Indice
Amman is a city that fascinates at first sight, in which ancient and modern blend together to create a wonderful and seductive unicum.
The Jordanian capital, in fact, boasts very ancient origins. The first findings prove the existence of settlements in this territory since the Stone Age and, through its monuments, it is possible to read a long and lively history.
Amman has almost five million inhabitants and is spread over 28 districts, which make it extremely varied and full of different souls, often contradictory. Each district of the city is different from the others, giving life to a fascinating dynamism in which history and culture mix more and more with modernity.
GOVERNORATE: Amman
ALTITUDE: 777-1 400 m above sea level
SURFACE: 1 680 km²
PEOPLE: 4 995 000
What to see in Amman
The Citadel
Here the most impressive trace of the past that has survived to this day is the Umayyad Palace, which dates back to the first half of the 8th century. On the middle terrace below we find the Roman Temple of Hercules, whose enormous columns stand out against the sky creating a spectacular scenographic effect. The Citadel is one of the most fascinating places in Amman, not only for tourists but also for Jordanians. It stands on a hill in the city center and we recommend visiting it in the late afternoon, so you can enjoy the spectacle of the sun setting over the capital from above. Here it is not uncommon to meet old people and young people walking and relaxing from the chaos of the city center… And children playing ball until the evening!
Museums and art galleries
During your visit to the Jordanian capital, you can also consider dedicating some time to visiting some museums and art galleries. We recommend a few!
Museums:
- Jordan Museum (Ras al-Ain district)
- Royal Automobile Museum (Hada’eq al Hussein district)
- Children’s Museum (Hada’eq al Hussein district)
Art galleries:
- Orient Gallery (Abdoun district)
- Wadi Finan Art Gallery (Jabal Amman district)
- Jordan National Gallery of Fine Art (Jabal al-Lweibdeh district)
…But getting to know a city also means immersing yourself in its streets and alleys, getting lost to discover fascinating and unexpected glimpses that tell the story of the country’s culture, its history, its poems and its struggles. For this reason, we recommend that you also take a nice walk in search of the beautiful murals of the Jordanian capital.
Where to eat in Amman
Our favorite restaurants in Amman are:
- Hashem (Downtown) – This is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Here you can enjoy great hummus, felafel, fuul, fatteh and mttabbal.
- Rakwet Arab (Jabal el-Lweibdeh) – Here you can try Mansaf, the traditional Jordanian dish.
- Beit Sitti (Jabal el-Lweibdeh) – Serves traditional and refined Jordanian food.
- Khashouka (Abdoun) – They prepare delicious Bedouin recipes. For more details check out our blog post Where to Eat In Jordan
Where to sleep in Amman
Parti alla scoperta della Giordania!
History of Amman
The ancient fortified towers recall the presence of the Ammonites, who made it the capital of their kingdom, giving it the name of Rabbah, a city also mentioned in the Bible.
It was later conquered by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Seleucids and Nabateans and was renamed Philadelphia under the Ptolemies. In 63 BC it was annexed to the Roman Empire and acquired fame and importance thanks to its strategic position and the construction of new roads, public buildings, theaters and much more.
The flourishing Roman period was followed by the Byzantine and Islamic periods starting from the 7th century.
From that moment on, the city’s fortunes began to change and it experienced a long period of abandonment and decline. In 1946 Jordan became independent, officially becoming a Kingdom, with Amman as its capital.
As a crossroads of peoples and cultures, this city cannot fail to be rich in places of historical interest, museums and art galleries, while also remaining very modern and dynamic and offering visitors the opportunity to choose from numerous restaurants, cafes, trendy clubs and theatres.
