Visit Amman, Jordan

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Amman is the capital city of Jordan and the country’s political, cultural and commercial center. Amman is also one of the oldest, continuously inhabited cities in the world supported by evidence that a well developed civilization called this area home more than 12,000 years ago. Amman is also considered to be one of the most “westernized” cities in the Middle East providing its inhabitants freedom of religion, a lack of restriction on dress and supportive of the arts. Amman has developed into a hub for Persian Gulf tourists that wish to take advantage of its relatively mild weather and liberal attitudes. Visitors to Amman enjoy touring Jerash, perhaps the most complete and best preserved city of the Roman Empire, nestled in a verdant valley where one can wander around the original theatres, plazas, paths and colonnaded streets. Visits to the medieval desert castles of Qasr Amra, Qasr Kharaneh and Qasr Asraq to view fresco art and a zodiac dome are popular. Tours are easily arranged that take in Madaba, a city known for its mosaics, Mt. Nebo, where Moses died and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth and one of the most spectacular places to visit in Jordan. Other favored spots include the Byzantine Church (preserved from the 6th century), the Military Museum, the Temple of Hercules, the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, the Museum of Archaeology and Nyphaeum, a large complex built in the 2nd century with fountains, stone carvings, mosaics and swimming pools that were all dedicated to the mythical nymphs. The city is built upon several hills affording incredible vistas across the landscape. Your dream trip to Amman, Jordan awaits you. Add it to your list now and start planning the details. Much of Amman's tourism is focused in the older downtown area, which is centered around the old souk (a colorful traditional market) and the King Hussein Mosque. The main touristic sites in the city are: The downtown area (known locally as al-Balad) has been completely dwarfed by the sprawling urban area that surrounds it. Despite the changes, much remains of its old character. Jabal Amman is a known touristic attraction in old Amman, the capital's greatest souks, fine museums, ancient constructions, monuments, and cultural sites are found in Jabal Amman. The Citadel hill of Amman, known as Jabal al-Qal'a, is home to the Temple of Hercules which is said to have been constructed under the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius who reigned from 161-180 AD, is similar to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. It has been inhabited for centuries, important as a military and religious site. It dates back to Roman and Byzantine times, and later work was carried out in the early Islamic era. Remains unearthed at the northern and eastern ends of the Citadel, possibly date back to the Bronze Age. The Roman forum and the Roman theatre — the largest theatre in Jordan — with room for 6,000 spectators. Thought to have been built between 138 and 161 AD by the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, it is constructed into the side of the mountain and is still used for sports displays and cultural events. The Jordan Archaeological Museum is home to ancient findings from the whole country.

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