Petra, Jordan

Hidden among the red sandstone mountains in the southwestern region of Jordan, this ancient city was deemed “lost” to Western civilization for quite a few centuries until it was rediscovered by a Swiss explorer named Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in the early 19th century.

The site is called “Petra,” which is the Greek word for “rock,” due to the fact that it’s carved directly into sandstone rock. Settled in the 4th century BC by the Nabataean tribe, it was home to about 30,000 people.

Various tribes over the years came and went to settle the area, including the Nabateans, who made this ancient underground city a trading post and the capital of their empire between 400 BC and 106 AD.

The decrease of international trade in the region led to its eventual desertion in the 7th century AD. Characterized by the stunning carved-out desert cliffs, it represented the Nabataean wealth and power.

The domain was annexed into Rome some centuries before its collapse, and thus, an evident influence of Roman architecture can be seen throughout Petra today.