Petra
Description:
In the south of the country is the mysterious city of Petra, carved directly
in a rock massif by the Nabatean Arabs, more than 2,000 years ago.
The city was at the crossroads of trade routes that connected China, India and the countries of the Arabian Peninsula with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.
For a long time, Petra was the capital of the Nabataean state, which in the second century was captured by Emperor Trojan and annexed to the Roman Empire. The Romans made changes not only to the architecture of the city, but throughout its life, and the presence of the Nabataeans became less noticeable.
With the spread of the Christian religion already in the Byzantine Empire, Petra became the seat of the bishop, and churches decorated with mosaics were built in the city. In the seventh century, the city was struck by a powerful earthquake, and the once great city seemed to fall asleep for centuries. After that, the Crusaders appeared here, the construction of which suffered during the next earthquake. For the past few centuries, it was inhabited by Bedouin tribes, whose descendants can still be seen in Petra itself.
But for Europe, the city was discovered only in 1812 by the Swiss traveler, historian Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
Petra is the hallmark of Jordan, in 2007 Petra was recognized as a Wonder of the World. Any visit, from the shortest to the longest, will leave the most unforgettable impressions.