Jordan city of Amman. National Gallery of Fine Arts. History - from biblical times to the present day

Amman is one of ancient cities Middle East. It became the capital of Jordan only in the 20th century, but it has been a key place for the history of this country from the beginning of its existence.
In the XIII century. BC. the Ammonites (Ammonites) built here the city of Rabbat-Ammon, or Ammon, repeatedly mentioned in the Old Testament. The Old Testament calls the Ammonites a tribe descended from Ammon, Lot's son by his own daughter. Judging again by archaeological materials, the Ammonites were Semites: the language in the surviving inscriptions on the stones is very close to Hebrew. The main trade route connecting Egypt and the cities passed through Ammon Arabian Peninsula which was the main source of prosperity for the city. Around 1300 BC. e. the territory to the east of the Jordan, corresponding to modern Jordan, including Ammon, was captured by the Canaanite tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Menashe. In the period from 585 BC. e. and before the Ptolemaic era there is no written evidence of the history of Amman, according to indirect information, it was conquered - successively - by the Assyrians, Persians and Macedonians. King of Egypt Ptolemy II Philadelphos (308-245 BC) renamed Ammon to Philadelphia. In 106, most of the territory of modern Jordan became the province of the Roman Empire of Stony Arabia, and Philadelphia entered the Decapolis (10 ancient cities, among which Damascus and Amman were most developed). In this era, Philadelphia was replanned, temples, baths, amphitheaters appeared, the streets were paved. IN Byzantine period Philadelphia was the seat of Christian bishops. In 614, the city was captured by the Sassanid Persians, who returned the name Amman, consonant with Ammon, to the city. In the VII-IX centuries. Amman was part of the Arab Caliphate, in 661-750. the city is the center of the Damascus province of the Arab Umayyad Caliphate. After the collapse of the caliphate in the X century. is part of various states of the Middle East, remaining for all of them an important center of trade and a crossroads caravan routes. From 1516 until the end of the First World War in 1918, Amman was part of the Ottoman Empire. Several strong earthquakes turned the city into a heap of ruins during this era; its population was insignificant, and so it remained until 1878, when the Ottomans began, under the guidance of German engineers, to build the Hijaz railway from Damascus to Medina. Amman, having become a junction station, begins to grow. In 1918, Jordan came under the British mandate, in 1921, at the initiative of the British, the emirate of Transjordan was created. Amman becomes its capital. On May 25, 1946, Transjordan gains independence, it is already called a kingdom, which in 1949 was renamed the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The population of Amman grew in the context of events taking place not only in Jordan, but also in nearby countries. After the Russian-Caucasian war of 1763-1864. many Circassians (Circassians), Kabardians, Abkhazians, Chechens, and also Armenians (the latter fled from Turkey) left their homeland and fled through Jordan. They laid the Hijaz railway, and after the completion of construction they remained in Amman, where they all began to be called generically - "Circassians". Their descendants live in Amman today. And the largest part of the population of the city are Palestinian Arabs, also refugees from native land due to the Arab-Israeli wars of 1947-1949, 1956 and 1967. The third wave of refugees arrived in Amman from Kuwait after the war in 1991. After the invasion of Iraq by coalition forces in 2003, refugees from Iraq also settled in Amman. As a result, over the past 100 years, the population of Amman has grown 1000 times.
In today's turbulent Middle East, Amman remains an island of calm, although it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to maintain this image.
"White City" is the middle name of Amman, and there is no great exaggeration in this. Concrete walls, of course, have some grayish-yellowish tinge, but buildings finished with snow-white limestone (and there are many of them) maintain a reputation " white city”, especially when the sun is at its zenith. At sunset, they form the illusion of a mountain of gold bars. Many houses climb hills, from afar they seem to be multi-storey, but in fact they have 3-5-7 floors, and there are quite a few one-story ones. There are also skyscrapers that grew up in the late 20th - early 21st century in Amman. These are government offices, hotels, banks, business centers. The city of Amman has been growing very rapidly over the past two decades, statistics simply do not have time to correct the figures for its area and population. Until a few years ago, there were some differences between the city itself and the capital province. Today they are practically erased: Amman is turning into a metropolis before our eyes. According to forecasts, 6.5 million people will live here in 2025.

The reputation of the "golden mean" between the extremes of both Arabic and Western world the capital of the kingdom began to acquire from the middle of the 20th century, creating an equal balance between them. This is noticeable even purely visually, especially in the appearance and behavior of women. In the civilized sense, the city consists of two parts. In neighborhoods united common name Balad, or Downtown, is supported by a patriarchal way of life: women wear exclusively national clothes, do not work, they only take care of the house and children, of which they have an average of 5-7. Women in the part of the city called West Amman work in banks and other offices, in medical centers, drive cars, wear European clothes and are in no hurry to get married: a career is more important, and when, closer to 30 years, they get married, they usually give birth no more than two children.
There are more and more medical centers in Amman - due to foreigners choosing this city for treatment because of the natural resources of the nearby Dead Sea, highly qualified staff and prices lower than in neighboring Israel.
King Abdullah Bin al-Hussein, or Abdullah II (born in 1962), whose mother is an Englishwoman, encourages the fashion for the Western lifestyle by his example. This is the "King of the Special Forces", as supporters of traditional Muslim values ​​call him, not without sarcasm. He studied at Oxford and Georgetown, leads a secular lifestyle, in addition, he is also a parachutist and helicopter pilot, is fond of scuba diving, takes part in the rally. Naturally, he has the highest military rank - Field Marshal of the Armed Forces of Jordan. At the same time, Abdullah II is by no means a "hawk": he condemns Muslim religious extremism, supports the American policy of "war on terrorism". In November 2011, Abdullah II, the first of the Arab leaders, said that Hafiz Assad should leave the political scene.
Unrest Arab world did not bypass the capital of the usually calm Jordan. Inflation, corruption, and unemployment have been driving citizens to the streets since 2010. In September-November 2012, thousands of demonstrations against the abolition of fuel subsidies took place in Amman, which caused an increase in prices for gasoline (by 12%) and gas (by 53%). These demonstrations were no longer peaceful. Protesters blocked roads, set cars on fire, and police fired tear gas. The king patiently explains to his subjects that an increase in the price of fuel is inevitable, since the economic "holes" are a consequence of the "Arab spring". He completely changed the government. But the circle closes: inspired precisely by the “Arab spring”, the “Muslim brothers” demand not only a change in the cabinet of ministers, but also the overthrow of Abdullah II himself. Amman is getting more and more restless. What will happen next is still impossible to guess.

Amman

general information

Founding: circa 7250 BC
Capital: since 1921 (in 1921-1946 - administrative center Emirate of Transjordan).
Historical names: Rabbath-Ammon (XIII-VI centuries BC), or Rabbah (in the Russian translation of the Bible), Philadelphia (III century BC - VI century).

Administrative status: metropolitan province (muhavaza).

Administrative-territorial division: 9 districts (27 districts).

Languages: Arabic, for many residents the second language is English.

Ethnic composition: Jordanian Arabs - 35%, Arabs - immigrants from Palestine and other countries of the Middle East - 55%, immigrants from the Caucasus ("Circassians") - 8%, Kurds - 2%.
Religions: Islam (Sunni) - 92%, Christianity (mainly Orthodoxy - the Greek Orthodox Church, as well as Catholicism - the Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic Church) - 6%, Ismailis and followers of the Bahai religion - 2%.
Currency unit: Jordanian dinar.

River: Ez-Zarqa.

Major airport: Queen Alia International Airport.

Numbers

Area: 1680 km2.

Population: 2,419,000 (2012).
Population density: 1439.9 people / km 2.
Average Height above sea level: 773 m

Climate and weather

July average temperature:-26°C.

Average annual rainfall: 270 mm.

Economy

Handicrafts: textiles, woven carpets, ceramics, leather and wood products and jewellery.

Service sector: medical and banking services, trade, tourism.

Attractions

■ King Hussein Mosque(1924).
■ King Abdullah I Mosque(1989).
■ Abu Bakr Al Siddique Street(villas of the 20-30s, XX century).
■ Museums: Archaeological University of Jordan (gypsum figurines from the excavations in Ain Ghazal, the Qumran Scrolls - the world's oldest biblical texts and apocrypha, some of which came to Israel, and some are stored in this museum); anthropological University of Jordan; folklore and folk traditions, numismatics / Central Bank of Jordan, Royal Automobile, Children's, Military (Martyrs' Memorial), Postal; National Gallery fine arts (works by contemporary artists of the Arab world), art galleries Darat al-Funun and Aliya.
■ National Park. King Hussein, in him - ethnographic Village culture.
■ Around: 20 km to the north-west of the city of Salt (buildings in the Ottoman style, Archaeological Museum and the Cultural Center with a School of Crafts); southwest of the city - the Wadi Sher valley - the palace of Iraq al-Amir (the only Hellenistic palace that has survived in the Middle East); 33 km to the south - the city of Madaba (Medaba), mentioned in the Bible, is one of the centers of Christianity in the Middle East: the Church of St. George (VI century), the ruins of the Church of the Apostles (VI century), the Archaeological Park. 10 km west of Madaba is Mount Nebo (833 m), from which, according to the Bible, the Lord showed Moses the Promised Land, 45 km to the north is the Greco-Roman city of Jerash (one of the cities of the Decapolis).

Curious facts

■ Abdullah II is a fan of the television series Star Trek. In 1995, he made a cameo appearance in the Voyager series of the series. In addition, the king invests personal funds in the construction of an adventure park on the Jordanian coast in the theme of Star Trek. He uses his acting skills, making "going to the people", like the Baghdad caliph Harun al-Rashid from the collection of fairy tales "A Thousand and One Nights". To do this, he puts on shabby Bedouin clothes and sticks a long gray beard on himself. In Amman, many tales are told about how he “worked” in this form as a taxi driver, a nurse in a hospital, traded in the market, and once visited the tax office, standing in a long line. The servants did not recognize the monarch and were in a state close to fainting when they saw this humble visitor drive away from the building at the head of a cavalcade of royal cars.

Built during the reign of Antony Pius (138-161 AD), it still impresses with its size even now. The amphitheater, designed for 6,000 visitors, is carved into the rock on the northern side of the hill, where a huge cemetery used to be. The location on the north side was not chosen by chance, in this case the sun's rays do not prevent people from contemplating the spectacle from their seats. A secret tunnel dug deep underground connects the ancient amphitheater with the Citadel. At one time, it served as a corridor for noble persons who wished to arrive at a performance at any time and at the same time remain safe.
The building has been preserved in excellent condition, so its stone bowl is successfully used for theatrical and musical performances to this day.
Address: Old Town, Amman, Jordan. A visit to a favorite place of tourists for a foreigner will cost only 1 dinar, that is, almost 1.5 dollars or 1 euro. For locals, visiting is free, so many residents spend free time right here.

The rock tomb, highly revered among Muslims, is located on the southern outskirts of the capital of Jordan in the tract of El-Rajib. According to the Christian version of the legend, the Lord protected the youths from persecution for their faith, putting them to sleep for several centuries in a cave, and awakened them during the heyday of Christianity.
In Muslim mythology, Ashab Al-Kahf, translated as “those in the cave,” are young boys who hid in a cave with a dog in order to maintain faith in the one God during persecution. The name of the dog - Kitmir - began to perform a certain magical function. For example, in many Muslim countries it is customary to inscribe this name on messages in order to protect them from loss. The "cave of the sleepers" is a "room" carved into the rock, according to appearance reminiscent of a Roman burial chamber with sarcophagi and deep niches on opposite sides of the entrance. In one of these niches there is a small glazed window through which you can see seven skulls, the bones of youths and the remains of a dog. Stone sarcophagi are equipped with typical Roman ornaments (multipetal rosette, garland, twisted ribbon), and adornments, ceramics and tools found during excavations stand nearby. Women can visit the necropolis only in clothes covering their arms and legs and with their heads covered. Address: Ahl al-Kahf Street | Abu Aland, Amman, Jordan. The cave is open daily from 8:00 to 17:00. The entrance is free.

This is the only one of the ancient palaces of the desert, which has the appearance of a fortress, located in eastern Jordan. If necessary, it could accommodate about 400 people. Since the researchers did not find signs of long-term residence, the version remains logical that this place was a fortified residence, a symbol of the power of the caliph and served for negotiations with the leaders of the nomadic tribes of the desert, and was never used for protective purposes. But regardless of the purpose for which Qasr Harana was built, thanks to its skillful restoration, it is considered the most photogenic Desert Castle. The building, consisting of two tiers, contains 61 rooms. In plan, the castle is a square with a side length of 35 meters, and the towers protruding from the walls in semicircles confirm the ancient Roman architectural style. In a cozy courtyard, extraordinary calmness reigns, which is not disturbed even by a slight breath of wind. And the huge rooms at the arched entrance, apparently, served as stables. In the center of the courtyard there is a reservoir typical of the area, which was used to collect rainwater. Although construction work was completed in the distant 710, the castle has been remarkably preserved. One of the earliest forts from the Islamic era was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. Address: Amman, Jordan. Entry to the castle is free.

25 km from the city of Madaba in the western part of the country is the largest balneological resort in Jordan - Zarqa-Main. Incredibly popular with travelers and Jordanians themselves are these thermal springs, the healing properties of which were known back in the era of Byzantium and ancient rome. According to legend, King Herod the Great of Judea dipped into these waters. Hot jets like picturesque waterfalls, fall from a height of several tens of meters have a temperature of about +63? They perform an effective and pleasant massage of the whole body. And the natural steam room, that is, a cave where the beating from under the rocks hot water, saturates the jet-smoothed cave with steam, provides a full range of natural “spa treatments”.

Zarka-Main has 65 cold and hot underground springs with different types healing water. Merging together, they form a small river that flows into the Dead Sea and acts as a "health bath" on fresh air for local residents. Water render therapeutic effect on the whole body, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system are successfully treated. Near the springs there is a relaxation and health center, which provides for the reception of clients with various interests, ailments and financial capabilities. You can get here on your own in a rented car or by taxi along the highway that connects Amman, Madoboy and Amman International Airport with the Dead Sea coast.

Unlike many other attractions in Jordan, this mosque is not at all old. Built between 1982 and 1989 in memory of King Abdullah I, it is the only mosque in Amman open to non-Muslims. This large-scale building can accommodate 10,000 worshipers (including the courtyard, which is designed for 3,000 parishioners) and covers an area of ​​​​18,000 square meters. At the base of the building lies a polygon, and its top is crowned with a huge blue dome with a diameter of about 35 meters. This color was not chosen by chance - it symbolizes the sky, the golden lines on the dome are the sun's rays that illuminate the 99 names of Allah. On it, as well as on the three rings of a huge chandelier, entries from the Koran are quoted. On the territory of the mosque is the Museum of Islam, as well as the Royal Museum. For women, a women's department was built to the right of the mosque, accommodating up to 500 worshipers at the same time. Also, before entering, the fair sex will be asked to cover their hair and put on a dress (abaya). Address: Sulayman Al Nabulsi, Amman, Jordan. Working hours: every day from 8:00 to 11:00; from 12:30 to 14:00, and on Fridays from 8:00 to 10:00. The entrance fee is 2 dinars, which is equal to just over 2.5 dollars or 2 euros.

Another "young" religious landmark of Jordan - the Abu Dervish Mosque built in 1961 rightfully deserves the attention of tourists. The structure was erected on Jebel Ashrafi - one of the seven hills of the capital in honor of the late King Hussein. The unmistakable alternating layers of white and black stone are a sign of the Levantine architecture chosen by Abu Dervish when designing. The luxurious interior of the mosque is emphasized by openwork carvings with exquisite floral ornaments. From the square on which the mosque is located, opens great view throughout Amman. Address: Al Taj, Amman, Jordan.

Amman is the capital of the Jordanian Hashemite Kingdom, created in 1946. The city is located 35 km northeast of the Dead Sea, 110 km east of mediterranean sea and 65 km east of Jerusalem. Basically, there is not much to do here. Almost no historical building has been preserved in the city, there is nowhere to walk, there is nothing to look at.

01. Amman is the capital of Jordan and the country's largest city. In ancient times it was called Rabbat-Ammon, in the Hellenistic-Roman era - Philadelphia. In the 7th-9th centuries it was part of the Arab Caliphate. From 1516 until the end of the First World War - as part of Ottoman Empire. The population is 2.5 million people.

02. The city's name is derived from the name of the Ammonite tribe: עַמּוֹן‎ Hebrew: ʻAmmôn - "people, people"; عمّون‎‎ Arabic, reads: ʻAmmūn.

03. Amman is often called the "White City" because of its unusual whiteness - the result of its use in construction white stone- limestone. Construction is going on quite quickly, and most importantly, it is difficult to find two identical buildings. Houses in the city are picturesquely located on the slopes of the hills.

04. Like many other capitals, Amman is located on seven hills, which are represented on the flag of Jordan by a seven-pointed star. Wealthy people in Amman prefer to settle closer to the outskirts. The capital of Jordan is not a very green city, but in the areas of villas where there is no such crowding as in the center, everyone tries to surround their homes with trees. It is quiet, deserted, the air is clean, almost countryside. Not only on the outskirts, but even in the old part of the city, the buildings are mostly modern. Meanwhile, people have been living on this earth for many thousands of years.

05. The city was destroyed by several earthquakes and natural disasters at the end of the 19th century and remained a small city and a pile of ruins.

06. Everything changed when the Ottoman Sultan decided to build the Hijaz railway, linking Damascus and Medina, facilitating both the annual Hajj pilgrimage and constant trade.

07. Jordan is not a poor country. The average salary is $500. Apparently, therefore, the birth rate here, by Eastern standards, is low. In the capital, the norm is two or three children. True, each family considers it their dog to give birth to at least one boy. They are treated so reverently here that the highest manifestation of respect is to call a man the name of his son with the prefix abu - "father".

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10. There is almost no evidence of former greatness. The ruins of the ancient temple, the Umayyad palace, the Byzantine church, the Roman amphitheater have survived a little, but they are not of particular interest.

11. Although Jordan is an Islamic country, customs here are not too strict. In Amman, you can find entertainment for every taste. Unlike many other countries in the Middle East, in Jordan, any woman can come to a cafe, smoke a hookah and drink coffee. Considering that smoking a hookah in the Muslim world has always been considered an exclusively male occupation, Jordanian women can be considered completely liberated. Amman is becoming more and more like an ordinary modern city, only slightly colored with oriental color.

12. The stairs in the previous photo led to the cinema, which showed old porn movies in Turkish. The owner of the cinema on the background of posters.

13. Ticket price is only $3. The first session starts at 7 am. As soon as I took out the camera in the hall, the lights turned on, and I was kicked out in disgrace.

14. There are water tanks on the roofs, in many houses there is no running water or sewerage. Garbage can also be stored on the roofs.

15. Typical urban landscape.

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17. Freshly squeezed cane juice is sold on the streets. Rare crap.

18. TV repairman and homemade advertising on the wall of his house.

19. In the morning, a peddler of milk and coffee walks around the market. The milk is sweet, and there is almost no coffee there.

20. Cats. There are no dogs in Amman, they are caught.

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22. Among the older generation there are still those who cannot read and write. At their service - street scribes. Until recently, it was a mass profession, but today it is dying - a ten-year compulsory education has been introduced in Jordan. But even a competent person is unlikely to be able to correctly draw up a legal document. In this case, there are street notaries who are waiting for clients next to the Ministry of Justice. There is practically no rain in Amman, so nothing can interfere with their work, except perhaps the noise of traffic, and it is very intense in the city. Despite the abundance of convenient interchanges, traffic jams constantly arise in the center.

23. There are almost no local souvenirs either. Almost everything is brought from Syria, India and China.

24. The city of Amman is geographically divided into East Old and new town. "Greater Amman" is divided into 9 districts and 27 districts.

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29. The Golden Quarter in the center of Amman is a very popular place. There are many jewelry shops here, from the windows of which ripples in the eyes. Gold and stones for an oriental woman are not only decorations, but also a certain guarantee of independence. According to Sharia law, if a husband tells his wife three times that he is getting a divorce, she must leave him, but at the same time she can take away everything that is on her. In addition to gold, incense is also an essential attribute of the East.

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31. Street cinema.

32. This evening the local team won. I mostly celebrate by car. There are two states of joy. Someone drives around with flags at high speed, while someone, on the contrary, goes with songs and dances at the speed of a pedestrian. At the same time, the entire stream silently trails behind the jubilant fans.

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34. This is no longer Amman, but in order not to make a separate post, I will post some of the photos of neighboring regions here. Not far from Amman there are factories where clothes are sewn for many American and European brands.

35. We decided to drive up to one of the hostels where workers from India lived. At the gate we were met by an unfriendly lady. While I was trying to arrange a visit to their hostel with her, the man in the background called the security service.

36. After 5 minutes, a security jeep arrived from the factory. It turned out I was mistaken for an inspector from a human rights organization. They are feared here like hell. People live and work in terrible conditions, child labor is often used, and if the inspectors fix this, the factory will lose its European and American customers.

37. Mu!

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40. Tuning.

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Some of the texts are taken from the movie "Around the World" about Amman.

Other posts about Jordan.

Children's Museum in Amman was opened in 2007. Here, kids are given the opportunity to have an exciting experience through play, discovery and exploration. The museum offers a wide range of educational toys and gifts designed for creative play through crafts, science, building, floor toys, puzzles and books.

There are many exciting programs, including about 15 interactive ones. Playground under open sky suitable for all kinds of concerts and fairs. The library of the museum introduces children to reading. There is huge selection Arabic and English titles for all tastes - from science fiction to cooking. Art Studio provides interesting programs for children of all ages to reveal artistic talent. In the Secret Garden pavilion, children get closer to nature, learn environment, study plant varieties and get acquainted with the rules of their cultivation.

Curiosity-driven and imaginative programs have been developed for younger age groups. The souvenir shop, located at the entrance to the museum, is very popular with visitors.

Roman theater

The Roman theater in Amman is a unique historical monument. It was built during the reign of Antony Pius, in 161 AD. The theater was the dominant structure in the center of the city.

This powerful structure is similar in design to an amphitheater and has a capacity of six thousand people. The structure is built of stone on a hillside and is oriented to the north so that the sun does not fall on the audience. The theater was divided into three horizontal sections, separated by several side staircases. Behind them are now the Museum of Folk Traditions and the Museum of Folklore. The most high part theater was called "The Gods". Despite the great distance from the stage, there was excellent visibility and audibility.

Sports and cultural events are still occasionally held here. The Roman theater is very popular with tourists for its inventive design and incredible acoustics.

What sights of Amman did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Roman Amphitheater

The Roman amphitheater is located in the heart of the capital of Jordan - the city of Amman and is one of the largest amphitheaters in the Middle East. Built under the great Roman emperor Antony Pius, who ruled from 138-161 AD. This architectural monument impresses with its size: it is designed for more than 6,000 spectators. Even more striking is the fact that such a huge and majestic building carved right into the rock on the hillside. Due to the fact that the amphitheater faces north, the sun's rays did not blind the spectators watching the performance. A huge cemetery used to be located on the site of its foundation. In addition, the amphitheater is connected by a deep hidden underground tunnel to the Amman Citadel.

The entrance is decorated with majestic columns of the ancient forum, which was built later. The architecture of the amphitheater clearly shows the features characteristic of the Roman Empire. A prime example This is a division into 3 identical sections.

Currently, the amphitheater is one of the main attractions of Amman and a favorite place for tourists from many countries and is open to the public. Sports and cultural events take place here. Among other things, not far from the amphitheater there is a smaller theater in which musical concerts are held.

The beginning of the appearance of monetary exchange in the Middle East dates back to about the 4th century. BC.

The collection contains over 2200 coins.

The main sections of the collection:

Historical Development of Coins in Jordan, from Nabataean Coins to Decapolis and Early Arab-Islamic Coins.

Coins of the Islamic period and the main ruling dynasties of the Muslim world, in which the inscriptions replaced earlier images and portraits characteristic of Greek, Roman, Byzantine and coins of the Sassanid era.

Coins and banknotes issued from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day.

roman square

In ancient times, Roman Square was one of the largest in the Jordanian capital Amman. At present, only a series of massive dilapidated columns reminds of the glory of those days. The square is located between the Roman Theater and Hashemi Street. Previously, there was a market where clothes, food and weapons were sold. Currently, in the vicinity of the Roman Square there is a spacious square equipped with benches and fountains. It is always lively here, adults often come here to read, play chess, and children often come here to frolic and play hide and seek among the numerous ruins. From Roman Square you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Temple of Hercules.

The main attraction of the square is a series of columns, the height of which is about 15 meters. They are located at a distance of 1 meter from each other, many of them are on the verge of destruction.

Local authorities fight for safety cultural heritage, and in 2014 they plan to carry out restoration work to restore the Roman Square.

National Gallery of Fine Arts

A significant landmark of Amman is the National Gallery of Fine Arts, opened in 1979. This small but visually impressive structure is great place to get an idea of ​​contemporary Jordanian painting, sculpture and ceramics.

The collection currently consists of 2,000 pieces, including works by Jordanian craftsmen as well as Islamic art from across the Middle East. Temporary exhibitions of young artists are held here, providing an opportunity to discover new talents. The gallery team is doing a lot of scientific work to preserve the cultural heritage of the country. Seminars and conferences are regularly held here. The gallery holds major exhibitions of its paintings abroad. In France, Turkey, Poland and the UK, the work of Jordanian artists has been appreciated by the public.

The gallery is very popular with tourists. There is a cozy art cafe and an excellent souvenir shop.

Shobak Castle

A significant historical landmark in Jordan is Shobak Castle, located south of Amman. It was built at the beginning of the 12th century as one of the links in a large chain of Crusader fortresses in Jordan.

The location of the fortress on a high rocky mountain made it easier to defend. Although the castle has not been completely excavated, three of its walls have been exposed to visitors, which have turned into ruins. At archaeological excavations the remains of two churches, baths, drainpipes, arches, millstones for pressing olives and other structures have been found that have stood the test of time. Stairs were carved into the rock leading to catacombs dug under one of the churches. Also found here are unique rock paintings depicting animals and episodes of the Crusades.

Shobak Castle is a unique monument popular with travelers.

Are you curious to know how well you know the sights of Amman? .

Queen Alia International Airport

The airport was built in 1983 and got its name in honor of Hussein's wife, the King of Jordan. There are 2 terminals - north and south - which are connected by a shuttle, and 2 runways.

Currently, the Queen Alia Airport is the main transport link in Jordan, since not only domestic, but also international flights are carried out through it. It serves more than 5 million people annually. An additional advantage is the fact that visa-free transit has been introduced at the airport.

In addition to parking for one and a half thousand places, passengers can use such services as duty free, Wi-Fi zone, bars and cafes (Arab cuisine is the most popular here), as well as ATMs.

There is a playground and even a small cinema for children.

The most convenient way to get here is by taxi, but those who want to save money can use the bus.

The most popular attractions in Amman with descriptions and photos for every taste. choose best places for visiting famous places Amman on our website.

Individual and group

The site team goes on another journey, in this article we will tell and show mysterious country, most of which is desert - this is Jordan.

We will tell you about holidays in Jordan, prices, excursions and much more that a tourist needs when traveling to Jordan. Of course, let's talk about this kitchen wonderful country, but this will be in a separate article.

To be honest, before visiting the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, only the Jordan River was in our knowledge base, we didn’t know anything else about this amazing eastern country, but buying a tour to Jordan after talking with a manager in one of the travel agencies finally convinced us to look at Jordan with our own eyes, we were not disappointed!

The capital of Jordan is Amman. The population of Jordan is 5 million. 154 thousand people. Life expectancy in this country is 75 years for men and 80 years for women.

Most big cities in Jordan - Amman, Aqaba, Kerak, Irbid. Jordan is famous mediterranean climate And average temperature here it is +30 degrees in summer and +20 degrees in winter period, so you can safely fly to rest in Jordan at any time of the year.

Jordan's national currency is called "Dinar" (1 dinar = 1000 fils).

jordan map

The population of the country of Jordan is 97% Arabs (Jordanians and Palestinians), the rest of the population is Armenians, Circassians. The entire population of Jordan speaks the state Arabic, but a large percentage of the population also prefers to speak English language, there are even those who speak Russian, but there are very few such people here.

The country is very well developed road traffic and for tourists visiting Jordan, a car rental service has been developed. By renting a car, you can travel around the whole country on your own without depending on travel agencies, saving decent money on this.

The Russians are lucky in this regard, driver's license issued in Russia here is considered valid if your driving experience is at least a year. The traffic here is right-hand and road signs are installed here both in English and in Arabic.

Prices in the country of Jordan for renting a car are varied, starting from $30 per day, plus insurance and gasoline. You can rent a car at the airport, at special bureaus and at the hotel in Jordan. Cars are rented by well-known world bureaus like Dallah, Euro, Europcar, Hertz and others.

All tourists and travelers who go on vacation to the country of Jordan must visit such amazing sights as the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, the lunar desert of Wadi Rum and the mystical city of Petra.

All these amazing sights of Jordan that you can see with your own eyes are just a few hours drive from the city of Amman. We will talk about all the sights of Jordan separately in the next article.

Flight tickets to Amman

A selection of the best hotels in Jordan

You can go to Amman from the airport by bus or order a taxi, the bus fare is 2 dinars or about 3 dollars. Travel time to the place is approximately 2 hours.

The first thing you will be shocked upon arrival in Amman a large number of portraits of King Abdullah II of Jordan, the entire population of Jordan treat their king with great respect.

The father of Abdullah the second, whose name was Hussein, earned a special place in the heart of every Jordanian, he loved the people so much that in the evenings he went to the city under the guise of a taxi driver in order to communicate with the people of Jordan and learn about the problems and how they live.

Today, King Abdullah II of Jordan and his queen can walk without security anywhere in the country, they can be found in a regular market or souvenir shop, you can talk to them and learn about all the news in the state. Here is such a king who is so close to the common people in Jordan.

King of Jordan Abdullah II and Queen

In the city center of Amman, it is best to travel by minibus, travel around the city costs 1 or 2 dinars, as agreed. By the way, minibuses in Jordan are ordinary cars and you can find them in specially designated places - parking lots.

Such minibuses travel like regular buses along a certain route and also stop at bus stops, like we do in Russia, minibuses can transport you between cities and towns. neighboring countries. We don’t know why, but women in such minibuses are strictly forbidden to sit in the front seat and are considered indecent acts (debauchery).

The capital of Jordan - Amman, has been around for about 5 thousand years, this city is one of the most ancient cities on the planet and has not changed since its inception.

All the traditions and customs of the peoples of Jordan have remained surprisingly unchanged since ancient times, for example, bread is still baked here according to thousand-year-old recipes, which already deserves praise.

Even calls from the minaret (the tower from which the call to pray comes) to Muslims about prayer have been heard here for many centuries and are observed every day.

Minaret in Jordan

The city of Amman is a dull monotonous landscape with the same gray buildings, continuous narrow alleys leading to dead ends, it does not have the gloss and sophistication of European cities.

From the city of Amman, you will get the impression that you have entered a world with labyrinth lanes from which you will never get out. But still, the city of Amman has its own charm, this city is an oriental and noisy city on Earth, which you can fall in love with if you are imbued with the traditions of Jordanian culture.

Walking the streets of Amman, you can notice the absence of women, but if you meet a woman somewhere, he will not look you in the eye. Jordan is a secular state, women here have the right to go without a hijab, but many women still wear headscarves that hide their eyes and heads, but this is their personal choice.

Hijab in Amman sells very well, especially among tourists who are ready to try themselves as a woman in this exotic country. The material is so dense that it is difficult to breathe, and it is simply not possible to see through such fabric.

Many women have noticed that the hijab is good to wear to hide all your figure flaws. On your wallet in Amman, you can pick up any hijab, with handmade drawings or even with diamonds. The cost of the cheap option will cost you about 60 dinars ($85).

Hijab - national oriental clothing for women

You ask - how to meet such a woman if you do not see her? Any man in the country of Jordan appreciates simplicity first of all in a woman and it is the hijab that emphasizes it. To get to know a woman, according to religion, the first thing a man goes to her parents is to ask for a hand and heart, and after a short amount of time they immediately get married.

Prices in Jordan

Prices in Jordan do not bite. Shops work as usual from morning to evening, on Friday most shops are closed, but small shops are always open.

If you decide to buy yourself something more than a magnet, we recommend that you definitely look into antique stores. Usually tourists take out magnets, hookahs, but you can make a change by buying art or historical antiques.

In any store you can bargain and reduce prices well, friendly sellers with a smile on their faces will definitely give you a discount, if you are a woman, they will also give you a gift.

If you are tired of walking around the city of Amman and decide to eat, then go straight to the cafe. Cafes in Amman are very simple, without frills and charm European cafes, but the entire population of Jordan dines in such an institution, even the king himself sometimes eats in such cafes. If you are a tourist with a big wallet, then the Reem Albawadi restaurant is for you, which is included in the top 20 the best restaurants in the east.

In this restaurant you will be met personally by the assistant of the owner of this institution. The interior is made in a historical style and is very cozy. A variety of dishes are cooked very tasty here, especially one of them - “Mansaf”.

The Mansaf dish is lamb boiled in sour cream. By tradition, this dish will be served with several more secondary dishes, so always order one dish from the menu, otherwise you will burst.

Most of the dishes in the country of Jordan are traditionally eaten with your hands, you rarely find forks and spoons. They forgot to mention that, according to tradition, women cannot eat together with a man in one place, this is the height of indecency.

In restaurants for women there are special designated places. Now I would like to sum up the price after you have dined in establishments. A good lunch (several dishes) in a cafe will cost you 5 dinars, and lunch in a cozy restaurant, for example, in Reem Albawadi it will cost you 40 dinars, food prices here are very reasonable.

Resting in the country of Jordan, you should definitely go to the Dead Sea. The famous Dead Sea is only 2 hours drive from Amman. good roads, on the coast dead sea all located in Jordan luxury hotels, which only exist in this country.

As we already said in ours, the Dead Sea is the lowest point the globe, and in the atmosphere above dead sea oxygen is 10% more than over any other sea on Earth.

You learned how to get to Amman and what to eat in Jordan, in the next article we will talk about the traditions and culture in the country of Jordan, about what not to do when visiting this country and how to get baptized in the Jordan River, where John baptized Jesus, subscribe and follow our travels on the site website.