Jordan contains the ancient city of Petra, famous for its rock-cut architecture.
Petra was established by the Nabataeans, an Arab people who made it a major caravan centre. Its buildings were carved into rose-coloured sandstone cliffs, producing the nickname “Rose City.” The most recognizable monument is the Treasury, although Petra includes tombs, temples, streets, water channels, and other structures across a broad archaeological landscape.
The city flourished from the Hellenistic period into the Roman era and was annexed by Rome in 106 CE. Petra’s importance declined as trade routes changed, and it became less known outside the region until its reintroduction to European audiences in the early 19th century. UNESCO inscribed Petra as a World Heritage Site in 1985, and it became one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.