The Danqur al-Khazneh, the Treasury (al-Khazneh), Petra, Jordan. von ER's Eyes

A dramatic lookout about 200 meters above the entrance to the Siq. The Al-Khazneh (building that appears in "Indiana Jones"), for example, is a work of century 1 a.C .: made like real mausoleum. Its façade, of Hellenistic inspiration, impresses by the dimensions: it is 43 meters of height by 30 of width. At the top of one of the mountains surrounding Petra is another work of art: the Ad-Deir, another mausoleum, but which was used in the 5th century AD as a Byzantine church. To visit it, you have to face 800 steps that lead to the top. Petra was a powerful city. The Nabataeans put her on the route of the caravans that crossed the Arabian peninsula towards the Mediterranean or the Red Sea. They have developed irrigation systems and built dams to store rainwater that falls from time to time into the desert. In its peak, the place had 30 thousand inhabitants. *** The ruins of the city of Petra have more than 2,000 years of history since the foundation by the Nabateans, a Bedouin people who ruled part of Jordan. From the red stones of the desert comes the nickname of 'pink city', since its buildings were excavated in the rocks of this coloration. Bastion of caravans coming or going to the East, the place even housed 30,000 people at its peak. From the Nabataeans, Petra passed into the dominion of the Romans, Byzantines and Crusaders until being forgotten in the midst of the sands of time. There are ruins of all these periods scattered by its 264 km ². So book at least two days to get to know Petra, as it is extremely tiring to try to see everything in just one visit, especially if you want to walk the trails, such as Al Kubtha. Only the entrance canyon, with rock walls of more than 200 meters high, is two kilometers long. Outside it, the great attractions of the archaeological site are the Treasury, the Monastery, the series of ornate tombs and the Roman ruins. Also, do not miss the 'Petra by Night' show, when the path to the ruins and facade of the Treasury are lit by thousands of candles. Petra is in southern Jordan, in a town called Wadi Musa. To get to it you can hire a private driver or take a taxi (private or collective, which works as a bus) from any city in the country, as it is very small. From the capital, Amman, it is only three hours drive by express highway.