Jordan Lives With Many Contrasts

Three Secrets to Understanding Jordan

Perhaps because of its history or because it contains two of the seven wonders of the world, Jordan is a country that has always fascinated the East and the West. In recent years, it is emerging as a vital tourist destination and here’s why.

It is one of the few places in the world where opposites coexist yet complement one another: a natural wonder, the Dead Sea and a lively one, the city of Petra.

Everything happens spontaneously in Jordan, providing an example of tolerance and respect: tradition and modernity, the desert and the sea without life, Roman history and grandeur Ottoman, a pearl in the desert that gradually, perhaps because of these values, has become one of the most advanced countries of the Middle East. But there are tourists who seek to discover and visit this unique mix that makes the country attractive for all types of travelers. We'll show you three cities, to get to know Jordan from beginning to end, to know the extremes of the life of the locals, all different yet peaceful.

COSMOPOLITAN AMMAN

The capital, Amman, is cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic. Something like what occurred in Rome, Amman was born on seven hills or jebels, which in turn defined the seven areas in which the city is composed. On the highest hill (almost 1000m) is the citadel, an ancient Roman acropolis and restructured in the Middle Ages where it can be an overwhelming landscape. The contrasts do exist here as well, car horns and prayers, mobile phones and cries of traders: this tension ends at the end of the working day and the friendliness of its inhabitants make it an unforgettable city. Some possible accommodations in Amman are Abbasi Palace and Farah Hotel.

AQABA AND THE SEA

Aqaba arises in a magical position between the sea and the mountains. It is the only seaport achieved after losing much of its territory to neighboring Saudi Arabia. Aqaba is the city where Lawrence of Arabia won the Turkish Empire. Known for its crystal clear waters and white sand beaches, it also has a citadel built by the Mamluks in the ruins of a city of the Crusaders. Scuba diving or snorkeling are some of the sports, and just off the coast, you can still see the remains of the Six Day war. Bikini bathing is forbidden, so here we have two places to go with private beach: Darna Village and International Arab Divers Village.

MYSTERIOUS PETRA

Without a doubt, Petra is the pearl of the Middle East. The history that precedes it and the natural landscape that emerges wrapped in a legendary and mysterious halo. In 1812, the Swiss Burckhardt disguised as a Bedouin came to the ruins of this city between gorges and impossible chasms. Red, yellow and green natural colors contrasted with the white stone monuments literally cut into the rock.

A civilization disappeared into nothingness, the Nabataeans, of which today are the remains of amphitheaters, tombs, and, of course, the monastery. An impressive façade of 45 meters wide and 50 meters high carved into the rock. This temple was declared a UNESCO heritage site and is unique for having been built in reverse, i.e. from head to toe. Being in Petra may seem like to be hiking until the end of the world.

To relax and sleep after the 788 steps, here’s nothing better than the hotels that we recommend: Cleopatra hostel and Orient Gate Hotel.