Qasr Amra

　　Qasr Amra Castle is located about 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 more than thirty desert palaces of varying sizes, serving as both pleasure retreats for his travels and military encampments. Qasr Amra is one of them, and it undoubtedly plays an extraordinary role in understanding the characteristics of Islamic art in its early stages of development.

　　The murals preserved within the castle are outstanding artistic representations from that period. In 1985, Qasr Amra was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under cultural heritage selection criteria C (I), (III), and (IV). The World Heritage Committee described it as: “Built in the early 8th century, this desert castle is exceptionally well preserved. It served both as a military fortress and as a temporary residence for the Umayyad caliphs. The exquisite small palace is most notable for its reception hall and bathhouse, which are lavishly decorated and adorned with many murals reflecting the artistic features of the era.”