Amman Citadel and Roman Theatre

Jabal Al Qala'A, The Citadel Hill Of Ancient Philadelphia (Amman), With The Roman Temple Of Hercules (C. 162 166 AD), A Byzantine Church And The Umayyad Palace Complex (8th Century), Plus The Jordan Archaeological Museum. The 6,000 Seat Roman Theatre Sits Below, Next To The Odeon And The Nymphaeum. · Amman, Amman

The Citadel crowns Jabal al-Qal'a, the hill in the middle of Amman, and gives the best view over the white, tumbling city. On top you find the Temple of Hercules, a few giant columns and a huge stone hand fragment, the Byzantine Church, and the Umayyad Palace complex, an 8th-century governor's seat with a cruciform hall and a domed audience hall. A small Jordan Archaeological Museum holds copper scroll fragments and plaster statues from Ain Ghazal, about 9,000 years old. At the foot of the hill sits the Roman Theatre, with around 6,000 seats, the Odeon and the Nymphaeum, close to downtown Al-Balad. The honest picture is a compact site. The Citadel takes 1 to 2 hours, the theatre another hour, and the stone is bare, sunny and uneven. It works best as a first stop in Jordan, with a short walk into the old streets for falafel, sweets and coffee afterwards. Go early or late, because midday sun on the bare hill is harsh, and keep a hat and water with you. Parts of the paving are steep and uneven, so wear shoes with grip.

Hilltop archaeological site above downtown Amman with the Temple of Hercules and the Umayyad Palace, and the 6,000-seat Roman Theatre at the foot of the hill, Amman, Amman, Jordan

The Citadel and the Roman Theatre are open daily, usually from morning until late afternoon, with shorter days in winter and longer ones in summer. Opening hours shift around holidays and Ramadan, so confirm locally. The museum may CLOSE one day a week. The hill and the Rainbow Street cafes stay busy into the evening, but the sites themselves are CLOSED after dark.

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