Amman, Area: 1,680 km² and the capital of Jordan, is a modern city with numerous ancient ruins. Atop Jabal al-Qala’a hill, the historic Citadel includes the pillars of the Roman Temple of Hercules and the 8th-century Umayyad Palace complex, known for its grand dome. Built into a different downtown hillside, the Roman Theater is a 6,000-capacity, 2nd-century stone amphitheater offering occasional events. Weather: 4°C, Wind W at 21 km/h, 90% Humidity
See
Although the capital of a diverse kingdom, Amman is not what one would call “packed” with things to see, making it a great gateway to explorations further afield. Even so, the city does hold a few items of historical and cultural interest (allow about 2 days to see them).
The Roman Theatre. The entrance of JOD1 also covers the folklore museum and popular culture museum.
A Roman-era Nymphaeum
An Ammonite-era watchtower
Jordan Museum (closed Tuesdays. 10:00-15:30, foreigners 5 JD) – Modern, a large building in the center of Amman. The ground floor has an exhibition of the history of Jordan from paleolithic times to the Byzantine. Paleolithic is on the right, go round counter-clockwise through the Greek (Hellenistic) and Roman to the Byzantine. Up one level to see some photographs from the Great Arab Revolt (1916) that marked the end of the Ottoman era.
Royal Automobile Museum (closed Tuesdays)
Royal Automobiles Museum, Amman, Jordan
File: Cave of the Seven Sleepers, Amman, Jordan.jpg
Cave of the Seven Sleepers, Amman, Jordan
National Art Gallery (closed Tuesdays and Fridays)
Ummayad Palace
the Citadel (Jabal al-Qal’a) – located in the center of both ancient and modern Amman.
the Temple of Hercules – Roman period remains
the Byzantine Church – dating to the 5th-6th centuries
the Ummayad Palace – situated in the northern portion of the Citadel, entrance JD2. Offers a great view of Amman.
the National Archaeological Museum – situated on the Citadel, the museum is a small but interesting collection of antiquities from all over Jordan. Fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls which used to be housed here are now being transferred to the new National Museum of Jordan.
Darat al Funun or ‘small house of the arts’ in Jabal el Weibdeh, overlooking the heart of Amman, is housed in three adjacent villas from the 1920s (and the remains of a sixth-century Byzantine church built over a Roman Temple), it has a permanent collection and also holds changing exhibitions. In the same area, there are other small art galleries and the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.
Rainbow St. near the 1st Circle in Jabal Amman is an interesting area to walk around and explore, it is named after the old Rainbow Cinema which is now out of use, but the area has been recently experiencing a revival with many of the old houses being restored and put into use, in the area there are some cafes and bars including Books@cafe and Wild Jordan both with great views, a Hammam, the Royal Film Commission which sometimes holds outdoor screenings on its patio and some interesting small shops. Across the street from the British Council on Rainbow St., there is the refreshing Turtle Green Tea Bar where everything is in English and you can borrow a laptop to access the internet while enjoying your snack. Most places there offer free Wi-Fi, yet expect to pay JOD3.5 for a cup of coffee.
The cultural scene in Amman has seen some increased activities, notably cultural centers and clubs such as Makan House, Al Balad Theater, the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative, Small, and Zara gallery. Around the 1st of September, the Jordan Short Film Festival takes place.
View Amman, View Amman occupies a ground floor corner in Amman city hall in Ras Al-Ain, in the middle of the cultural hub of the city and in close proximity to the city center.from Sa-Th 08:00-15:00. View Amman provides information on today’s planning efforts. It’s the first permanent exhibition space dedicated to the future of the city’s architecture documenting major development across this city, it demonstrated the here and (nearly) now, both the existing chaotic urban form that Amman is draped over and highlighting the forthcoming major development in the city. Exhibited articles include:
•6x8m model of Amman that covers 99 square km from Amman and spreads from the city center highlighting existing landmarks.
•Narrating Amman exhibition
•Children’s corner
•King Abdullah II house of culture and art. free. edit
Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Hosni Fareez St., Amman, Jordan (Near King Abdullah I Mosque) (Summer: 9:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m.) (Winter: 9:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m.) Every day except Tuesdays and Fridays. The Gallery is closed on Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Christmas, and New Year. Working hours during Ramadan from 9:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m.. Collection of temporary arts from the 1970s to 2012, main artists from Arabic areas (Tunisia, Maroc, Palestinian territories, and (of course) Jordan). The museum consists of two buildings, three floors each, which are located face to face on an oval park. The park features sculptures. The ticket (5 JD, Dec 2014) is valid for both buildings. Take care, in google maps indexed at a wrong location (December 2014).
Jordan Museum, Ali Bin Abi Taleb St 10, Amman 11183, Jordan, [3]. Closed Tuesday. Much history takes you through different ages of Jordan’s civilizations. Material as old as 25k BC was collected from Jordanian territory on display. Very well displayed. JOD 5 entry fees for foreigners. 1-2 hours. 5JD. Cave of the Seven Sleepers, Amman, Jordan. Byzantine cave, from the story of the seven sleepers according to both the Bible and Quran edit
