This ancient town, 20 kilometres west of Amman, was centuries ago the capital of the ancient state that occupied what is now Jordan. The typical Ottoman city has been beautifully preserved here, where the spirit of the Ottoman Empire, which once had undivided rule over these lands and left its mark, including in the architecture of Es-Salt, reigns supreme.
The town welcomes the tourist with picturesque narrow streets and shining white stone houses with narrow lancet windows characteristic of Turkish buildings. There are several notable museums and even a handicrafts school where potters, hand embroideries and local fabrics are made in all their oriental richness before the eyes of visitors. The Al-Salta Archaeological Museum houses a large collection of traditional Palestinian embroideries, Bedouin rugs, ceramics, antique silver jewellery, mother-of-pearl and olive wood crafts, and a wide variety of traditional handicrafts.
