Discovery Circle: Crafting Madaba & Mount Nebo into a Jordan Tour

To help international travel planners structure high-converting itineraries, our field teams divide this dual-site destination into clear operational modules:

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St. George’s Church & The Byzantine Mosaic Map (Madaba)

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The cornerstone of Madaba is the 19th-century Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, constructed over the remains of a 6th-century Byzantine basilica. Preserved in its floor is the world-famous Madaba Mosaic Map:

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• Cartographic Brilliance: Originally crafted from over two million natural stone tesserae measuring 15.6 meters by 6 meters, this map is the oldest surviving cartographic depiction of the Holy Land (stretching from Lebanon to the Nile Delta).

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• 3D Imperial Perspective: The mosaic depicts 6th-century Jerusalem, Karak, and Gaza with oblique 3D architectural precision. Guides highlight all six Byzantine gates of Jerusalem, the Cardo Maximus, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

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Madaba Archaeological Park & Masterpiece Collections

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While mass tours often rush past St. George's in an hour, we guide luxury FITs and cultural groups through Madaba's quieter, world-class mosaic galleries:

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• Hippolytus Hall & Church of the Virgin: Housed within a protective pavilion, this early 6th-century private mansion floor features vibrant depictions of Aphrodite, Adonis, and the Three Graces, flanked by personifications of Rome, Gregoria, and Madaba.

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• The Church of the Apostles: Dating to 568 AD, this basilica features a central floor mosaic depicting a regal personification of the Sea emerging from rolling waves surrounded by marine life.

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• The Burnt Palace & Mukawir Mosaic: Features 6th-century patrician hunting scenes alongside the oldest mosaic discovered in Jordan—a 1st-century BC floor fragment salvaged from Herod's palace at Mukawir (Machaerus).

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Mount Nebo (Siyagha) & The Moses Memorial Church

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Rising 810 meters above sea level, Mount Nebo is one of the most venerated holy sites in the Middle East. According to Deuteronomy, this is where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death.

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• The Moses Memorial Church: Managed by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, the modern sanctuary protects preserved 6th-century monastic basilicas. The central baptistery floor displays a 530 AD mosaic masterpiece depicting African hunters, lions, zebras, and pastoral scenes.

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• The Panoramic Lookout & Brazen Serpent: Outside the sanctuary, the iconic Brazen Serpent sculpture by Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni overlooks the Great Rift Valley. On clear days, views stretch across the northern tip of the Dead Sea to Jericho, the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, and Bethlehem.

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