Madaba Archaeological Park: What to See in Jordan’s City of Mosaics

The park was established in the 1990s by the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in cooperation with international organizations, to protect Madaba's mosaic heritage from rapid urban expansion. It encompasses the remains of several historical structures, most notably the 6th-century Church of the Virgin Mary, which was discovered in 1887 under the floor of a private house. The site also includes the Hippolytus Hall, part of an early 6th-century Byzantine mansion, and the Crypt of Saint Elianus. Today, it serves as a protected zone to preserve and display these antiquities.

This site protects some of Jordan's most important late-antique and Byzantine artwork. While the nearby St. George's Church holds the famous map of the Holy Land, this park contains the oldest known mosaic in Madaba, dating to 767 AD in the Church of the Virgin Mary. It demonstrates the transition of architectural and artistic styles across Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods. The preservation of these mosaics provides essential context for understanding the cultural history of the region and urban planning of classical antiquity.