Indagare Tours: Jerash

The largest and best preserved Roman site in the world outside of Italy, Jerash is not as well known as Ephesus or Pompeii but offers an astounding view of an ancient city. The site is an hour’s drive from Amman and on the route to the Dead Sea. While there is evidence of inhabitation as far back as 3200 BC, the city’s golden age was in the time of Alexander the Great when it was named one of the great cities of the Decapolis League by Pompey.

Only part of the site has been excavated and yet as you explore its colonnaded streets, theaters, temples and squares, it is impossible not to stand in awe of the scale and grandeur. At its height, Jerash is thought to have been home to 20,000 inhabitants. A series of earthquakes contributed to its decline in 749 AD and much of the city lay buried under sand for centuries, which is why it has been so well preserved. Excavations began in the 1920’s and continue today. Among the exploreable highlights: Hadrian’s Gate (the triumphal arch built in 129 AD to honor Emperor Hadrian’s visit); the Oval Plaza; the South Theatre, which seated more than 3,000 spectators; the Cardo Maximus, or colonnaded street; the Byzantine churches with mosaic floors and the Temple of Artemis. Indagare members can contact our bookings to team to arrange a guided tour.

Indagare Tip: In July, the site is home to the Jerash Festival, an art fest that was started by Queen Noor in 1981 to celebrate Jordanian and international culture. Over the years, such legends as Placido Domingo and Diana Krall have performed in the spectacular setting. Performances have included everything from Chinese acrobats to Shakespearean plays, Italian opera and ballet. Indagare members can contact our bookings to team to arrange a day trip.