Amman is Jordan's capital and largest city, historically known as "Philadelphia" during Roman times and earlier as "Rabbath Ammon" in the Bronze Age. The original settlement was built across seven hills, or "jabals," the most famous being Jabal Amman and the Citadel Hill; today the city spans more than twenty hills.
City of Seven Hills
The ancient Roman Theatre sits at the heart of downtown, a witness to thousands of years of history, while the Citadel Hill holds the remains of a Roman temple and an Umayyad palace overlooking the whole city. Over the decades Amman has welcomed waves of refugees and migrants, making it a culturally diverse hub for people across the Arab world.
- The Roman Theatre, dating back to the 2nd century AD
- The Citadel (Jabal al-Qal'a) with its ancient ruins overlooking downtown
- Historic downtown with its traditional souks and cafes
- Rainbow Street, a hub of modern culture and nightlife
Today Amman is a major economic and educational center in the Levant, hosting numerous regional and international organizations, and serves as the main gateway for visiting famous Jordanian sites such as Petra and the Dead Sea.
