Madaba
Madaba is a combination of rural home life and a hot spot for religious tourism. Known as the “City of Mosaics”, Madaba is the cultural epicenter for Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. Just a short distance from the capital, visitors are just a stone's throw away from the holy monuments of religious iconography.
Languages spoken | English ,Arabic |
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Currency used | JOD ,USD |
Area (km2) | 39.440 km2 |
Country name | madaba |
Sports & nature
machaerus / mukawir
Dramatically situated in the hills south-west of Madaba, and overlooking the Dead Sea the fortress of Machaerus lies near the village of Mukawir traditionally associated with the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist.
An earlier fortress was built there by the Hasmonaean ruler Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 BC) to defend his eastern territory of Peraea against the Nabataeans. So impregnable was it thought to be that Jannaeus’ widow and heir, Alexandra, stored her treasure there, but the site proved not to be inviolable — in 57 BC, ten years after Alexandra’s death, when the region had descended into civil war between her two sons, the Romans asserted control and seized this strategic fortress, virtually demolishing it in the process.
In 37 BC the Roman senate proclaimed Herod (later called ‘the Great’) king over the people and lands of his Hasmonaean predecessors. Machaerus was rebuilt by Herod both as a palatial and secure summer residence and also as a defense against the neighboring Nabataeans.
This area fell to Herod Antipas. Some 30 years later Antipas divorced his wife (a Nabataean princess, daughter of Aretas IV) to marry Herodias, wife of his brother Philip. His rejected wife made her way to Machaerus, then across the nearby border with Nabataea and from there, under the protection of the Nabataean army, she went south to her father’s capital at Petra.
John the Baptist, who had so outspokenly condemned Antipas’ divorce and remarriage, also came to Machaerus – but as a prisoner. It was here that Herodias’ daughter Salome danced and, at the instigation of her mother, demanded the Baptist’s head on a charger.
Nightlife info
madaba visitors’ center
Nestled into a renovated house from the 19th century the Madaba Visitors Center is an attraction all on its own. Acquired by The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the center is a great launching point for visitors arriving to Madaba. Open 7 days a week, including holidays, the visitors center is more than equipped to prepare you for your journey into the land of mosaics and religious history.
Culture and history info
madaba institute for mosaic art
Certified in training artists in the restoration of mosaics, the Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art offers a two-year diploma program for the vocational training of mosaic restoratio
Acacia Marina
Marina di Ragusa, Sicily, Italy
event 8 days/7 nights, All Inclusive
flight_takeoff London Luton
Caesar Palace
Giardini Naxos, Sicily, Italy
event 8 days/7 nights, All Inclusive
flight_takeoff London Luton
This 10-day tour offers you a complete experience of Jordan. From north to south, you will visit the beautiful highlights of Jordan, among which some are treasures of human heritage. You will immerse in the magic and stillness of Wadi Rum Desert, walk through ancient roads build thousands of years ago by bygone civilizations and be lulled by the healing salty thermal waters of the Dead Sea. The hearth-warming Jordanian people will welcome you in high standard accommodations, where you will get to taste exquisite cuisine and engage in countless activities.
Biblical And Classic Jordan Tour – 8 Days / 07 Nights
مطار الملكة علياء الدولي، Queen Alia Airport Road, Amman, JordanFrom Airport To Airport
Visit Madaba and the Dead Sea on a full-day trip from Amman that combines two of Jordan’s highlights for a spectacular day of exploring. Door-to-door shared transport from Amman is a cost-effective, hassle-free alternative to hiring an expensive private driver or using Jordan’s limited public transit, and you’ll get straight to checking out Madaba murals, soaking up the desert sun, and floating in the Dead Sea’s super-salty water.
Spend a day exploring Roman ruins and an Islamic castle, followed by a soak in the Dead Sea, with this tour from Amman. You'll start with Jerash, a decapolis full of beautifully preserved streets and temples. From here you'll head over to Ajloun Castle and learn about its history. Then it's off to the Dead Sea, where you'll get a chance to float in its therapeutic waters before your return to Amman.
No one wants to use vacation time in Amman negotiating with local drivers, especially if your time is short. Booking this private Dead Sea trip in advance saves you time and lets you enjoy chauffeured return transport with the flexibility for photo stops on route. Plus, you get ample time to experience the Dead Sea’s waters, mud, and spa treatments as you wish, with entry fees at your own expense.