Sign in with Facebook"Rose Coloured City" Petra by leffe3
Petra Travel Guide: 948 reviews and 2,356 photos
Oh Petra - the pride of the Nabataeans, the lost city of more than 600 years, the 'rose-red city, half as old as time'.
It is, quite simply, extraordinary. More than 2500 years old, established by the Nabataeans as their capital on the Spice Route. They rose to power and wealth plundering the merchants as they bought their goods across the deserts to the ports of the Mediterranean. A quantam shift made them even wealthier when they realised there was more wealth to be had by protecting the same merchants! At their peak, the empire stretched as far north as Syria and into modern day Saudi Arabia. Their power bought them into contact firstly with the Greeks and then the Romans, but such was their wealth they were able to buy them off! But eventually new sea-going routes were discovered and developed, seeing the Nabataeans decline in power. But, in spite of this, the splendid city of Petra thrived. But natural disasters contributed to the decline of the city, and with the Crusaders conquering the region (and building a small fortress on the edge of the valley), the Nabataeans were a spent force. Even the Crusaders felt little need of keeping the fortress operating in such a barren environs, and their withdrawal in the 12th century left the city abandoned to a few hardy locals and folklore for more than 600 years!
A Swiss explorer, disguised as a Bedouin, eventually rediscovered the lost city in the early 19th century -but even then it was another 100 years before archaelogists moved in.
Petra - it really does live up to every expectation and so much more.....
Reviews (32)
Jinn or God Blocks
Things to Do
(24)
Other than the Obelisk Tomb, outside the Siq entrance are three huge blocks (approx 8metres high), believed to be... more travel advice
Scenic Drive to Taybeh
Off The Beaten Path
(3)
In the opposite direction to Little Petra is the village of Taybet (approximately 10-12 kms). Drive past some of the... more travel advice
Jordan's finest
Hotels
(2)
This is regarded as the finest hotel in Jordan and is located 3 minutes walk from the main gates of Petra. This was not... more travel advice
On the way to Little Petra
Off The Beaten Path
(3)
A km or so out of the town of Wadi Musa on the way to Little Petra, the road sweeps across the top of an open plateau.... more travel advice
leffe3's Related Pages
Petra Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "Petra : the city of the caravans"
- "Petra: a wonderful town"
- "A love story with Petra"
- "The Nabataean City"
- "Petra - a highlight of Jordan"
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Share Your TravelsLatest Activity in Petra
- Posted in Travel Melbourne Forum "Re: Melbourne - Great Ocean Rd"
- Uploaded a Photo to "A journey from the gate house II"
- Wrote a Review Jinn or God Blocks in Petra Things to Do
- updated a Petra Travel Page "Rose Coloured City"
- Commented on one of nepalgoods's Petra travel pages
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Comments (24)
Thank you leffe. You answered my concerns about how to attack Petra. We'll stay at least 2 full days based on your comments.
I visited Petra last year - a dream! and I cried! - but I havent done much with my page yet! Nice to see your efforts here thanks!
You certainly have a great display of pictures and comments. Sorry to hear of your thefts and setbacks, but keep the hope up.
Love your travel documentaries, expecially about the desert city of Petra. I hope to visit my namesake city one day, and other sites in Jordan. Thanks for sharing!
Nice photo documentary of Petra. From these images the Nabatean construction appears quite unique and apart from Roman architecture I've seen, although certainly influenced by it in places.
Great and impresive page and photophy I've found here! I must also read your Australian page soon as I'm very interested in visiting it. By the way I totally agree that "Love in the Time of Cholera" is the most romantic book ever.Greetings from Poland
Great pics!
Shalom khamudi, been here... started to check this page (hotels at the moment) since it look slike i'll be going there soon. will be back for the rest before my trip... Say hello when you're around. Shabat shalom. :-)
Hi - gonna visit Petra and Wadi Rum in september.Thx for the shared usefull info and greetz from Belgium
Petra holds a special enchantment--I would love to see it someday!