Jordan contains the ancient city of Petra, famous for its rose-colored rock-cut architecture.
Petra lies in southern Jordan, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. The Nabataeans developed it as their capital and connected it to caravan routes carrying frankincense, spices, textiles, and other goods across the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant.
The city is reached through the Siq, a narrow natural gorge. Its most recognizable monument is Al-Khazneh, often called the Treasury, although archaeologists believe it was probably a royal tomb rather than a storehouse of treasure.
Petra was later incorporated into the Roman Empire. Earthquakes and changing trade routes contributed to its decline, and the site became less prominent for centuries. Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt brought it to wider European attention in 1812. Petra became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.