Sights in Aqaba
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Aqaba Castle
Aqaba Castle, measures around 50m by 50m although it is unusual in having sides of slightly uneven length. It is worth looking around as it has been partially reconstructed and gives some sense of its original form. The first castle may have been built by the Crusaders in the 13th century, but most scholars attribute its construction to the Mamluks during the reign of the sultan Qansur al-Ghuri (1510-17), as attested by the attractive relief inscriptions in Arabic inside the entrance gate.
In one of the eastern rooms off the main courtyard are further inscriptions suggesting that the castle was renovated and enlarged by the Ottomans in both 1587 and 1628. In subsequent ce…
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Aqaba Museum
The small Aqaba Museum is inside the visitor centre. The centre and museum were once the home of Sherif Hussein bin Ali - the great-great-grandfather of the present king, Abdullah II - who lived here for a while after WWI. The collection of artefacts includes coins from Iraq and Egypt, ceramics from the excavations of Ayla (Old Aqaba), 8th-century Islamic stone tablets and some late Byzantine reliefs.
All captions are in English and there are some informative descriptions of the items and the archaeological history of the area. The ticket also entitles you to enter the castle.
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Ayla
Along the Corniche, and incongruously squeezed between the marina and the Mövenpick Resort, is the site of Ayla, the early medieval port of Aqaba. The ruins are limited, but worth a quick look if you're in the area. Helpful noticeboards in English clearly pinpoint items of interest and put the place in some perspective. At the back of the parking space behind the JETT bus office is another small section of the old city, including the city wall and the ancient church.
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Barracuda Beach
Barracuda Beach offers a good balance between cost and comfort. This new private 100m stretch of clean sandy beach is equipped with hammocks, a cushioned lounge area, a bar, restaurant, pool and lots of water sports. The fun and games include beach buggies, volleyball, Jet Skis, a banana boat, water skiing and weekend beach parties. A dive centre is planned.
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