3.Petra, Jordan
Petra, Jordan’s medieval city, lies tucked away in a lonely valley between sandstone cliffs and mountains. It was reported to be one of the places where Moses struck a rock and water sprang from it. It then became the capital of the Nabataeans, an Arab tribe, and flourished during this time, becoming a key commercial hub, notably for spices. The Nabataeans were excellent carvers who fashioned dwellings, temples, and tombs into the fading light-colored sandstone. They also constructed a water system that allowed them to farm and enjoy lush gardens. At its heyday, Petra was said to hold 30,000 people. However, as trade routes shifted, the city began to decay.A severe earthquake in 363 CE caused additional problems, and Petra was gradually abandoned until another earthquake hit in 551. Even though it was discovered in 1912, archaeologists largely ignored the city until the later decades of the 20th century, leaving many questions unsolved.
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