Qasr Amra

Qasr Amra

Qasr Amra Castle is located 85 kilometers east of Jordan’s capital, Amman, in the Azraq region. During the height of the Umayyad Caliphate, the caliph ordered the construction of over thirty desert palaces of various sizes, serving as recreational sites during his travels and as military camps. Qasr Amra Castle is one of them, and it is unquestionably of extraordinary significance for understanding the characteristics of Islamic art in its early developmental stages.

The preserved murals within the structure are also outstanding artistic representatives of that period. In 1985, Qasr Amra Castle was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under cultural criteria C (I) (III) (IV). The World Heritage Committee described it as: “Built in the early 8th century, this desert castle has been remarkably well preserved. It served both as a military fortress and as a temporary residence for the Umayyad caliphs. This small but exquisite palace is most notable for its reception hall and bathhouse, which are lavishly decorated and feature numerous murals reflecting the artistic styles of the era.”