Jordan sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

The territory of Jordan is home to tenths of thousands of historic monuments, great sanctuaries and pilgrim places. The city of Amman is both cultural and administrative centre of the country. First settlers appeared on the territory of Amman 10 thousand years ago. Amman Citadel is one of main sights of Jordan. The beautiful ancient building is located in the centre of the capital’s downtown. Nearby you will see ruins of ancient fortresses and protective walls. Other important sights of the area include the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace and a Byzantine Church built in the 6th century.

When and where to 'hang out' in Jordan - festivals and celebrations

In Jordan, there are many holidays that are adopted and celebrated around the world. For example, January 1st is the New Year Day and the official day …
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This part of the Jordan capital is a true paradise for scientists and historians as simply every centimetre of the holy land has great historic value. Artefacts found in the downtown are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum. Opened more than 60 years ago, the museum constantly gets new items that were found during excavations. The most famous cultural museums of the city are the Folklore Museum, the Museum of Coins, Jordan Museum of National Traditions and the Museum of Royal Cars. King Abdullah Mosque is an important religious sight. Even though this is a relatively young building, it is named in the list of most important shrines.

There are several interesting cities in Amman suburbs, and each of them has its own places of interest. The city of Salt is a fascinating place famous for its quality crafts, magnificent old buildings and museums. Skilled masters make clay vases, do detailed embroidery and make other pretty souvenirs right in front of amazed tourists. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

For active traveler - national parks, landscapes and nature of Jordan

Camping and hiking enthusiasts will genuinely enjoy their vacation in Jordan. They can stay in the desert and sleep among sandy dunes of the famous …
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Madaba is the location of an interesting landmark – St. George’s Church that was built in the end of the 19th century. The church keeps a priceless relic, a giant panel that is named “the map of the Holy Land”. The mosaic is 25 x 25m large and is considered one of the most precious items found in Amman. Other landmarks include The Head of St. John’s Cathedral, the Church of the Apostils, St. Elijah Church and Cardo Maximus Colonnade.

The city of Jerash is famous for its magnificent triumphal arcs, churches and other cultural facilities. Make sure you include a visit to such famous places as the Oval Square, Artemis Temple, the Glass Palace, the Temple of Zeus, St. Marian’s Church and the ruins of Atrium Mosque to your excursion program. There are also several museums in the city, with the Museum of Archaeology being the most visited one.

Unique sights of Jordan from our series 'Extreme places on Earth'

These spots really worth the attention of a real traveler-researcher. …
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History and Entertainment

The remains of ancient settlements found in the territory of the present country are one of the earliest on the planet. The age of the oldest artifacts found here is over 250 000 years. The largest settlements were formed here in the Bronze Age. At that time, ancient countries located here were under Egypt. In the ancient period, almost the entire territory was under the Nabataean Kingdom that was consequently conquered by Ancient Greece and then came to the Roman Empire.

At that time, the country was called Arabia Petrea. During the reign of the Roman Empire, such big cities, as Irbid, Jerash, Pella and Gadara, were formed. Now, the ruins of these cities are important archeological districts in the country. At the beginning of the 7th century, the ancient country was controlled by the Arab caliphate. Islam started disseminating actively in that period. At the turn of the 11th-12th centuries, a lot of strengthening constructions were built in the country. At that time, Jordan suffered from destructive invasions of crusaders.

National cuisine of Jordan - specialties, recipes and restaurants

Jordanian cuisine has much in common with cuisines of other Arabian countries. However, it has unique dishes and traditions. Interestingly, tourists …
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In 1517, the country saw the times of the Ottoman rule lasting until 1918. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Jordan became a British protectorate. It gained independence only in 1946. Over the recent years, the tourism sector in the country has developed significantly.

A lot of world-famous, luxurious hotels, spa centers and upscale wellness centers have been opened here. Jordan is the popular place for the health tourism. Local wellness resorts use thermal waters and healing muds and practice climate and new manual therapy.

National traditions and mentality of people in Jordan

Jordan is a unique country in terms of traditions and mentality. All key events described in the Bible took place in the territory of Jordan. …
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Beach resorts are also elite here. There is a wide choice of well-equipped coastal zones in Aqaba. Fans of active recreation will be certainly impressed by the resort of Royal Diving Beach that includes a modern diving center, big pools, playgrounds and a lot of beautiful places to walk. The main peculiarity of this resort area is its crystal clear water. Here, you can snorkel and admire enchanting coral reefs here.

This article about iconic landmarks and sights of Jordan is protected by the copyright law. You can re-use the content, but only under the condition of placement of an active link to www.orangesmile.com.

Jordan guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Jordan

Reference information

Map of all castles

Castles of Jordan
♥ Castle 'Qasr Kharana' . On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Rabadh Castle' . On the map Show on the map

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Famous and uniques places in Jordan from our review series

Pella

From the series “Remains of the First Ancient Cities”

The ancient city of Pella is located in a picturesque foothill area in Jordan. It has long been empty. The ancient city has the status of an important archaeological area today. The first official mention of this city dates back to the 4th century BC. But research data has shown that the first city was founded in this place much earlier. Researchers found traces of early Kebaran and Natufian settlements directly on this site. They were founded more than 10,000 years ago.

However, the ancient city reached its peak during the Byzantine period. It was at this time that its most magnificent structures were built here. Visitors to the archaeological area can see the ruins of a grand temple complex, as well as chic palaces, today. Archaeologists were able to estimate approximately the time of … Read all

Little Petra Caves

From the series “Famous Stables of Ancient People”

Little Petra Caves have placed near the Petra city, Jordan. Right here were found the unique marks on the wall painting. The paintings were made in the Hellenistic style more than two thousand years ago. It took three years to restore the paintings.

It is hard to find the painting of such quality and rareness in the whole ancient world. On these paintings, you can see the shapes of the birds, plants and animals. The uniqueness of them is also occulted in the considerable dimensions. Now it is possible to visit the Little Petra Caves for free. It is quite popular sightseeing in the region.

Near the cave complex you can find several souvenir tents where you can buy national decorations. In the caves neighbourhood, you can also find several great places for walks. The only thing is that … Read all

Cave Bar

From the series “The Most Extraordinary Bars and Café on the Planet”

If you are fond of cave bars you have to visit the bar in Petra, Jordan. It is located on the territory of the unique hotel "Crowne Plaza Resor". The hotel and bar have become known all over the world due to their location – an antique cave. It was made by Nabateans, who inhabited these lands thousands of years ago.

The tables in the bar are set on the small niches. The researchers suppose that earlier niches were used for individual burials. Some travellers feel scared just from the idea of the rest in such place, others overcome thousands of kilometres for visiting it.

The restaurant-bar is nicely decorated and has high-qualified service. Visitors can try not only special cocktails and a selection of boutique wines, but also enjoy the national dishes, cooked upon ancient recipes. … Read all

All unique sightseeing Jordan

Sightseeing in popular cities of Jordan

Amman

For those fond of unusual attractions, it is certainly worth visiting the Royal Automobile Museum. King Huseyn loved beautiful cars, and he managed to collect an impressive amount of them, which today can be seen by everyone. The museum features more than 70 models of cars and motorcycles, and among the exhibits presented here there are quite a few older rare models. Visitors to the museum will be happy to learn that it is possible to even sit down and take pictures in some of the cars … Read more

Aqaba

In modern times, tourists with different budgets visit this resort with rich history because Aqaba is suitable even for low-cost traveling. Do you want to enjoy quality beach recreation and various water activities? In this case you will like your stay in Aqaba as this resort offers many unforgettable moments for fans of exciting seaside activities. Not only ordinary tourists but also pilgrims from all over the world visit Aqaba to bow to the sacred place. First people appeared in the … Read more

Madaba

First mentions of the ancient Jordanian settlement appeared yet during the Bronze Age. The Bible mentioned Madaba several times as a Moabite border city. During the reign of the Roman and Byzantine empires in the 2nd to 7th century, the Jordanian city was a part of the Provincia Arabia. The Roman Emperor Trajan established that province. By doing this, he was trying to replace the Nabataean Kingdom formed earlier. The first evidence of a Christian community in the region in the historical … Read more

Jerash

First settlers on the site of the modern Jordanian city appeared during the Neolithic period. In 63 BC, the Roman troops captured the settlement and added it to the Decapolis league of cities. The settlement had another name at that time – Gerasa. This was a true period of prosperity for Jerash. Initially a small settlement, it turned into a large Roman province that was not only developing but also growing in size. The Byzantine Empire took over the region in the 4th century, turning Jerash … Read more

Al-Karak

First settlers appeared in the territory of modern Al-Karak more than two thousand years BC. According to the Bible, these were Moabites and Ammonites. Kir of Moab was the first town in this area. For many years, it was the capital of the Moab Kingdom. The history of Al-Karak is the history of changing different rules and civilizations. During one period, the city was a part of the Assyrian Empire. After that, the Nabatean Kingdom made Al-Karak a part of its territory. Later, crusaders invaded … Read more