VISIT TO PETRA

The ancient city of Petra located in the heart of Jordan far enough from the Dead Sea has always been one of the favorite places for the tourists. After an amazing tour to Petra, I can assure it deserves visiting. The city can become a pearl of the entire journey to the country. There are many disputes concerning the issue, whether it is really a city or just a giant necropolis. The name “Petra” is translated from Greek as ‘stone’. However, the high reddish mountains and the buildings cut of them are not the only things, which draw the attention. Today, it is one of the New World Wonders.

There are several places, which are ‘must-see’ in Petra to look into the mystery of Jordan:
• Al-Khazneh. It is a temple of Arab Nabatean Kingdom. This impressive building was cut out of the rock in the 1st century AD. Walking through the temple, you can literally feel the atmosphere of the ancient times. Some people are sure that the building was created as the tomb for the king, while the others are certain that the treasures were hidden there either by the pharaohs or by the robbers.
• Ad Deir (The Monastery). This temple was created by the Nabatean people to commemorate the king Obodas I. Make sure you have comfortable footwear as the territory of the building totals over 250 square meters. If you want to see something amazing – follow the path to the upper tier of Ad Deir. Don’t worry about the hot weather, as there are enough places to have rest and drink something cooling nearby.
• Byzantine Church. This monument dated 450 AD is a striking example of the human’s creativity and talent. All the decorations and even the mosaic exist to our time. You can observe local and mythical creatures on the walls, beautiful columns, and a large cupola. It is one of the greatest achievements of ancient civilization. The work of archeologists in that place started only in 1992, so there are still lots of things we can expect to see from the Byzantine Church.
• Moses’ Spring. This legendary place is located near Wadi Musa. People believe that Moses treated his companions with the water during the way from Egypt to Canaan. As the legend says, he made the water from a plane stone. It is impossible to check but we all want to believe in wonders. Besides, there is a Tomb of Aaron not far from the spring, which is another advisable place to see.

There more sights to observe in Petra, so it’s a good idea to visit it several times. You can even buy a ticket for two or more days to enjoy every corner of Petra. It is possible, for instance, to stay in Aqaba, as it’s located about 100 km from Petra.