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A day in the historical city of Salt
By Nabeeh Dababneh, Jordan News
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SALT, Balqa — A 30-minute drive
from the capital Amman is the historical Salt City, which was recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and once you arrive at the center of the city,
you will feel like you’ve traveled 200 years back in time, to a period when the
Ottomans ruled the city.اضافة اعلان
The beauty of Salt’s historical buildings is hard to miss, and it won’t take you long to experience the generosity and the hospitality of the locals who live in Salt, who welcome you into every place and are more than happy to provide to help and show you around.
Once you arrive, you should visit Al-Gherbal Restaurant for a traditional breakfast of hummus, falafel, freshly baked bread, and many other delicious dishes, where you can recharge after your journey and get a taste of the history of the place, especially since the owner of the restaurant, Amer Dabbas, has maintained the historical decor of the building.
Al-Gherbal Restaurant. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
Workers at Al-Gherbal will also give you recommendations on places to visit in the city.
“In 2017 we renovated the house. The ground floor was built in 1827 by the Ottomans, and the second floor belonged to Al-Basha Saeed Suleme, so we turned it into a bakery and a restaurant, while keeping its décor,” Nizar Hamdan, the manager of Al-Gherbal Restaurant, noted.
After your meal at Al-Gherbal, you might want to see the Al-Salt Museum, where you will find ruins and skeletons that belong to those who lived in the city years ago. The sheer number of items on display is overwhelming.
Al-Salt Museum. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
From the museum, you might want to abandon your car and enjoy a nice walk towards Al-Hammam (Bath) Street, named after the old bath located on the street. The road was established in 1880, and is famous for its yellow-stone buildings, built out of bricks from Nablus.
Every turn on the yellow draped street will take you into a new place with its own historical story, especially since most of the markets have made minimal or no changes to the shops, preserving their historical value. At the end of the street you will find Saint George Al-Khader Church, dating back to 1682.
Saint George Al-Khader Church. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
“Saint George appeared in a cave in the church and asked for the church to be built in this place, therefore this place is very holy, in-fact, it’s one of the holiest places in the region,” the church keeper told visitors.
In Al-Hammam Street, you will find many shops that sell collectibles from traditional art pieces, antiques, recycled items, to gifts, where you can buy many souvenirs.
In one particular shop that stands out, 87Design, you will find art pieces that were made of recycled materials, such as twigs, wooden pallets, and ropes that are turned into macrame wool, lamps, and home furniture by the owner of the shop, Saif Jeghbir, who turned his grandparents’ house, which they bought back in 1916 from the Ottomans, into a shop.
87Design. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
“The making of macramé dates back to 13th-century Arab sailors, who used it in decorating their ships, besides selling it to the lands they reached,” Saif Jeghbir the owner of 87Design, explained.
Keep a close eye on the details while you tread the street, because one of the stairs will lead you to an alleyway where a scene of how the old residents of Salt lived and dressed is displayed.
After a long walk in Al-Hammam Street, you might need to recharge your energy with the traditional local desert Al-Shebeyat. The native Salt dish is made of baked dough with cheese or nuts and soaked with syrup.
Al-Shebeyat. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
You will find the dish in many of the shops, but Al-Iskandarani coffee shop is recommended. The place is housed in a building that was divided 200 years ago into a wool warehouse, a stable, and a banana warehouse, which was designed in a way that allowed green bananas to be stored there until it becomes yellow.
The city of Salt is known for its mountainous topography, providing for an outstanding view from various spots, but the best way to end your day in the city is by watching the sunset from AL-Sitteen Street, where you can get a magnificent view of the West Bank from any spot on the street. Many restaurants and coffee shops is located on the top with a clear view of the scene, where you can enjoy your dinner while watching the sun dip behind the mountains.
Sunset at the AL-Sitteen Street. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
One of the recommended places is Tallet Al-Quds; the restaurant provides an outdoor setting and an indoor one, which has a full panoramic view, with live oud music, In addition to delicious Arabian dishes.
Tallet Al-Quds. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
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The beauty of Salt’s historical buildings is hard to miss, and it won’t take you long to experience the generosity and the hospitality of the locals who live in Salt, who welcome you into every place and are more than happy to provide to help and show you around.
Once you arrive, you should visit Al-Gherbal Restaurant for a traditional breakfast of hummus, falafel, freshly baked bread, and many other delicious dishes, where you can recharge after your journey and get a taste of the history of the place, especially since the owner of the restaurant, Amer Dabbas, has maintained the historical decor of the building.
Al-Gherbal Restaurant. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
Workers at Al-Gherbal will also give you recommendations on places to visit in the city.
“In 2017 we renovated the house. The ground floor was built in 1827 by the Ottomans, and the second floor belonged to Al-Basha Saeed Suleme, so we turned it into a bakery and a restaurant, while keeping its décor,” Nizar Hamdan, the manager of Al-Gherbal Restaurant, noted.
After your meal at Al-Gherbal, you might want to see the Al-Salt Museum, where you will find ruins and skeletons that belong to those who lived in the city years ago. The sheer number of items on display is overwhelming.
Al-Salt Museum. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
From the museum, you might want to abandon your car and enjoy a nice walk towards Al-Hammam (Bath) Street, named after the old bath located on the street. The road was established in 1880, and is famous for its yellow-stone buildings, built out of bricks from Nablus.
Every turn on the yellow draped street will take you into a new place with its own historical story, especially since most of the markets have made minimal or no changes to the shops, preserving their historical value. At the end of the street you will find Saint George Al-Khader Church, dating back to 1682.
Saint George Al-Khader Church. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
“Saint George appeared in a cave in the church and asked for the church to be built in this place, therefore this place is very holy, in-fact, it’s one of the holiest places in the region,” the church keeper told visitors.
In Al-Hammam Street, you will find many shops that sell collectibles from traditional art pieces, antiques, recycled items, to gifts, where you can buy many souvenirs.
In one particular shop that stands out, 87Design, you will find art pieces that were made of recycled materials, such as twigs, wooden pallets, and ropes that are turned into macrame wool, lamps, and home furniture by the owner of the shop, Saif Jeghbir, who turned his grandparents’ house, which they bought back in 1916 from the Ottomans, into a shop.
87Design. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
“The making of macramé dates back to 13th-century Arab sailors, who used it in decorating their ships, besides selling it to the lands they reached,” Saif Jeghbir the owner of 87Design, explained.
Keep a close eye on the details while you tread the street, because one of the stairs will lead you to an alleyway where a scene of how the old residents of Salt lived and dressed is displayed.
After a long walk in Al-Hammam Street, you might need to recharge your energy with the traditional local desert Al-Shebeyat. The native Salt dish is made of baked dough with cheese or nuts and soaked with syrup.
Al-Shebeyat. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
You will find the dish in many of the shops, but Al-Iskandarani coffee shop is recommended. The place is housed in a building that was divided 200 years ago into a wool warehouse, a stable, and a banana warehouse, which was designed in a way that allowed green bananas to be stored there until it becomes yellow.
The city of Salt is known for its mountainous topography, providing for an outstanding view from various spots, but the best way to end your day in the city is by watching the sunset from AL-Sitteen Street, where you can get a magnificent view of the West Bank from any spot on the street. Many restaurants and coffee shops is located on the top with a clear view of the scene, where you can enjoy your dinner while watching the sun dip behind the mountains.
Sunset at the AL-Sitteen Street. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
One of the recommended places is Tallet Al-Quds; the restaurant provides an outdoor setting and an indoor one, which has a full panoramic view, with live oud music, In addition to delicious Arabian dishes.
Tallet Al-Quds. (Photo: Nabeeh Dababneh/Jordan News)
Read more Lifestyle
