Amman Citadel
جبل القلعة
On the highest of Amman's hills, the ruins of a Roman Temple of Hercules, an Umayyad palace and a Byzantine church are layered on top of one another.
جبل القلعة is the tallest of Amman's seven hills and has been settled since the Bronze Age. Ammonites, Romans, Byzantines and the Umayyad dynasty have all ruled here, making it the historic heart of the city. Highlights include the 2nd-century Roman Temple of Hercules, where a few surviving giant columns and a fragment of a huge marble hand beside them (the original statue is estimated at 12 metres tall) form the signature sight; the 8th-century Umayyad palace complex, whose domed reception hall has been reconstructed; the ruins of Byzantine churches; and the Jordan Archaeological Museum, which houses the Ain Ghazal statues found nearby. Dating to about 9,000 years ago, they are among the oldest human figure sculptures in the world. From the edge of the citadel you can look down on Amman's old town and the Roman theatre below, with white houses covering the hills. At sunset, when the call to prayer rises across the city, the scene is especially moving. Admission is 3 dinars, included with the Jordan Pass. A taxi from the city centre takes about five minutes, or you can walk uphill from near the Roman theatre in about 20 minutes.
Opening hours
Summer 08:00–19:00; winter 08:00–16:00 (opens slightly later on Fridays)
Nearby sights
- Downtown Amman (Al-Balad)
- Roman Theatre (Amman)
- Rainbow Street
- The Jordan Museum
- King Abdullah I Mosque
- Royal Tank Museum
- Cave of the Seven Sleepers
- Royal Automobile Museum