AMMAN — The UNESCO
World Heritage Committee added the city of Salt to its World Heritage List on Wednesday,
making it the sixth Jordanian site to have earned a spot on the international
list. A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an
international convention administered by the United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
اضافة اعلان
Below is a list of the Kingdom’s other five world heritage sites and the merits they offer.
Petra
Arguably one of the most famous sites
globally, Petra attracts tourists from far and wide. Built by the early
Nabateans, this archeological marvel has cemented itself as one of the Seven
Wonders of the World with its pink stone and distinctive designs. This ancient
marvel has captured the awe and admiration of visitors for centuries, even
appearing in various prominent pieces of pop culture, such as blockbuster film
Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. Visitors have the option to explore these
ruins on their own, or pay for a guided tour, where a local expert can walk you
through the historical significance of every part of the site.
Whether you are a local or an international
visitor, you should add Petra to your bucket list.
Quseir Amra
Quseir Amra, which roughly translates to
“small palace of Amra,” is among the best known of the desert castles in
Jordan. But don’t let the “small” in its title fool you — the castle doesn’t need
a large exterior to capture its rich history. Located near Wadi Butum,
approximately one hour away from Amman, the castle has been a point of interest
for both historians and tourists alike. Built in the 8th Century by the
Umayyads as a fortress and place of residence, the castle boasts a collection
of murals, paintings, and other priceless artifacts for tourists to admire on
their journeys.
If one needed any more reasons to visit this
exceptional destination, tickets only cost 1JD upon entry, so visitors do not have
to break the bank to indulge in Jordanian history.
Um er-Rasas
(Kastrom Mefa'a)
This archeological site originated as a Roman
military base and eventually expanded to become a fully-fledged village during
the 5th century. This site also has a long biblical history, with ties to
settlements mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah, along with sites like the Dead
Sea. As a result, the site is adorned with Christian imagery and iconography,
from its intricate mosaics to the walls of the looming Stylite tower, which was
once occupied by Christian ascetics who lived in isolation.
The real draw of this site is that most of it is
excavated, meaning that with each returning visit, a tourist may be able to
discover new and interesting pieces of information about the area as
archeologists slowly unearth this part of Jordan’s national history.
Wadi Rum
Protected Area
Visitors have countless options for how to
spend their time in Wadi Rum, from hiking daunting rock structures to taking
buggies down sand dunes. One of the most sought-after experiences is spending
the night camping in the desert. Camping underneath the desert stars is an
experience unlike any other, as the night skies can sparkle with an astonishing
intensity without the usual burden of light pollution. It is also home to some
of the most ancient wall art known to man, with paintings created by ancient
Bedouins etched on cave walls.
Whether for art, history, nature, or
thrill-seeking, Wadi Rum will inevitably have something to appeal to anyone’s
touristic desires.
Baptism Site
“Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas)
Perhaps one of the most well-known religious
sites in the world, this site is believed to be where Jesus was baptized by
John the Baptist in the River Jordan. It has long since been a site of
pilgrimage for people of all Christian denominations. The area is surrounded by
churches and chapels, built by those attracted to the religious significance of
this location.
This site also happens to be located an hour
away from the capital city and is directly adjacent to the Dead Sea and a wide
variety of other historical locations.
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