Jerash lies north-west of Amman and is best known for its ancient Roman city, which has kept its colonnaded streets, baths, theatres, public squares and arches through centuries of change. The city flourished in the Roman era and again under the Umayyads, was badly damaged by earthquakes, and came back into view in the Ottoman period.
The terrain varies from tall mountains to valleys. On the higher ground summers are cool and pleasant, while winters range from cold to very cold.
The source describes Jerash as one of the places in Jordan people most like to visit after Petra. Every July the Jerash Festival fills the ancient site with folk dance, music and poetry evenings, theatre and traditional handicrafts.
Notable landmarks include:
- The Cardo, the colonnaded main street, and the Oval Plaza
- The Nymphaeum fountain and the Jerash pools
- The North Theatre and the South Gate
- The Umayyad Mosque, uncovered in 2002, and the Hamidi Mosque