Cultural sightseeing in Jordan. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

Naturally, the majority of landmarks in Jordan are located in Amman or neighboring areas. Amman Citadel is one of the key landmarks in the city. It is a historic site that was the location of the ancient city of Philadelphia. The Citadel is a fantastic place to see antique history come alive and learn more about the life of people in the Roman Empire period and before Christianity. Even tourists, who are not interested in ruins and antiquity, find the Citadel stunning and breath-taking.

Things to do in Jordan - active leisure

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The Citadel Hill has ruins of a Roman shrine called the Temple of Hercules, a Byzantine temple, and the Umayyad Palace. All these landmarks are located close to each other. Don’t forget to visit the local Archeology Museum, which exhibition is dedicated to archaeological discoveries and findings that date back to the Bible times. In the museum, visitors can see the famous Dead Sea Scrolls (also known as Qumran Caves Scrolls) that were found close to the Dead Sea shore. A part of these scrolls is exhibited in Israel, but the museum in Amman also has a very interesting collection.

Centuries ago, the Umayyad Palace was massive and gorgeous, elegant and skillfully made. We can only imagine that because now the palace is largely in ruins with only one part surviving. No one destroyed the palace deliberately, and time didn’t turn its stones into dust. However, an earthquake in Amman didn’t have mercy on this fabulous palace complex. Only the marvelous entrance gate, the hall, and columns have survived. Even these ruins are worth the attention of tourists because they date back to the 1st century. The temple of Hercules located nearby is no less amazing. It dates back to the 2nd century. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

What you need to know about Jordan prior to visit - advices

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Not far from the capital city, only 12 kilometers away from it, travelers can visit Kan Zaman complex that is currently a museum and one of the most famous tourist destinations in the country. Visitors can visit ancient stables, warehouses, and houses. Everything was carefully restored and looks simply gorgeous. The name of the complex can be translated as “into the past”. Visitors are welcome to not only explore everything and take memorable photographs but also try authentic local cuisine, purchase interesting items created by local artisans, relax with shisha, and drink delicious Jordanian coffee with cardamom.

The Royal Automobile Museum, which is also open in the capital, is another wonderful destination that is worth visiting. The museum is interesting to visit even for those who are not fond of cars. Even females and small girls will find it exciting to explore the diverse exhibition of the museum, leave alone men and boys! However, this museum is not only about admiring exclusive cars. It is also a wonderful place to get acquainted with history. The museum’s exhibition is dedicated to the reign of the Hashemites in Jordan, and cars are a marvelous illustration of the life of deceased King Hussein.

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Jerash is one more important destination for tourists. In this city, there are as many as 18 churches built during the Byzantine times. The majority of these churches are decorated with skillful mosaics. It is really worth visiting at least a couple of them. Local Museum of Archaeology is another interesting destination, in which visitors can see artifacts found during archaeological excavations in the city and its surroundings. The exhibition covers a big period of time, from the neolith epoch to the period of Mamluks. Ceramics, marble, mosaics, metal and glass antiquities, old coins, and jewelry – the museum exhibits all these items and many more. Don’t forget to visit the garden that is adjacent to the museum as there are beautiful marble statues and sarcophagi.

It is literally a crime to visit Jordan and fail to see Petra. This is an ancient city carved right into pink sandstone cliffs more than two thousand years ago. “Pink city that is half as old as the time itself” – this is how locals describe Petra. In the past, Petra was an administrative center of the Nabatean Kingdom. It is a fantastic, truly enchanting place that is full of mystics, elegance, and antiquity. Petra has survived until modern days in almost an ideal condition. It is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is often mentioned as one of the modern Wonders of the World.

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Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Jordan

Reference information

Map of all art museums

Art galleries in Jordan
♥ Art museum 'Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts' Amman. On the map Show on the map

Photos

Extreme Guinness-type places in Jordan

Tomb of Aaron

From the series “The Surviving Artifacts of Jewish Civilization”

Another sacred object that is amazing from the historical point of view is the tomb of Aaron that travelers can visit in Jordan. This monument is located near the city of Petra, in a remote mountainous area. A special physical training is not required to get to the top of the mountain. The Islamic sanctuary, which is located there, is known since the 14th century. According to historical records, it was built on the ruins of an ancient church of the time of Justinian the Great.

One of the first European archaeologists who studied these places was the Finnish researcher Jaakko Fres. He visited sacred places in 1999. During the excavation, the ancient monastery as well as the Basilica of the Byzantine period were discovered. The main finding was a chapel, where the remains of a pedestal … Read all

Petra

From the series “Nooks and Villages That Are More Colorful Than Top Touristic Destinations”

The ancient city of Petra, which many travelers know by the unofficial name Pink City, is situated in Jordan. That’s the once flourishing and majestic capital of the Nabataean kingdom. The city was founded more than 2 000 years ago. After thousands of years, its buildings and structures, which were carved in the rocks, have managed to survive. The ancient city has a rather complicated arrangement, so not all travelers can get there.

At one side, it is framed by cliffs; at the other side, a path goes through gorges and valleys. The history of the city is very interesting. Since its inception, it was located at the crossroads of important trade routes. Trade was the main occupation for the residents of the city; it provided a huge income to the treasury. The most magnificent temples and … Read all

All unique sightseeing Jordan

Culture and monuments in popular cities of Jordan

Amman

Archaeological excavations never stop in the territory of Amman. You can see the precious findings and discoveries of scientists in Archaeological Museum. There is Jordanian Folklore Museum just next to the amphitheater. The beautiful mansion exhibits an interesting collection of national costumes, household utensils, musical instruments and crafts. The interior of the building is decorated in strict following of all the traditions of past centuries. Jordanian Museum of Popular Traditions is … Read more

Aqaba

A visit to the Aqaba Archaeological Museum should be a mandatory part of any excursion in this city. It exhibits an incredibly interesting collection, all artifacts in which were discovered during the excavations in the city and its nearest suburbs. The oldest archaeological findings in the museum date back to the Bronze Age. They were made more than 6,000 years ago. You can see collections of prehistoric weapons and tools, ancient coins, and jewelry made during the prehistoric period. This … Read more

Al-Karak

The castle had to survive in multiple battles over the centuries. It received the most devastating damages in 1840. This is when the fortress capitulated during the invasion of Egyptian conquerors. Nevertheless, the remaining fragments of the palace make it easy to imagine the former glory of this stronghold. The width of the castle is roughly 125 meters, and its length is 220 meters. During an excursion here, you can visit the former residence of the ruler, walk in a labyrinth of corridors … Read more