Visiting the Ancient City of Petra

Petra: The Rose City of Jordan

History enthusiasts must include Petra on their bucket list. The lost city displays beautiful rose-red cliffs together with its marvelous monuments that attract visitors to explore. Petra presents visitors with additional attractions which go beyond its main sights that include the Treasury and Monastery. The best time to take Jordan tours occurs during spring and autumn because these seasons provide cooler weather together with perfect conditions for taking photographs.

Ancient City of Petra History

The Rose City of Petra located in Jordan displays its ancient tombs and temples and palaces which people carved into pink sandstone more than 2000 years ago. Petra became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and has since remained an archaeological treasure which attracts both researchers and tourists.

The Nabataeans built Petra as their capital city which served as a trading center and a cultural hub for their nomadic Arab society that controlled spice and incense trade routes between Arabia and Egypt and India and the Mediterranean.

Petra contains cliff-carved monuments which display tombs and temples and amphitheatres and palaces and homes that draw inspiration from Greek and Roman design. The city developed a complex water system which consisted of caves and cisterns and underground channels to maintain its operations during periods of drought or enemy assaults.

Visitors today can discover Petra through Jordan day tours which allow them to walk historic routes or visit rock-cut structures at their own pace.

Lost City of Petra

Petra brings visitors to experience a historical time period. The archaeological site delivers an unforgettable adventure through its exceptional natural beauty and the warm hospitality of Jordanian people. The site became known to Johann Ludwig Burckhardt when he travelled through Jordan after hearing tales about a concealed city in Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses).

The Siq, a narrow gorge, opens onto the awe-inspiring Treasury. The Street of Facades and Theatre and Monastery create an opportunity to observe how Nabataeans used their stone-carved water channels to support a community of 30000 people.

From Nabataean Capital to Modern Marvel

Petra began as the City of the Rose and developed into a thriving trading center which drew caravan traffic from all parts of the ancient world. The Treasury and Great Temple demonstrate the building's unique architectural style which combines Arabic and Greek and Roman design elements. The Roman conquest in 106 AD established Petra as a prosperous city until trade routes began to change.

Petra attracts millions of tourists each year and has appeared in movies including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and The Mummy Returns. Visitors can find their preferred activities from Petra's natural beauty and Jordan's diverse cultural traditions. Next Holiday Travel offers private tours of Petra for all travelers who wish to discover this site.