period.
The most interesting exhibits are the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as some objects from the ancient Nabataean city of Petra.
A highlight is a visit to the Roman ampitheater in Amman. The theater is the largest in the country and can accommodate up to six thousand visitors. It was built under the Roman Emperor Antonius Pius between the years 138 and 161. What is special about the theater is that it was not built stone by stone, but was hewn directly into the rock.
Even today, cultural and sporting events still take place here regularly. The Folklore Museum and the Museum of Jordanian Folk Tradition are now housed in its vaults.
Jordan has many historical buildings and sites from an early period in human history. Some are still in excellent condition, while others are only ruins. Culture lovers will get their money’s worth in the country.
Many tourists come to Jordan because of the Dead Sea. The sea is said to have a special therapeutic effect on different skin diseases with a particularly high salt content. Since the Dead Sea is only fed by the Jordan River and has no direct drain, the salinity of the water is almost thirty percent.
The Jordan River is an absolute must for Christians among visitors to Jordan. It is said that Jesus was baptized here by John the Baptist.
If you want to relax on your holiday in Jordan, you should definitely not miss the hot mineral springs in Zarqa Main. Even water sports enthusiasts among tourists to Jordan, especially divers, get their money’s worth. Especially in the diving grounds in the Gulf of Aqaba there is a fantastic underwater world to explore in the coral reefs.
Jordan has some interesting cities to offer. The cities of Amman, Umm Qais, Madaba, Kerak and Petra should definitely be on the visit list. They not only impress their visitors with their historic buildings, but also have a long and exciting history.
Amman in Jordan
General information about the capital of Jordan
Amman is the capital of Jordan and the largest city in the country. The city impresses its visitors above all with a very long and exciting history. The Jordanian city is also known as the White City, other names include Ammon, Rabbath-Ammon and Philadelphia. Around 1,600,000 people currently live in the city.
Amman was already the scene of important biblical events. The famous Alexander the Great was already busy in the city. Although Amman is not frozen in its history and presents itself to its visitors as an interesting and modern city, there are still some structural remains of Greek and Roman influence to be admired in the city. The city has to offer its visitors a wide range of sights.
Attractions in Amman
In Amman there are many different old religious buildings of different faiths to admire. Whether old mosques, ancient churches or temples, in the Jordanian capital, there are all of them.
Abu Darweesh Mosque: The Abu Darweesh Mosque is the most beautiful mosque among the Islamic places of worship in Amman. It stands on Mount Japal Ashrafieh, the highest point in the city. The mosque is decorated with black and white checkered patterns, really unique in the whole country. Inside, the mosque is decorated with bright, friendly walls and Persian carpets.
Byzantine basilica: near the Omajjaden palace are the ruins of a Byzantine cathedral. The foundation can still be seen today as it is marked by Corinthian columns. The basilica is said to have been built between the sixth and seventh centuries.
Hercules Temple: The remains of the Roman Temple of Hercules are on the top of Jabal el Qala. According to legend, the temple was built under the rule of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius between the years 161 and 180. The temple is a copy of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. The temple is currently being restored.
… and Amman has many more religious buildings to offer than what has been mentioned so far.
The Jordanian city also has special “secular” buildings to offer its visitors.
Roman amphitheater: The Roman amphitheater can be found in the east of Amman in the Downtown district. The Roman building was built between 138 and 161 on the orders of the Roman emperor Antonius Pius. The amphitheater carved into the mountain can accommodate up to six thousand spectators. The site previously served as a necropolis and cemetery. Even today the amphitheater is still used for sporting and cultural performances. The folklore museum and the Jordanian Museum of Popular Tradition are housed in the vaults of the theater.
Jordan Gate Towers: The Jordan Gate Towers are the first skyscrapers in the Jordanian city to be built here. The towers are Amman’s tallest structures.
Nymphaeum: The nymphaeum is not far from the remains of the Roman theater. This is the old main fountain of the ancient city. This was built in 191 AD. A six hundred square meter pool with fresh water is said to have been integrated in the nymphaeum. The nymphaeum is currently being restored by Jordan’s department.
However, there are many other impressive buildings to be seen in Amman.
If you like shopping, you will be amazed by the Jordanian city. There are a lot of souks in Amman. A souk is the typical traditional oriental market. The most famous market in Amman is the Golden Souk. The market is located between the Roman citadel and the Al Hussein mosque. There are also plenty of shopping centers in Amman. The most famous are the Mecca Mall, the largest shopping center in the country and the City Mall.
Museum lovers do not have to do without their hobby while on vacation in Amman. There are many interesting museums to explore in the city. Below are just a few examples that can be viewed.
Archaeological Museum: The Archaeological Museum can be found near the Temple of Hercules on Mount Jabal el Qala. It shows its visitors an impressive collection, from the Neolithic to the Byzantine period. In the museum you can get a good picture of human development in the Amman area. Near the museum are other sights of the Jordanian city, such as the Omajjadenpalast, the Hercules temple or the Byzantine church.
Folklore Museum: The Folklore Museum is housed inside the Roman amphitheater. Here you can learn more about the city’s cultural past.
Other interesting museums in Amman include the Jordanian Museum of Popular Tradition and the Royal Cultural Center.
You don’t have to neglect the fine arts on a holiday in Amman. The Jordanian city has two interesting theaters, the Oden and the Roman amphitheater. Here you can enjoy wonderful evenings with the sounds of various musical styles.