Heritage Walks  |  Location, map

As-Salt city, capital of the Balqa Governorate, tightly built on three hills (Jada'a, Qala’a and Salalem) with a central plaza at the valley floor, is just a half hour drive from Amman. The historic center, with its fine Ottoman architecture of yellow sandstone, narrow alleys and stepped passages, unfolds a distinctive townscape, unique in Jordan, which welcomes visitors to explore it on foot, diving into a rich history and lively traditions.

History and architecture

Occupied since the Iron Age, due to the mild climate, rich water source and fertile land, As-Salt became one of the most important settlement between the Jordan Valley and the Eastern Desert. It was called Saltus (forest) by the Romans, and Gadaron in the Bizantine Era.

In the 19th century, during Ottoman rule, it was the center of lucrative trading between the region and the main cities of Palestine, and benefited from its position on the Syrian pilgrimage route to Mecca. Between 1865 and 1925, As-Salt was transformed from a rural settlement into a prosperous city with the arrival of merchants from Nablus, Syria and Egypt. This new entrepreneurial class consolidated a thriving and tolerant society, respectful of different religions, who invested in businesses and in representative residences. Among the stone masons and architects who helped build the new city, Abdel Rahman al Aqrouq from Nablus (1851-1944) became the leading personality of a group of builders, stonecutters and craftsmen, who followed his charismatic character and original ideas. They incorporated European references and Middle-Eastern traditions in the buildings that –combined with their technical skills and individual tastes– created As-Salt's distinct architecture.