Pella
3.5
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3.5
47 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
19
Average
12
Poor
8
Terrible
1
Olivier
Berlin, Germany1 contribution
Oct 2021
Important place and very unimportant ruins.
The more important the officials on site feel: While the gates to the road are wide open, a pompous and extremely unfriendly guard in the visitor centre checks not only the ticket but also the passport, looking long and hard for the visa stamp, as if he were in charge of counterintelligence for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. An absurd person and a good example of how the place ( and the country) want to make themselves bigger than they are.
The more important the officials on site feel: While the gates to the road are wide open, a pompous and extremely unfriendly guard in the visitor centre checks not only the ticket but also the passport, looking long and hard for the visa stamp, as if he were in charge of counterintelligence for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. An absurd person and a good example of how the place ( and the country) want to make themselves bigger than they are.
Written 25 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarciTravels
Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic520 contributions
Apr 2012 • Couples
Pella is an unpolished gem of Jordan. Its extensive grounds are yet to be excavated from a large part but the parts that are already done are very impressive.
When we visited, the only other person there was a local shephard with a herd of goats, offering us (once again) original Roman, Nabatean and Byzantine coins. Other than that, we were completely alone and free to explore the grounds of Pella with the remains of an ancient church, amphitheatre and multitude of houses hidden in the hill.
Rather surprisingly we learnt that it is a settlement which was inhabited for 9000 years, counting around 25k people during its prime. At the moment, Pella is a small village giving nothing away from its magnificent past.
Having stayed in the Pella Countriside Hotel byTheeb Hussain and his lovely wife, we also learnt that a cave allegedly occupied by Jesus from Nazareth is a walking distance from the site - we didn't find it but Theeb offered to take us around, which in a hind sight we should have accepted.
Definitely worth a visit and well underrated! Plus there is free entry.
When we visited, the only other person there was a local shephard with a herd of goats, offering us (once again) original Roman, Nabatean and Byzantine coins. Other than that, we were completely alone and free to explore the grounds of Pella with the remains of an ancient church, amphitheatre and multitude of houses hidden in the hill.
Rather surprisingly we learnt that it is a settlement which was inhabited for 9000 years, counting around 25k people during its prime. At the moment, Pella is a small village giving nothing away from its magnificent past.
Having stayed in the Pella Countriside Hotel byTheeb Hussain and his lovely wife, we also learnt that a cave allegedly occupied by Jesus from Nazareth is a walking distance from the site - we didn't find it but Theeb offered to take us around, which in a hind sight we should have accepted.
Definitely worth a visit and well underrated! Plus there is free entry.
Written 31 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LegalRover
Jordan6,716 contributions
Dec 2019
Pella is located about 40 minutes south of Umm Qais on Route 65 and about 1.5 hours north of Amman, in the foothills of the Jordan Valley/River. It was originally a Greek town and subsequently went through Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods. Today, the city’s ruins which are predominantly temples, churches, and housing have been partially excavated (emphasis on partially). There are few Roman buildings – mainly remnants of an odeon, bathhouse, and necropolis.
Its biblical significance seems to be that the site appears to fulfill Jesus’ prophecy of a city of refuge. According to historians, the “Flight to Pella” in 70 CE represented the Church of Jerusalem’s flee to Pella after the ruin of the temple and Jesus’ followers seeking refuge while escaping Jerusalem’s destruction. It stayed there until its return during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, making it a secondary pilgrimage site for modern day Christians.
Pella’s visitors center is probably the largest and newest visitors center I have seen of all the archeological sites in Jordan. It was very impressive but somewhat of a shame that there were minimal visitors (at least when we were there). I am under the impression that this site attracts mainly those on pilgrimages. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit Pella unless you have time to make a stop on your way to Umm Qais or are a historian or Christian studies’ scholar. Umm Qais and Jerash have more to see in terms of excavated work. Pella is somewhat skeletal in terms of what there is to see. I included a birds’ eye view photo of the site since many other reviewers have already provided close ups of what there is to see. Keep in mind it is a hike down to the site from the visitors center - the entrance is up on a hill.
One of the best attributes of this site is the spectacular view across the Jordan Valley.
Its biblical significance seems to be that the site appears to fulfill Jesus’ prophecy of a city of refuge. According to historians, the “Flight to Pella” in 70 CE represented the Church of Jerusalem’s flee to Pella after the ruin of the temple and Jesus’ followers seeking refuge while escaping Jerusalem’s destruction. It stayed there until its return during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, making it a secondary pilgrimage site for modern day Christians.
Pella’s visitors center is probably the largest and newest visitors center I have seen of all the archeological sites in Jordan. It was very impressive but somewhat of a shame that there were minimal visitors (at least when we were there). I am under the impression that this site attracts mainly those on pilgrimages. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit Pella unless you have time to make a stop on your way to Umm Qais or are a historian or Christian studies’ scholar. Umm Qais and Jerash have more to see in terms of excavated work. Pella is somewhat skeletal in terms of what there is to see. I included a birds’ eye view photo of the site since many other reviewers have already provided close ups of what there is to see. Keep in mind it is a hike down to the site from the visitors center - the entrance is up on a hill.
One of the best attributes of this site is the spectacular view across the Jordan Valley.
Written 13 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tlessio
Selvazzano Dentro, Italy288 contributions
Aug 2019
This archaeoligical site is definitely out of ordinary tourist routes, but affording the trip to arrive there definitely worths. All the site has an intense atmosphere. Staff at the visitor center is very friendly. Pella can be added in an 1 day tour from Amman comprehending both Umm Qais both Jerash.
Written 4 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan
Vancouver, Canada41 contributions
May 2017
We were the only ones there the day we toured! There is very little sinage within the ruins themselves, like other Jordan sites it is cheap to visit but lacking in up keep. We enjoyed the ruins due to their biblical significance but it is easy to see why Jeresh is the main attraction up north. The drive there was beautiful.
Written 29 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AmericanInEurope02
San Antonio, TX221 contributions
Out of the way and no major or unique at the site that is worth coming out for, you can see better examples of the temples at other places.
The most interesting thing is the archeological dig going on and the deep site they have dug.
The most interesting thing is the archeological dig going on and the deep site they have dug.
Written 7 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffrey R
Fort Lauderdale, FL304 contributions
Nov 2015
This little-visited archaeological site has some beautiful Roman/Byzantine ruins (church and odeon) as well as a Canaanite temple and Umayyad settlement. It is small, so combine this site with Umm Qais and/or Ajloun Castle.
Written 22 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Armchairgardener
Newark-on-Trent, UK130 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
The history of Pella stretches back millennia, although there's little evidence visible there today. The vast majority of its past glories are yet to be excavated, still under the tell on which you now walk.
There are some identifiable Greco-Roman ruins, which have mercifully not yet been too badly "reconstructed". The other excavations need specialist interpretation, which is not available on the site.
There are some identifiable Greco-Roman ruins, which have mercifully not yet been too badly "reconstructed". The other excavations need specialist interpretation, which is not available on the site.
Written 26 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andydjp
Stotfold, UK637 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
This site, albeit of historical importance and interest, was a little disappointing. I would give this site a very quick look and then spend your day at Jerash.
Written 3 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brenda
Amman, Jordan7 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
Lovely site in a beautiful and picturesque setting but minimally excavated. Would be a great site if more money and time was spent on it.
Written 4 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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