We are back to Petra, in Jordan, attracted by its beauty and exoticism. If long history and monumentality of its work, entirely carved into the rock that shares its name, never cease to amaze. Here some information that will serve as a reference when preparing a visit.
Petra is an archaeological gem must for lovers of ancient cities. Petra means “rock”, as this beautiful city nestled in the Arava Valley is entirely carved in stone. They are the remains of ancient Nabataean Kingdom and its foundation dates from the third century BC With its beauty and cultural interest is one of the most visited by tourists in the East and has been designated in 2007 the new seventh wonder of the world.
The Nabataeans became an important city in step that linked the routes of the silk, those of spices and other connecting China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome. You can visit more than 800 monuments carved in reddish rock. Among them, the most famous are the Treasury, 40 meters high built in the first century; The Siq, a narrow pass that leads 1.2 km to the city, a Roman theater and the Monastery or Temple, Petra’s largest monument. To access it you have to climb 800 steps under the hot sun but worth it.
For conservation reasons is not allowed access to motor vehicles so if you want to explore the city you must do so on foot, by horse, donkey or camel. It is imperative to wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and plenty of water to drink.
In its long history, there are very interesting chapters. It was first occupied by the Edomites, a century later by the Nabataeans, perhaps society which caused it to grow more quickly by placing it at a strategic point on the trade route with Egypt, Arabia, Syria and the area south of the Mediterranean. In the VIII century is completely abandoned.
Just Petra was rediscovered in 1812 by a Swiss explorer. In 1985 UNESCO decided to include it in the list of World Heritage. At the same time, the entire area is around has been classified as National Archaeological Park in 1993.