Petra

Description

Petra is a famous archaeological site in Jordan's southwestern desert, specifically in the province of Ma’an. Dating to around 300 B.C., it was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom.  It had a prestigious position, because it was located on the Silk Road, in addition it was located in the middle of the civilizations of the Levant, Mesopotamia and Pharaonic civilization in Egypt, so it was a center of trade between all these civilizations.

Accessed via a narrow canyon called Al Siq, it contains tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone cliffs, earning its nickname, the "Rose City" or "Pink City".  Its most famous structure is the 45m-high temple with an ornate, Greek-style facade known as Al Khazneh or Treasury.  It has an elaborate system of old canals, terraces, rock-carved rooms and many facilities.

Petra had remained hidden from western eyes for many, many centuries. The last Europeans to visit the city were the Crusaders.  It had faded from memory and native inhabitants kept the whole of Wadi Musa - where Petra is situated - guarded from intruders. It wasn't until 1812 that a 27 year old Swiss explorer named Johann Burckhardt redisovered Petra.  Today, Petra belongs to the most impressive and most visited tourist attractions in the Near East. 

In 2007, it was chosen as one of the seven new wonders of the world in 2007 and listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.