Jerash Archaeological Site

"The main attraction of Northern Jordan and - for the lovers of Roman history - the largest Roman ruins in all of the Middle East. With ruins dating back from as far as 330 BCE, the majority of the buildings date back to around 100 CE when Jerash - or Gerasa as the Romans called it - was at its peak. Visiting Jerash and touring the whole site can easily take four or five hours with so many different places to see. Since the 1920's, the Jordanians have slowly restored many of Jerash's main sites. While UNESCO had some qualms and has withheld World Heritage Site designation, it does provide a unique opportunity to see Roman ruins in a surprisingly good shape. Some of the highlights includes Hadrian's Arch - an entry to the city built by the emperor himself, the colonnaded street, and the forum with Ionic columns that look impressive enough to be in Rome itself. This only scratches the surface, with multiple temples, a hippodrome, a nymphaeum and a whole lot more. The site also has a nice museum that shows off the history of the site and some wonderful archeological finds from the region. Tours of the site can be arranged; however, signage and maps are surprisingly good, especially relative to other ruins around the Arab world. While a guide may help to explain some of the historical significance, you can have a wonderful visit without one. If you enjoy the arts and Arab music - both modern and traditional - Jerash's amphitheater, dating back to the ancient days, hosts the Jerash Festival in July. This week long festival has various concerts and events and draws some of the Arab World's best musicians and performers! "