Aqaba offers several specific historical points of interest for a culture-focused trip: a house dating from 1917, a 3rd-century church and a castle whose origins date back to 1501–1517. It is also home to Jordan’s first 18-hole, par-72 golf course. These distinct offerings can help you weigh your interests when looking for a hotel in Aqaba.
The House, the Castle and Their History
Sharif Hussein bin Ali’s house was built in Aqaba in 1917 in the style of Hejazi houses. It was the first residence built by Aqaba’s residents in traditional Hejazi architecture. Sharif Hussein bin Ali used it as his residence; it later served as a government building and was subsequently converted into the Aqaba Archaeological Museum. The fully restored house serves as a national museum. It is one of Jordan’s significant cultural heritage sites and has historical and political significance.
Aqaba Castle is located directly beside the house. Its origins date back to the reign of the Mamluk Sultan Qanswah el-Ghawri (1501–1517 AD). This brings two clearly distinct periods into view: the house, built in 1917, and the earlier reign to which the castle’s origins date back.
A Church with a Distinct Architectural Form
The Church of Aqaba dates from the 3rd century, was discovered in 1998 and is laid out as a three-aisled basilica. “Three-aisled” describes the division of the church interior into three aisles, offering a specific indication of its architectural form. The two dates also serve different purposes: the 3rd century indicates when the church dates from, while 1998 marks its discovery. Together with the house and castle, it adds another historic building to the picture of Aqaba’s cultural heritage.
Golf as a Distinct Focus
Aqaba is home to Jordan’s first 18-hole, par-72 golf course. The number of holes and the par rating give golf enthusiasts specific details to help them consider this focus alongside the historic sites. Cultural history and golf thus offer different reasons to travel, without either requiring the other.
Within the Wider Destination of Aqaba
The wider destination of Aqaba also encompasses the history of the walled Islamic city of Ayla. It had an approximately rectangular layout measuring 170 × 140 metres and covered about 24,650 square metres. Its history reaches back to the early Islamic period, including the eras of the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid and Fatimid caliphates. The measurements make the described city plan tangible; the named eras indicate its long historical span.
Another focus within the wider destination of Aqaba is Wadi Rum, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can take a 4WD tour there and arrange a tour time through their camp or the visitor centre. This adds a specific outdoor activity and a recognised World Heritage Site to Aqaba’s cultural and historical themes, offering another direction for trip planning.
The different time periods and themes can help guide your choices: the house, castle and church raise different historical and architectural questions, while the golf course offers a sporting focus. Wadi Rum adds a tour option to the wider destination of Aqaba.
Discover more destinations: Wadi Rum, Irbid, Aţ Ţayyibah, Madaba, Jarash, Ma'an, Ajloun
View the broader travel overview: Jordan.
