Trips and Tours to Umm Qais

About Umm Qais

Tucked into the angle of borders formed by Jordan, Israel and the Golan, Umm Qais is the modern name for the site of the ancient Graeco-Roman town of Gadara, one of the cities of the Decapolis with panoramic views over the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. Gadara was renowned for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, attracting an array of writers, artists, philosophers and poets. It also served as a resort for Romans vacationing in the nearby al-Hemma hot springs. Gadara was blessed with fertile soil, abundant water and a location astride a number of key trading routes connecting Asia and Europe. The city thrived until the Byzantine era, which witnessed the decline of Gadara into relative obscurity. Earthquakes destroyed many buildings, and by the dawn of the Islamic era Gadara had become just another village.