Um Qais

Um Qais is the Biblical Gadara. According to the Bible, it is the place where Jesus cast the devils out from two men into a herd of swine.

Um Qais is 110 km north of Amman, on a hilltop facing the Golan Heights with a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee.

Historically, Um Qais was one of the ten Decapolis cities. It had been under the rule of Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Muslims. Its construction, mainly from black basalt, gives a unique look to the city.

Gadara was esteemed as a centre for learning and performing arts during the Biblical era. As is typical in the Decapolis cities, a large theatre dominates the site, with excellent acoustics still in good working order.