©
David Debrincat
Jordan Travel Guide
©
David Debrincat
Far nicer than the capital, Amman, the town of Madaba is an ideal base for visiting the surrounding area. A great stop-over to discover during your visit to Jordan, the town has the reputation of being built on mosaics.
Situated just 30 kilometres south of the capital, Amman, the quiet, peaceful town of Madaba is an ideal place to rest and to discover the surrounding area. Before you even think about setting off, do not forget to explore Madaba. Another advantage of setting down your suitcases here is that Madaba, is closer to the Queen Alia international airport than the capital itself. Therefore, it is very practical to stay here before returning home.
Now that you're settled in, let's start exploring. Above all, do not be surprised if the sound of bells wakes you up. You're not dreaming, even if it can seem quite odd during a trip to Jordan. Madaba is a Christian town, evident by the beautiful Church of Saint George and the magnificent Church of the Apostles. Incidentally, Pope Benedict XVI came here in 2009 during an official visit.
Madaba also has a reputation built on the art of mosaics. If you have ever admired any relics in the two aforementioned churches, you will find the most beautiful works in the archaeological park. Here, you can also admire some of the oldest in the world. You can see even more very old and very beautiful mosaics in the town's museum. If you have a great passion for the genre, and the visits above haven't satisfied your hunger, you can see even more at Burnt Palace.
Once you have completed your sightseeing in Madaba, do not immediately leave this charming town. From here, you can visit the capital of Amman, for example. Buses and minibuses run throughout the day. It can be practical to go to Amman during the day and more pleasant to stay the night in Madaba.
You can do the same when going swimming in the legendary Dead Sea. You can easily do a day's round trip.
The most popular excursion from Madaba is undoubtedly that which shows you round the various biblical sites of the region. In one day, you will visit Mount Nebo, the village of Khirbet-al-Mukhayat and the site of Bethany, known locally as Al-Maghtas.
