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Amman is located in a hilly area of north-western Jordan. The city was originally built on seven hills, but it now spans over an area of nineteen hills (each known as a Jabal, T�l, Mount or Mountain). The main areas of Amman gain their names from the hills and mountains on whose slopes they lie. The city's elevation ranges from mountain to mountain, they range from 780m-1400m (2600�4600 feet). The elevation can be clearly seen in the city's streets, as many of the roads are very steep to the point where the accompanying sidewalks are turned into stairs.

Climate of Amman, Jordan

Amman is one of the most liberal cities in the Middle East and Eurasia. Amman is also one of the most westernized cities in the region, ahead of places like Cairo or Damascus. Its culture and arts scene is thriving. Its freedom of worship is a long standing tradition of Jordan. The Jordanian media is also one of the most unrestricted in the region. Jordan has no laws forcing women or men to dress in a particular way. However, appropriate attire is expected around places of worship of both the Islamic and Christian faiths.

Due to its stability and openness, Jordan � especially Amman � is home to many different artists, writers, and musicians, many of whom are expatriates from troubled areas like Iraq or the Palestinian territories. Amman is home to many diverse religious sects making up the two primary religions of Jordan, Islam and Christianity. Numerous mosques and churches dot the capital. The most famous mosque of Amman is the King Abduallah I Mosque which can house almost 3,000 people.

Numerous cultural centers can be found throughout Amman, most notably the Al Hussein Cultural Center which contains over 30,000 books and plans to double that number, 30 computer sets, an electronic library and specialized libraries. Numerous IT and library centers can be found throughout the city.

The Al al-Bayt Institute Building located in the Hussein Public Parks points to the importance that the Hashemites give to the role of the Institute in Islamic life. Moreover, it is in line with the vision expressed by the Late King Hussein as far as the enrichment of man�s life with all sorts of knowledge. Care was taken to emphasize the Jordanian character of the project: internally, the theme is unity of elements, leading to an inner courtyard; the use of cellars, arches in roofing, and proportionality, breakage of continuity of entrances as an element of creating anticipation, in addition to the use of wood and metal in overlapping fashion whereby, in the end, a distinctly Eastern style is reflected. Externally, a viewer looking at the external fa�ade will note the extensive use of arches and Middle Eastern oriels which give the building a reflection from the inside out, as well as a particularity that differs from the urban texture, not only as a religious or cultural function but as a school of all Islamic architectural elements.

There are numerous museums in the city including the Royal Automobile Museum, the Jordan Archaeological Museum, Jordan Museum of Popular Tradition, the Jordan Folklore Museum, Souk Jara, and the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.

The Automobile Museum houses and exhibits the Late King�s collection of automobiles. The design of the building comes across as a mass merging into the surrounding environment and blends with it through the artificial planted hills which rise beyond the building�s walls.

The Jordan Archaeological Museum is located at the Citadel and houses it houses archaeological treasures from across the country like pottery, jewellery, ancient tools, etc. It also houses The Dead Sea bronze scrolls and plaster statues from Ain Ghazal, one of the world's oldest settlements.

The Jordan Museum of Popular Tradition and the Jordan Folklore Museum exhibit Jordanian handicrafts, clothing, embroidery, musical instruments,a goat hair Bedouin tent furnished with traditional objects, as well as a collection of mosaics from Madaba and other Byzantine churches across the country

The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts exhibits Jordanian art as well as art from across the region and the world. The museum in Jabal Lubweideh houses art from the rest of Europe and even the US.

Since Amman resembles Rome, as it is situated on seven hills, the city was a favorite place for Roman soldiers and officials. Behind the Roman stands a Roman theatre � the largest theatre in Jordan � with room for 6,000 spectators. Thought to have been built between 138 and 161 AD by the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, it is constructed into the side of the mountain and is still used for sports displays and cultural events.

Amman is also home to some of the grandest mosques in the Middle East, although they compare less favorably to the ones to be found in Istanbul, Turkey. The newest of these is the enormous King Abdullah I Mosque, built between 1982 and 1989. It is capped by a magnificent blue mosaic dome beneath which 3,000 Muslims may offer prayer. The most unusual mosque in Amman is the Abu Darweesh Mosque atop Jabal Ashrafieh (the highest point in the city). It is covered with an extraordinary black and white checkered pattern and is unique to Jordan. It is striking and visible from quite some distance. In contrast, the interior is totally free of the black and white scheme. Instead, there are light colored walls and Persian carpets. This religious building was erected by one of Amman's Circassians minority.

Amman is also home to many jewelers and souvenir shops for citizens and tourists alike. Amman is also a major destination for foreign students seeking study in Arabic. Amman's world-class hospitals are frequent destinations for those who seek medical treatment.

The city�s culinary scene has expanded from its famous shwarma stands and falafel joints to embrace many popular Western restaurants and fast-food outlets like McDonald's and TGIF, a host of swank Asian fusion restaurants, intimate French bistros such as La Maison Verte and authentic Italian trattorias.

• The Baptism Site (Al-Maghtas in Arabic) on the Jordan River where Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist
• Mount Nebo where, according to the Bible, Moses died
• The unique ultra saline waters of the Dead Sea, home to many first-rate resorts
• Jerash, a city of the Decapolis and considered one of the most important and best preserved Roman cities in the Near East
• The Hellenistic ruin of Qasr al Abd, in the near-by valley of Wadi Al Seer
• Petra, two hours from Aqaba, is one of the most breathtaking places in the world (one of the 7 wonders of the world)
• The beaches at Aqaba, a shipping port and Jordan's only access to the Red Sea. Just about three of four hours from Amman by car or 350 km (220 mi) away. You can also take a plane on Royal Jordanian from Queen Alia Airport to King Hussein International Airport (Aqaba Airport). The primarily industrial character of the town is mitigated by the fact that it is set between sprawling mountain ranges and boasts some of the finest coral reefs in the region.
• The unique geological rock formations of Wadi Rum. The colorful rocks are best viewed at sunset and located a half hour away from Petra. Wadi Rum has connections with T. E. Lawrence; consequently the movie Lawrence of Arabia filmed there for a number of scenes.
• Iraq Al Amir :Iraq Al Amir is situated in a lush, secluded wadi 24 km to the southwest of Amman. The area is generally known for Qasr Al-Abd (palace of the Slave), an impressive and unique building which dates from the first quarter of the 2nd century BC. Originally two stories high and constructed of megalithic stones weighing from 15-25 tons each, it is the most striking Hellenistic monument that has survived on either side of the Jordan River