Petra - Wadi Musa

Walk through the 1200m (2/3 mile) Siq to see the Treasury, the Street of Facades, passed the Theatre and down the Roman Street and have a panoramic view of the Royal Tombs. - Depending upon time available your will either have a lunch in a local Wadi Musa restaurant or a packed lunch - so as to maximise your viewing time

The Treasury

As the Siq becomes narrower and darker in the last few metres, the Al-Khazneh (Treasury) suddenly lights up at the end of the cleft. To stand in front of one of the most famous facades in the world is a magnificent experience, provided you get there before masses of tourists block the view. The Nabataeans had staged this overture when entering their capital from the east in a far more imposing manner than the present sight suggests. The forecourt lay about 6 m lower, was paved, and might have contained a pond. An open staircase about 13 m length and more than 5 m width led over older graves (see below) to a terrace in front of the portico. The magnificent rock-cut mausoleum (25 m wide, 39 m high) was probably built during the second half of the reign of King Aretas IV (ruled 9 BC - 40 AD), but it is not known for whom. Traces of burnt incense found on the plaza suggest that Al Khazneh was an important pilgrimage site.