Petra is the ancient city famous for monuments carved into rose-red cliffs in Jordan. It was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom and became a major centre for caravan trade between Arabia, the Levant and the Mediterranean.
Petra’s most recognizable façade is Al-Khazneh, often called the Treasury. Other major features include the Siq gorge, the Monastery, tombs and a large theatre. Nabataean engineers also built sophisticated water channels, cisterns and reservoirs to support the city in a dry environment.
Petra declined after trade routes shifted and earthquakes damaged parts of the settlement. It became widely known in Europe after Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt visited in 1812. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.