Qasr Amra
Qasr Amra (Qusair Fortress) is a Jordanian desert castle from the ninth century. The square-shaped Qasr Amra, which is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list, is mostly gone, but its country house is extraordinarily well preserved, with many of its walls and even ceilings intact.
It is unclear who constructed the Qasr Amra. It is usually assumed that it was erected during the tenure of Walid I of the Umayyad Caliphate (705-715 AD), however other evidence suggests that it was built later, maybe between 743 and 744 AD, during the reign of Walid II.
The ruins of Qasr Amra's country house contain a reception room and a bath house or "hammam" that has been rebuilt and is painted with murals. These murals show diverse events and personalities, both actual and fictitious, from mythology, history, and philosophy. These murals are among the best of their kind and represent an early example of Islamic art.
Visitors can see the foundations of Qasr Amra itself. Qasr Amra would have served as both a stronghold and a retreat for the Umayyad caliphs. After falling into disrepair and being largely reclaimed by the desert, the remains were recovered in the late nineteenth century.
Despite the fact that only a portion of the castle remains, it is one of the best of its sort. It's open daily all year: there's a little tourist center at the entry, but the wonderful frescoes are what you'll want to spend your time looking at.
