Umm Ar-Rasas

A 32 km east of Madaba in Jordan, is Umm ar-Rasas, an ancient enclave that is mentioned in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The rectangular walled city is mostly in ruins, but still retains several buildings, four churches and some beautiful stone arches. The main attraction is located outside the city walls, in the church of San Esteban. Here, many mosaics that go as far back as 785 have been perfectly preserved. It represents the fifteen major cities of the Holy Land, from east to west of the Jordan River. The edges of the wall are even decorated in colorful, magnificent mosaic artwork.