Umm Al Rassas is a UNESCO World Heritage site, located about 75 kilometres south of Amman, famous for its 16 Byzantine churches. In the late third century AD, the place was known under the name Kastron Mefaa, being the military camp of a cavalry unit, which protected the neighbouring villages from bedouin raids. Due to population growth in the fifth and sixth centuries, the place became the civilian, double-walled town of Mefaa.
It was a metropolis in ancient Mesopotamia that became one of the most important sites in the ancient world. Now Babylon, in Iraq, is officially a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Long before the rise of Islam in the 7th century AD, an Arab power arose in the 4th century BC. Known as the Nabataean Kingdom, is formed from an Arab, Bedouin tribal base, much as the Islamic empire did almost a millennium later. In time, the Kingdom became a client state of the Roman Empire and thereafter declined in importance to the point where it almost disappeared from the map. It became so hidden in its geographic and economic isolation that it was virtually forgotten, becoming home to just…
The Al-Hijr site in Saudi Arabia As an ancient city carved out of sandstone, Al-Hijr extends over an area of 15 km² in northwest Saudi Arabia. This is a magnificent site, left as a legacy by the Nabataean civilization, with a multitude of tombs, wells and monuments richly decorated. As you walk through them, you …
Glimpsing the Treasury building at the end of mile-long hike down a narrow slot canyon — bright in the sun against the shadow of the cliff walls — has something of the quality of a mirage.
Jordan’s petroglyphs are riddled with bullet holes from historic target practice and battles. A multidisciplinary forensics team went to Wadi Rum to assess the damage.
Petra, also known as the “Red Rose City,” is undoubtedly Jordan’s most popular tourist site. A stunning historical marvel built into the face of red rocks more than 2000 years…
Jordan is booming with adventure, indoors and out. From Petra to Wadi Rum, this guide outlines bike tours, ancient archaeological visits, and nights under the stars.
One of the seven new wonders of the world, the city of secrets, Petra, has become particularly popular since the release of one of Indiana Jones’ series and has since attracted millions of tourists from around the world. Petra (Arabic: البتراء, Al-Batrāʾ; Ancient Greek: Πέτρα), originally known to the Nabataeans as Raqmu, is a historical and archaeological city in southern Jordan.
The ancient ruins of Petra, Jordan, highlight the pervasive influence of Greek architecture in ancient times. Here is what you have in store when you visit the archaeological site…
Petra is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and one of the best things to do in Jordan. Our complete guide has everything you need to know about when to visit, where to stay, and what to see at this ancient archaeological site in the Middle East. From souvenirs to food and drinks, we’ve highlighted the best places to eat, stay, and shop while visiting this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Find things to do around Jordan for your trip to the Middle East. From floating in the Red Sea to exploring ancient historical sites, don’t miss these must-do’s.
Petra, Jordan has often been called “The Red City,” or the “The Lost City of Stone,” or known for its famous backdrop in the movie, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” Located in the southwestern…
FIU mathematics professor Ada Monserrat frequently travels on semester breaks pursuing unique experiences. Previous trips have taken Monserrat on visits to all parts of the world. She has visited CERN in Geneva, home of the Large Hadron Collider where the Higgs-Boson particle was discovered. She has explored the history of flight and space exploration at the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow. She has been to Madame Marie Curie’s home in Poland and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. She has traveled to Jerusalem to meet Anne Frank’s best friend. This year, she explored the ruins of Genbaku Dome in Hiroshima, one of the few buildings left standing near ground zero of the 1945 atomic bomb.
But perhaps one of her most memorable journeys was in 2014 when she traveled to the University of Cambridge for a one-on-one meeting with acclaimed physicist Stephen Hawking. When Monserrat learned of his passing this year, she was in the Middle East. After having spent a few days in the city of Petra in Jordan’s southwestern desert, Monserrat cut her trip short to travel to Cambridge and pay her respects.
Jordan – Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas)
One by one, the pilgrims plunged under the cool, khaki-toned waters of the Jordan River, wading in from the Israeli-controlled western bank to rededicate their faith at the spot where John the Baptist is believed to have baptized Jesus.
The river here is narrow and lazy, lined with vivid green bulrushes and dotted with palm trees.
“It was freezing cold!” exclaimed Laura Ng, 58, a member of a Christian Bible study group from Singapore, as she emerged from the murky water in a purple T-shirt. “But when I got immersed, I felt cleansed all over.”
On the opposite bank, a few gentle swim strokes away, a smaller group of tourists stood on the Jordanian side and took photos on their cellphones.
In the days before Easter, Holy Land tour groups were arriving by the busload at the Israeli-run baptism site known as Qasr al-Yahud. Arabic for “the Castle of the Jews,” the name is said to be a reference to the castle-like appearance of a nearby Greek Orthodox monastery and to Jewish belief, which holds that this is where Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land.
You’re in for a surprising adventure of a lifetime
Jordan is a country that often suffers guilt by association due to its location in the Middle East. But safe and hospitable, visitors who take the time to discover this beautiful country are rewarded with stunning natural landscapes and world-renowned historical and religious sites. Here are seven reasons why you should visit this hidden gem of the Middle East.
1. FLOAT IN THE DEAD SEA
Located in the Jordan Rift Valley, bordered by Israel to the East and Jordan to the West, the Dead Sea is actually a lake, and a very salty one at that. The Dead Sea’s extreme saltiness means that once you wade in, your body instantly bobs to the surface — leaving you free to lie back, relax, and enjoy a soak at the lowest point on Earth. After your swim, you can slather yourself in Dead Sea mud, which has proven healing properties, due to its high concentration of salts and minerals.
