Direction: Amman, the capital of Jordan. This is the last stop of our trip. We're gonna spend three days here. Unfortunately, we didn't like it. It's true, as some guides and blogs say, it's a large and bland city.
We leave Swemeh on Wednesday, March 9 in the morning. First, we head for the airport to return the car we rented a few days ago. From the airport, we decide to take a taxi to get to the hotel as soon as possible and rest. We chose the Layaali Amman Hotel, opposite the Roman Theater.
|
|
Roman Theater |
The most interesting places come from Greek and Roman times. You definitely should visit the Roman Theater built in the 2nd century AD. As the name suggests, it's a relic from Roman times. It could accommodate 6,000 people. It is famous for its fantastic acoustics. We checked it - sitting in the upper rows, you can hear what is said in the lower without problem.
Admission: 2 dinars, with Jordan Pass - free.
|
|
Remains of the Umayyad palace |
|
|
Remains of the temple of Hercules |
It's worth climbing Jabal Al Qala'a, a hill with a citadel. There is a beautiful view of the entire city and the Roman Theater from here. There are several things worth seeing here. Among them is the temple of Hercules, or rather its remains in the form of several columns. In turn, from the former Umayyad palace from the 7th-8th centuries AD the hall with a beautiful dome has been preserved to this day. There are also ruins of Umayyad-era houses and a cistern that was used to transport water to the palace. Another object is the ruins of a Byzantine temple from the 6th century. There is not much left of it, but you can still admire parts of the mosaics decorating the floors.
Admission to the hill: 2 dinars; with Jordan Pass - free.
In the city, it's worth visiting the Great Mosque Husseini, located in the middle of the market. It's one of the oldest mosques in Jordan. It was built in 1932 by King Abdullah I on the site of a former mosque from the 7th century. Officially, tourists are not allowed to enter.
However, you can enter the King Abdullah I Mosque at Suleiman al Nabulsi Street, approx. 3 km from the Roman Theater. It's distinguished by a beautiful blue roof and mosaic. It comes from the 1980s, but it's worth coming here and seeing the present-day religious architecture of Jordan.
Admission: 2 dinars.
|
|
Amman by night |
Amman is not only about mosques and ruins. After all, it's the capital of the country and a bustling city. In the center you will find a huge local market where you can buy everything - from vegetables, fruit, spices and sweets, to clothes, to electronics and any staff you could imagine.
There are also local, small, and above all cheap, restaurants and eateries. If you don't want to pay a fortune for dinner, be sure to choose one of the places located inside the market.
In the evening, go to one of the cafes in the city center or to a more elegant pub or cafe on Rainbow Street - a modern street in the upper part of the city, slightly away from the center. Some pubs serve alcohol.
If you have the opportunity, be sure to try knafeh. It's a dessert made of cream cheese and rose aromas. It is breaded, fried, covered with honey and usually sprinkled with sliced pistachios.
The hotel we stayed in (this is not an affiliate link, I am posting it here because I can recommend it)
Layaali Amman Hotel, Al Hashemi 105, opposite The Roman Theater