Citadel Amman All You Need to visit Jordan

The area known as the Citadel sits on the highest hill in Amman, Jebel Al Qala’a (about 850m above sea level), and is the site of ancient Rabbath-Ammon. Occupied since the Bronze Age, it’s surrounded by a 1700m-long wall, which was rebuilt many times during the Bronze and Iron Ages, as well as the Roman, Byzantine, and Umayyad periods.

There’s plenty to see, but the Citadel’s most striking sights are the Temple of Hercules and the Ummayad Palace.

Citadel Amman

Geographical location

The Amman Citadel is located on top of Jebel Al Qala’a, a hill in the city of Amman. The hill is situated 850 meters above sea level and overlooks the old city. It is located in the downtown area of Amman.

Temple of Hercules

Built during the reign of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 161–80), very little remains of this once grandiose palace.

Two giant pillars and the crumbling podiums they stand on are the most visible remains of the temple and can spot from all around the city.

Citadel Amman All You Need to visit Jordan

A huge, stone hand rests solemnly in front of the temple, showcasing the level of craftsmanship that decorated the temple during its glory days.

Umayyad Palace

The citadel’s most striking series of historic buildings is the domed, 8th-century Umayyad Palace. Located behind the archaeology museum, this formerly elaborate complex of royal and residential buildings now houses a column-lined courtyard, an audience hall, and an enormous ancient cistern that once supplied water to the palace complex and surrounding areas.

The domed audience hall is the most impressive part of the complex and is intact. The structure shaped like a cross, mirroring the Byzantine church built upon. Though archaeologists have been working on the site since the 1920s, large sections have yet to excavate.

Umayyad Palace

The Jordan Archaeological Museum

Within the citadel, the complex is the quaint Jordan Archeological Museum. The museum is arranged chronologically and houses 6,000-year-old Neolithic statues, a Dead Sea bronze scroll written in Aramaic characters, and ancient items of daily life, like pottery, glass, flint, and metal tools. The museum is small but still worth a visit.

Citadel Amman All You Need to visit Jordan

When to visit the citadel

It’s impossible to visit the citadel at a bad time, as the ruins and breathtaking views of the surrounding city are stunning at any time of day.

Sunset is an especially beautiful time to visit, as the soft light on the ruins makes for even more dramatic photos. Be warned, yet, that sunset at the citadel is not a secret, so you may be sharing the moment with a lot of other people.