Exploring Madaba in Jordan

This time, I arranged half a day to explore Madaba in Jordan. This small town is famous for its exquisite mosaic art and is known as the 'City of Mosaics'. The first stop was St. George’s Church, which houses the oldest map of the Middle East in the world—the Madaba Map. This mosaic map, depicting the Holy Land in the 6th century AD, is an important artifact for understanding ancient geography. Although parts of it have been damaged, you can still clearly see details such as Jerusalem and the Jordan River, which is very impressive. Next, we went to the Madaba Archaeological Park, which showcases more well-preserved mosaic floors, as well as Roman and Byzantine ruins, giving a sense of the city's historical depth. Finally, we walked through the alleys of the old town, admired local handicrafts, enjoyed the leisurely atmosphere, and had a traditional Jordanian meal. Madaba may be small, but its rich cultural heritage and unique art make it well worth a visit!