MADABA AND VICINITY

MADABA

The trip south from Amman along the 5,000-year-old King's Highway is one of the most memorable journeys in the Holy Land, passing through a string of ancient sites. The first city you come upon is Madaba, "the City of Mosaics".

Madaba's chief attraction - in the contemporary Greek Orthodox church of St. George - is a wonderfully vivid, 6th century Byzantine mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other holy sites. With two million pieces of coloured stone, and a full 25 x 5 metres in its original state - most of which can still be seen today - the map depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns, as far away as the Nile Delta. This masterpiece is unrivalled in Jordan, but there are literally dozens of other mosaics from the 5th through the 7th centuries, scattered throughout Madaba's churches and homes.

WHAT TO SEE

The Visitors' Centre, tel. (05) 3253563. Opens daily 08:00h-18:00h. It is a good place to orient yourself for a visit to Madaba.
The Tourist Office, tel. (05) 3243376. Opens 08:00h-18:00h, closed Fri. & Sat. It is located in front of the Burnt Palace and other archaeological remains. It is another place to obtain information.
St. George's Church with its famous mosaic floor map is of course the star attraction. Opens daily 08:00h-18:00h. Admission 1 JD.

The following sites share one admission ticket for 2 JD, which can be purchased at any of the three:

Madaba Archaeological Museum, tel. (05) 3244056. Opens daily 09:00h-17:00h.
Madaba Archaeological Park.Opens daily 08:00h-17:00h.
Church of the Apostles with more stunning mosaics. Opens daily 08:00h-17:00h.
RESTAURANT & HANDICRAFTS CENTRE: Haret Jdoudna, tel. (05) 3248650

HOW TO GET THERE
By car or taxi: Madaba is 33 km from Amman. For the fastest trip, take the Airport Road directly to Madaba; for a more scenic approach, use the King's Highway.

MOUNT NEBO

Ten minutes to the west is the most revered site in Jordan: Mount Nebo, with the memorial of Moses at the presumed site of the prophet's death and burial place. A small, square church was built on the spot by early Byzantine Christians, and later expanded into a vast complex. Sixty years of excavation reveal a basilical church and a large cluster of monastic buildings. From a platform in front of the church you take in a breathtaking view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea to the rooftops of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

WHAT TO SEE
Moses Memorial Church at Mount Nebo displays a large number of the most beautiful mosaics. Opens daily 08:00h-17:00h. Admission ½ JD.

MACHAERUS
If you continue your ride on the King's Highway after leaving Madaba and turn right at Libb, you eventually arrive at Machaerus (Mukawir in Arabic), the hilltop stronghold of Herod the Great. Upon Herod's death, his son Herod Antipas inhabited the fortress, and it is here that he ordered John the Baptist to be beheaded.

HAMMAMAT MA'IN

Southwest of Madaba are the thermal mineral springs of Hammamat Ma'in or Zarqa Ma'in, where people have come for thermal treatments - or simply to enjoy a hot soak - since the days of Rome. What better way to end a day immersed in history than in a wonderful, naturally warm bath?

WHERE TO STAY

Mercure Ma'in Spa, 4-star hotel in Hammamat Ma'in, tel. (05) 3245500 fax (05) 3245550. Indoor and natural outdoor hot pools, swimming pool and therapeutic services.

UMM AR-RASAS

The Old and New Testaments mention it, the Romans fortified it and the local Christians were still embellishing it with Byzantine-style mosaics well over one hundred years after the beginning of Muslim rule: Kastron Mefaa, modern Umm ar-Rasas, has a long history. The rectangular walledcity lays in ruins, but several buildings in its eastern part, including churches, a courtyard with a well, staircases and beautifully curved stone arches have been excavated and restored. The main attraction, though, lies outside the city walls: it is the Church of St. Stephen with its perfectly preserved mosaic floor, the largest one in Jordan. It contains the images of 15 major cities of the Holy Land from both east and west of the Jordan River, making it a discovery second only to the mosaic map of Madaba. Less than 2 km north of the fortified town, the highest standing ancient tower of Jordan puzzles the specialists: a 15 metre high, square tower with no door or inner staircase, now inhabited by swarms of birds.

HOW TO GET THERE

South of Madaba, in the town of Dhiban, a road leading east takes you to the site. Alternatively, you can leave Amman on the Desert Highway passing Qastal and Jiza and turn west shortly after Dab'a.

OTHER DESTINATIONS
For a longer, more scenic trip, take in the Crusader Fort of Karak, (see the section on Crusader Castles in this brochure). Alternatively, make Madaba your first stop on a King's Highway journey ending at Petra, Wadi Rum or even Aqaba!