Amman, Jordan Tourism Info and Guide

Amman, Jordan: this ancient city in the Middle East has seen the great civilizations come and go. Each wave of conquerors has left its mark on Old Jordan, from Persians to Greeks, Roman emperors and Egyptian kings. Today, it is a vibrant city built around its old town, whose traditional marketplaces, called souks, are still bustling with life.

The old souk lies at the center of the downtown area, right by the King Hussein Mosque. You can experience colorful market life here, or at one of the many smaller souks that are scattered through the Old Town. Traditional goods include mosaics and ceramics, as Jordan is famous for. Another traditional craft is that of making glass bottles. More modern souvenirs include handmade jewelry, gold and silver products. The nearby Dead Sea provides Dead Sea Salt, a prized ingredient in locally made natural beauty products.

The King Hussein mosque is one of many in Amman, and the city is said to contain some of the greatest mosques in the Middle East. One of them is the King Abdullah I mosque, which despite being the newest is a great sight to behold with its magnificent blue mosaic dome. The most unique is the old black and white checkered Abu Darweesh Mosque, set upon the highest point of the tallest of the city’s seven hills.

While it is Arab culture that dominates Amman today (it is inhabited by Christian and Muslims in roughly equal numbers), the city was once a favorite of Roman officials. It resembles Rome in its geography, and the Romans built a forum (the ancient version of the town square) and a theater that still stands today. The theater is build into the side of one of the hills, oriented to keep sunlight off the spectators. After 1800 years it continues to be the largest in the country with its capacity of 6000 people. It is still used for cultural events and shows.

Another area dating back to Roman and Byzantine days is the Citadel Hill, inhabited for since the Stone Age. It contains a Byzantine church as well as the Temple of Heracles, all set within thousand-year-old stone walls. It also houses a museum. The temple of Heracles is a Roman temple, larger than any that can be found in Rome. Its impressive columns reach 33 feet into the air. The church is a few centuries younger, build sometime around the fifth or sixth century. It has been partly reconstructed and features two rows of carved columns.

With such a rich history, it’s no wonder that Amman has an archaeological museum of the highest standard. The Archaeological Museum contains artifacts from the Stone Age onwards. Among the fascinating finds to be seen here are the ancestor statues found during road construction on the outskirts of the city in the mid-eighties. They have the look of friendly plaster aliens, and are believed to be statues of revered ancestors, eventually buried under the floor of their houses. Coffins and figures dating from the bronze and iron ages show Egyptian influence, and are as beautiful as they are historically informative.

Other museums of interest include the Folklore Museum, actually housed in a chamber of the Roman theater. Among its exhibits are a collection of musical instruments. The American Center of Oriental Research, where visitors can admire a reconstruction of the Roman Heracles temple, is another tourist attraction. All these interesting sites are located within the small Old Town district, which is compact and convenient for visitors. Whether your interest is in history, culture or shopping, Amman should have a suitable attraction for you.