Madaba is known as the “City of Mosaics”, and it earns the name. About 30 km south-west of Amman, this easy-going town keeps one of the most important mosaics in the world on the floor of a working church — a 6th-century map of the Holy Land — along with mosaic floors in churches, palaces and an archaeological park around the old centre. Nearby, Mount Nebo looks out over the Jordan Valley from the spot where, according to the Bible, Moses was shown the Promised Land. This guide covers both: what to see, the stories behind them, and how to combine them with the Dead Sea and the Baptism Site in a single day from Amman.

Madaba and Mount Nebo at a glance

A short history of Madaba

Madaba is old: the town goes back to the Middle Bronze Age and was once a border town of Moab, changing hands between Israel and Moab. Under Roman and then Byzantine rule it belonged to the province of Arabia, and by 451 it had a Christian community with its own bishop. Many of its famous mosaic floors date from this Byzantine period. The town came under Muslim rule in 629 and later formed part of an Umayyad province.

By the 19th century Madaba lay in ruins. Its modern story begins in 1880, when Arab Christian families from Karak resettled the town — and building work soon began uncovering its mosaics, the Madaba Map among them.

The Madaba Map at St George’s Church

What it is. Set into the floor of the Greek Orthodox Basilica of St George — often called the “Church of the Map” — the Madaba Map is a mosaic map of the Holy Land made in the 6th century AD, probably between 542 and 570. It is described as the oldest surviving original map of the Holy Land, and it includes the earliest known picture of Byzantine Jerusalem, labelled the “Holy City”.

What to look for. Find Jerusalem and its New Church of the Theotokos; the Jordan River; the Dead Sea with two fishing boats on it; and Jericho ringed by palm trees. The map faces east, towards the altar, so the places sit in their true compass directions as you stand over it.

Then and now. The original was about 21 by 7 metres and used more than two million small stone pieces (tesserae); what survives today measures about 16 by 5 metres. Remains of it were found in 1884, when the Greek Orthodox community began building a new church on the site of the old one, but its full importance was only recognised in 1896.

More mosaics in Madaba

• Madaba Archaeological Park — a collection of mosaic floors next to St George’s Church and the visitor centre, including the mosaics of the Hippolytus Hall.
• Church of the Apostles — at the southern entrance to town, its ruins date to 578 AD and hold the “Personification of the Sea”, a mosaic signed by the artist Salamanios.
• The Burnt Palace and the Church of the Virgin Mary — two more sites in the centre with notable mosaic floors.
• Madaba Archaeological Museum — further mosaics and finds from the town.
• The mosaic school — the Institute of Mosaic Art and Restoration, founded in 1992 as the Madaba Mosaic School with Italian government support, now trains students to produce and restore mosaics, so the craft that made Madaba famous is still taught here.

Mount Nebo

Why it matters. Mount Nebo is a ridge about 700 metres above sea level, part of the Abarim range. In the Bible it is the place where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land before his death; the Book of Deuteronomy says the place of his burial was never known.

The view. From the summit terrace you look across the Jordan Valley to the West Bank. Jericho is usually visible, and on a very clear day you can make out Jerusalem.

The memorial church and its mosaics. A church was first built here in the late 4th century to commemorate Moses, enlarged in the late 5th century and rebuilt in 597. Franciscan archaeologists began excavating in 1933 and uncovered its mosaic floors, which were later restored; a new shelter over the basilica opened in October 2016.

The Brazen Serpent. On the terrace stands a serpent-and-cross sculpture by the Italian artist Gian Paolo Fantoni, recalling the bronze serpent Moses raised in the wilderness (Numbers 21) and the cross of Jesus.

Papal visits. Pope John Paul II came in March 2000 and planted an olive tree here, and Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2009.

For opening times, how to get there and what to know before you go, see our dedicated Mount Nebo guide.

Beyond Madaba: Umm ar-Rasas, Ma’in and the Baptism Site

• Umm ar-Rasas (Kastron Mefa’a) — about 30 km along the King’s Highway from Madaba and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. Its highlight is the mosaic floor of the Church of St Stephen, which shows towns of the region labelled with their names in Greek.
• Ma’in Hot Springs — thermal springs south-west of Madaba; see our Ma’in Hot Springs guide.
• Mukawir — a village known for the Bani Hamida weaving workshops.
• Bethany Beyond the Jordan — the Baptism Site on the Jordan River, included in the Jordan Pass and often visited on the same day as Madaba and Mount Nebo.
• The Dead Sea — the lowest point on earth is within easy reach; see our Dead Sea guide.

Planning your visit

• Getting there: Madaba is about 30 km from Amman. A taxi or driver is the easiest way to link Madaba, Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea in one day; a guided day tour takes care of transport for you.
• A good order: the Madaba Map and the old-centre mosaics in the morning, Mount Nebo next, then down to the Dead Sea or the Baptism Site in the afternoon.
• Dress: St George’s and the memorial church on Mount Nebo are places of worship — cover shoulders and knees.
• Eat: stop for a Jordanian breakfast or lunch in town; our guide to Jordanian food explains what to order. For more ideas across the country, see the best places to visit in Jordan.

Local-guided experiences

Madaba and Mount Nebo FAQ

Sources

• Madaba (Wikipedia) — location, history, 1880 resettlement, mosaic sites, mosaic school, nearby sites
• Madaba Map (Wikipedia) — date, size, contents, orientation, discovery
• Government of Jordan — Madaba — City of Mosaics, St George’s Church
• Mount Nebo (Wikipedia) — elevation, biblical account, church history, mosaics, Brazen Serpent, papal visits, the view
• UNESCO — Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa’a) — inscription and St Stephen mosaic
• Tourist Jordan — Umm ar-Rasas — distance along the King’s Highway
• Jordan Pass — sites — Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Baptism Site) included