Culture of Amman. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Start your observation of the city's attractions from visiting the ancient Citadel, which is located on one of the highest hills of the city. Here you will find the surviving exquisite Byzantine churches, and Umayyad Palace that never ceases to amaze travelers with its fairy-tale beauty. The facade of the palace is decorated with skillful carving, and the interior of its spacious halls and corridors strikes with luxury. At the foot of the hill is located another sight of antiquity - the Roman amphitheater. The amphitheater is preserved in such a great condition till our days that musicians and artists keep using it for its primal purpose. The venue often becomes the location of concerts and festivals, as well as other cultural events.

Archaeological excavations never stop in the territory of Amman. You can see the precious findings and discoveries of scientists in Archaeological Museum. There is Jordanian Folklore Museum just next to the amphitheater. The beautiful mansion exhibits an interesting collection of national costumes, household utensils, musical instruments and crafts. The interior of the building is decorated in strict following of all the traditions of past centuries. Jordanian Museum of Popular Traditions is just a few steps away. The main exhibits of the museum are priceless jewelry and costumes, the age of many of which is more than one hundred years.

If the abovementioned Roman amphitheater can accommodate up to six thousand visitors, the Odeon is designed for 600 visitors only. This amphitheater is in perfect condition and remains a constant venue for music concerts. Art lovers will be interested in visiting Gallery of Fine Arts. In numerous halls of the gallery you will find rich collections of ceramics, paintings and sculptures. The majority of the exhibits presented here are the works of contemporary artists of Jordan and the neighboring Muslim countries. Young curious travellers will be more interested in visiting Children’s Museum. Here little visitors can attend interesting excursions and lectures. By the way, all exhibits present in the museum can be not only seen by children, but also touched. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The memorial of the martyrs located near Military Museum is an important object of excursions. The memorial was opened in the memory of the victims who had been killed during the uprising of 1916. In the museum visitors can learn about all the important historical events that the country has had to endure over the last hundred years. University of Jordan is simply impossible to ignore. Its territory is also home to several interesting museums. One of them is devoted to biological discoveries, and the other one is about medicine. There are also Folklore Museum and Museum of Archaeology.

The Royal Automobile Museum is an equally interesting one, which features a collection of King Hussein’s cars. This place is very popular among lovers of retro cars of 1950-1960th. The cars are not the only reason they love this place. It is the atmosphere reigning here, which makes you believe that you went back in time, and it is rather difficult to doubt it. There is also a museum here called the Children’s Museum, where young citizens learn to interact with the outside world through interactive exhibits. Kids also get to try themselves in different professions, which captivate them and teach them to understand other people.

The sacred sights in Amman also attract particular attention as they are built in the form of palaces. Abu Darwish Mosque is worth anyone’s attention. It is very peculiar, and has long been referred to by the common people simply as “the black and white mosque”. Such a landmark simply cannot be missed because it stands out from the rest. The time of construction of this mosque is attributed to 1961. However, the only nuance you should be aware of is that it is open only to Muslims, while people of other religious faiths can enjoy only the exterior view.

Another mosque majestically towering over the city bears the name of King Hussein bin Talal. It can definitely be mistaken for a palace. The place of worship is as good on the outside as it is on the inside, and it looks beautiful both at night and during the daytime. You can discover an absolutely amazing place if you walk along Ahl al Kahf street and stumble upon a cave with the same name. If translated, it means “The Cave of the Seven Sleepers”. The cave is located on the territory of the mosque, and it will be interesting to know that you do not need to pay any money to visit it. The seven sleepers are considered the patrons of the navigators. A very fascinating story is connected with the cave, and any local will gladly tell it to you to the smallest details. You just need to carefully listen and delve into it, and then of course, go down to the cave to enjoy the extraordinary atmosphere.

The magnificent castle Qasr al-Abd (meaning “Castle of the Slave”) is interesting from an architectural point of view and attracts attention with its romantic history which you should definitely hear. It is believed that the palace was built from the largest blocks that were used in the Middle East. Lions and eagles, located on the upper part of the palace, immediately draws attention to themselves – thus, the palace cannot be confused with any other. Another interesting palace is the beautifully preserved monuments of early Islam. This is about Qasr Al-Kharanah. The building was constructed in the 8th century, and was considered to be a caravanserai or a place of rest for merchants.