Ancient Mosaics of Madaba

While tourism in many places requires you to look up, the old trading city of Madaba requires you to gaze down. The city is home to the "world's biggest number of mosaics uncovered in its original position," with many of them found on the flooring of churches and structures.

The Ancient Mosaics of Madaba is housed in the very inconspicuous St. George's Church, which is home to one of Jordan's most notable mosaics. The Holy Land is depicted during the Byzantine period on this 6th-century map, which has Biblical-era cartography. While some of the original two million tiles have been lost, the map's fragments provide an outstanding representation of what the Middle East looked like centuries ago.

Ancient Mosaics of Madaba also features Jordan's earliest mosaic, which originates from the 1st century BC, as well as stunning carpet-like tile work depicting the four seasons and nature that was previously in a Byzantine mansion.

Other excellent mosaics may be seen in Archaeological Park II, which is housed in the ruins of a luxury home from the early sixth century.

• Location: Madaba, Jordan
• Timing: Open all day
• Famous for: spectacular Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics
• Entry Fee: US$ 3
• Best Time To Visit: year-round.