Petra

Petra

This Nabataean caravan city has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Lying between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, it was an essential junction between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. Half built, half carved into the rock, Petra is encircled by mountains full of passages and gorges. It is one of the most renowned archaeological sites in the world, where the traditions of the ancient Eastern world blend with the architecture of the Hellenistic period. Carved out of the rock formations of Jordan's southern desert by the Nabataeans over 2000 years ago, Petra is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Around the 6th century BC, the Nabataean kingdom chose Petra as its capital. The sprawling city was one of the most advanced of its time. It even had a water management system. By the time the Roman Empire took over, the Nabataean kingdom functioned as an important spice trade route. Around 660 A.D., Petra was hit by an earthquake, and with its essential infrastructure wiped out, the city was deserted and all but forgotten until 1812, when a Swiss explorer rediscovered what was once the capital of the Nabataean kingdom. Although the caves and ruins were inhabited by Bedouins at the time, archaeologists began to excavate parts of the city. After it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Bedouin population moved out. Over the past few years, more and more of the Lost City has been uncovered, and with it, a wealth of hidden treasures. Nowadays, Petra is a National Park and the number one tourist destination in Jordan.