Irbid: The most important tourist destinations in Irbid Jordan

The city of Irbid or the capital of the north as it is called in Jordan. One of the greatest cities in the Levant, characterized by its picturesque nature of plateaus and mountains covered in green and grass. It also contains a very large number of important heritage places that are able to attract the attention of anyone who goes there. An ancient city whose foundation dates back to BC civilizations such as the Aramaic and Ammonite civilizations, making it one of the oldest countries and cities in the Levant region.

With the introduction of Islam in the seventh century to this city, it turned into a major city, and Muslims built many mosques and schools in it to become one of the most important Islamic centers at that time. Then came the Ayyubid period, and the city flourished further and became a trading center within the scope of the most famous Silk Road, which connected trade between Asia and Europe. Many castles and forts were built in it to preserve it because it was a strategic trading area for Muslims at the time. All this announces the diversity of places and monuments that are there to this day, and in this article we learn together about the most important tourist places in Irbid.

Jadara Castle

It is one of the most important monuments in Irbid in particular and Jordan in general. The castle of a wall has seen the passage of many civilizations. It has been passed down for generations and is still standing. The castle was founded in the Hellenistic era by the Greeks in the second century BC. The castle is known as um Qais Castle in relation to the top of the mountain on which it is built, where this area is called um Qais and is located in northern Jordan, the castle overlooks the Sea of Galilee and the Hauran Plain.

After the Romans entered Irbid in the first century AD, the castle of the wall became an important military center in this region. It was expanded from its original area built by the Greeks. In other words, the Greeks built it and the Romans expanded it. Days passed and Christianity entered the country in the fourth century AD and part of it was converted into a church. As the days passed many parts of the castle were destroyed, but in the last century it was restored.

Roman Theatre

The Roman Theater is located in the same area as Jadara Castle, and it is one of the most important tourist attractions in Irbid. This theater is located at the top of the mountain, which makes it overlook a picturesque landscape of Lake Tiberias and the Hauran Plain, meaning that the people who designed it intended the theater to be high and see this picturesque landscape. This theater has a capacity of 7,000 people, which is a large number, and is divided into sections; the lowest and closest part to the theater floor was for the ruling class and the rich, the middle section was for the middle class, and the upper part was for the working class and the poor. This theater was used at the time of the presence of the Romans when they were occupying Palestine and its surroundings. Its parts are built of limestone, and what distinguishes it most is the meticulous design of the columns and the structure of the theater next to its very beautiful location in the middle of nature and mountains.

Berkash Forest

Barqash Forest is considered one of the most important tourist places in Irbid because it represents a different type of Jordanian tourism. The Gulf states are known to be desert countries, and for the Levant countries such as Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, the situation is different. The nature of these countries contains a diverse nature, from a harsh desert, rivers and forests at the same time. The area of Barqash Forest is about 8 kilometers covered with oak trees, and is home to many diverse wild plants and animals, it is considered one of the most important tourist destinations in Irbid because it is an area that carries a lot of adventure. Tourists and visitors usually go to it to camp and walk in the wilderness, and there is also the ancient Barqash Monastery and a cave called Barqash Cave, with pictures of the shape of the trees in the fall and spring when the colors of the foliage change.

Wadi Al , Shalala

It is considered one of the most important and oldest valleys in Jordan in general, 12 km from Irbid. This valley is known for its charming nature and very high waterfall, especially in the spring, when the rain increases, and the waterfalls appear more clearly. The most characteristic of these falls is their high altitude, reaching a height of 98 feet above the ground. This valley is very popular for tourists and visitors who like to see different nature. Usually, the program of the visit is to reach the valley, then walk to the waterfalls area, then come the time to camp, eat in nature, and enjoy the scenery until sunset.

Irbid Antiquities Museum

Also known as the Dar al-Sarya Museum, it is located at the southern foot of Irbid Hill, and is one of the oldest buildings there, dating the period of the Ottoman presence in the city. The two-storey museum is a semi-castle with a stone entrance and a small garden in the center of the building, surrounded on all sides by the rest of the port. The museum includes many artifacts from the period of the Ottoman presence in Irbid, in addition to other artifacts found in the city of Irbid itself in separate areas. Visiting times in the summer from eight in the morning to seven in the evening and in the winter from seven in the morning to four in the evening because the sun sets early in winter.

Conclusion

The city of Irbid contains many places worth visiting, and although it is a small city located in the far north of Jordan, it has many features and picturesque nature, and it is considered one of the most places in Jordan that attracts a large number of tourists and visitors annually, in addition to that it contains several archaeological places and more than one museum that displays important artifacts that tell the Jordanian history and successive civilizations on this important city.