Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
nants of Philadelphia, particularly the ruins on top of Jebel al-Qala'a, and the Roman
Theatre downtown. The most interesting part of this open-hearted city, however, is the
chance that it affords to meet its cosmopolitan inhabitants - in the souqs of downtown, for
example, or in the coffeeshops and modern malls of its fashionable hilltop neighbour-
hoods of Jebel Amman and beyond.
DOWNTOWN
Citadel
( 4638795; Jebel al-Qala'a; admission JD2; 8am-4pm Sat-Thu Oct-Mar, to 7pm
Sat-Thu Apr-Sep, 10am-4pm Fri year-round)
The area known as the Citadel sits on the
highest hill in Amman, Jebel al-Qala'a (about 850m above sea level), and is the site of an-
cient Rabbath-Ammon. Artefacts dating from the Bronze Age show that the hill was a
fortress and/or agora (open space for commerce and politics) for thousands of years. The
complex is surrounded by 1700m-long walls, which were rebuilt many times during the
Bronze and Iron Ages, as well as the Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad periods.
The Citadel ticket office is on the road leading up to the Citadel's entrance. Multilin-
gual, fully licensed guides (up to JD15 per hour) usually congregate near the ticket office
and can really enhance your visit.
The only access roads to the Citadel are from Al-Malek Ali bin al-Hussein St. It's better
to hire a taxi for the trip up (around JD1 from downtown) but save some energy for the re-
commended walk down. Steps lead from east of the Citadel complex, past a viewing plat-
form to Hashemi St, opposite the Roman Theatre. This makes a fine start to a walking
tour of downtown.
RUIN
Temple of Hercules
The most striking attraction of the Citadel are two giant standing pillars, remains of the
Roman Temple of Hercules. Once connected to the Forum (downtown), the temple was
built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-80). The only obvious remains are
parts of the podium and the columns, which are visible from around town. There's also a
rather touching remnant of a stone-carved hand which shows something of the level of de-
tail that would have adorned the temple in its glory days. Nearby is a
lookout
with sweep-
ing views of the downtown area.
National Archaeological Museum
This modest museum, just northwest of the Temple of Hercules, has some rather astonish-
ing items, including the famous Ain Ghazal figures. Dating from 6500 BC they are among
