Begin your stay in the capital of the Hashemite
kingdom of Jordan, Amman, it's safe, friendly and up to date. No more
than five hours' drive from anywhere in the country, it is a convenient
pace to base your tour.
Gleaming white buildings in contemporary styles coexist with turn of the
century villas, and trendy boutiques compete with richly colorful
bazaars. A varied cuisine awaits you, as much as the Savory sweets and
mezuzah of traditional Arabic restaurants. Add to this energetic mix the
mystique of old Amman the Citadel and its defensive walls, the
magnificent Roman Theater - and you have a tourist destination of
unmatched appeal.
Amman is the modern and ancient capital of Jordan,
formerly the Ammonite capital city of Rabbath - Ammon, and later the
Geraeco Roman city called Philadelphia. Originally spread over seven
hills like Rome, Ammon now covers at least nineteen hills. It is a city
of contrasts, a mixture of ancient and modern.
Often referred to as "the white city" Amman's houses are built on many
hillsides, and form a great canvas of overlapping beiges, ochres and
whites. The outstanding whiteness is the result of the white stones of
the country used in construction rough hewn, smooth or lightly veined,
and even polished white marble.
The city, with its population of over a million, is crowned by the
Citadel, a hill with the ruins of the Temple of Hercules, and a museum
with artifacts dating back to the earliest settlement in the region some
700,000 years ago. At the foot of the Citadel is the 5,000 seat Roman
theater.
Still rapidly growing, Amman is a busy commercial and administrative
center with many fine hotels, night clubs and discos as well as modern
facilities for sporting events, conventions and conferences. There is a
wide spectrum of restaurants to meet every taste, offering choices of
food ranging from Arabic through a variety of international specialties
and fast food.
Experienced travel agents are on hand in all the hotels to handle every
conceivable travel need. Amman's Queen Alia International Airport is
located south of the city and is served by taxi and bus
transportation.