Entering Umm Qais from the south, the first structure of interest is the well-restored and brooding West Theatre. Constructed from black basalt, it once…
Must see attractions in Umm Qais
- Top ChoiceWest Theatre
- LLookout Point
This viewpoint offers tremendous vistas over Israel and the Palestinian Territories across the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights.
- MMuseum
Housed in Beit Russan, the former residence of an Ottoman governor, this modest museum is set around an elegant and tranquil courtyard of fig trees. The…
- DDecumanus Maximus
Still paved to this day, the main road through the site once linked Gadara with other nearby ancient cities such as Abila and Pella. In its heyday, the…
- OOttoman Village
Surrounding the museum are the comprehensive ruins of an Ottoman village dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Two houses, Beit Malkawi (now used as an…
- BBasilica Terrace
A bit of imagination is needed to reconstruct the colonnaded courtyard of the Basilica Terrace, the western section of which housed a row of shops. The…
- BBaths
West along the decumanus maximus are the overgrown public baths. Built in the 4th century, this would once have been an impressive complex of fountains …
- TTomb of Modestus
The thick stone doors of this Roman tomb outside the main archaeological area still swing on ancient hinges. Nearby are the less notable tombs of Germani…
- NNorth Theatre
The North Theatre is overgrown and missing much of its original black-basalt stones, which were recycled by villagers in other constructions, but it's…
- SShops
The shells of a row of shops remain in the western section of what was once the colonnaded courtyard of the Basilica Terrace.
- NNymphaeum
This public water fountain, once a two-storey complex with a large covered cistern, has niches for statues of the water goddesses.
- RRoman Mausoleums
The decumanus maximus continues west of the main site for 1km or so, leading to some ruins of limited interest, including baths, mausoleums and gates…
- OOttoman Mosque
This small mosque, no longer consecrated, is at the heart of the old Ottoman village of Umm Qais.