Aqaba, Jordan
The Jordanian city of Aqaba, located on the northern coast of the Red Sea, has been a busy port since ancient times. The Byzantines, crusaders, Arab caliphate fighters and many other armies fought for the right to own the port. By 1917, it was still the last Ottoman port on the Red Sea, but British troops led by Thomas Edward Lawrence managed to conquer it. These events, though somewhat inaccurate, are reflected in a British epic historical drama, Lawrence of Arabia.
Today, Aqaba is a tranquil holiday destination and the ninth largest city in Jordan. Even in winter, the temperature does not fall below +22 °C, so the 27 km long coastal area is full of hotels and restaurants, luxury yacht clubs and diving centers: the coral reefs of the Gulf of Aqaba attract many divers.
Aqaba flagpoles were built on the shore to commemorate the Arab uprising. It is the 6th tallest free-standing flagpole in the world, 130 meters high. The flagpole can be seen not only in the Aerial Pano panorama, but also from neighboring countries: Eilat in Israel and Taba in Egypt!
It is followed by another important landmark in Aqaba, the Mamluk Citadel or the Aqaba Fort. Originally built by the Crusaders in the 12th century, the fort was later occupied by Salahdin Yusuf and the fort was destroyed until it was rebuilt four centuries later by Mamluk troops from Egypt. The fortress is square in shape and has semicircular towers at the four corners. The fort has recently been restored nearby, and in Al Hafayah Park, the remains of some ancient ruins have been preserved.
Among the other parks in Aqaba are Princess Salma Park and the Green Belt. They are all a bit far from the coast and can find some cool air in the heart of the city.
Another important attraction in Aqaba is the Sharif Hussein Ben Ali Mosque, which was built in 1975 in honor of an emir in Mecca, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. A little further afield, there is a nice and convenient road intersection, Great Arab Revolt Circle; Just behind it is close to the Mövenpick Resort Hotel, where you can observe the ruins of the islamic ancient city of Ella. It is believed to exist during the reign of King Solomon and was the intersection of trade routes between Africa, Asia and Europe. Later, it became part of the Roman Empire and was the resting place of pilgrims who traveled to Mecca in the 8th-9th centuries. Archaeological research is still taking place here
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We hope you enjoy your journey past and present at this Red Sea resort created by AirPano!