The ancient Nabataean city of Petra is the treasure of the ancient world, hidden behind an almost impenetrable barrier of rugged mountains, boasting incomparable scenes that make it the most majestic and imposing ancient site still-standing nowadays.
Petra, one of the new 7 wonders of the world, is without doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataean people, an industrious Arab people who settled here more than 2000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.
In the first and second century, after the Romans took over, the city reached the peak of its fame. When caravan routes were slowly displaced by shipping, the city’s importance gradually dwindled; it fell into disuse and was lost to the world until 1812, when it was re-discovered by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
The entrance to Petra leads through the Siq, a gorge about 2 kms long. At some points the path is only 5 meters wide, with walls 200 meters high.At the end the spectacular sight of the Khazneh awaits you, if at least the view isn’t blocked by tourist taking pictures.This is an awe-inspiring experience. A massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the sheer, dusky pink, rock-face and dwarfing everything around it. It was carved in the early 1st century as the tomb of an important Nabataean king and represents the engineering genius of these ancient people.
But … if you walk a little further it gets quiet until at a certain point you realize you’re alone. Petra covers an area of about 100 square km, where over 800 monuments can be found. The tourist guide told us the a visitor needs at least 3 days to visit Petra.
Enjoy it! 
