Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1396208
A BEGUILING PINK CITY CARVED FROM STONE. The ancient city of Petra dates to 1200 BC. After a colossal earthquake, the city was abandoned and lay undiscovered until 1812. During our call on Aqaba, Jordan, you may discover it, too. Of all Petra's haunting colossal remains, the iconic Treasury strikes the most dramatic profi le with its two-story colonnaded facade. Sheltered from windblown sands at the end of a narrow gorge, it has been pristinely preserved. HARMONIOUS GARDENS. A magnifi cent emblem of the Bahá'í faith, which embraces the spirituality of all things, the Hanging Gardens of Haifa slope down Mount Carmel. Its 19 terraces were inspired by elements of Persian, Nishat Bagh and English gardens. You can spend an entire afternoon strolling the lovely fl ower-lined pathways, marvelling at stunning views of Haifa and the Mediterranean, and admiring the symmetry of this perfect hillside garden. ISLAND OF KNIGHTS. Millennia ago, visitors were welcomed to Rhodes by the Colossus of Rhodes, a towering statue of the sun god Helios. Today, travellers are greeted by another enormous landmark: the 14th-century Palace of the Grand Masters. A UNESCO Site, the medieval Knights of St. John of Jerusalem built the fortress upon conquering the island. A stroll down the heavily fortifi ed Old Town's Street of the Knights leads you to this masterwork. A STROLL INTO ANTIQUITY. One of the world's best-preserved cities, Ephesus off ers an unparalleled look into the world of ancients. The colonnaded facade to the towering Library of Celsus is an awe- inspiring sight, as is the ancient amphitheatre which once held 25,000 spectators. Ephesus also holds an important place in Christianity. Here, St. John is said to have preached and Mary to have lived out her fi nal days in a tiny stone house. H A I FA , I S R A E L E P H ES U S , T U R K E Y AQA BA , J O R DA N R H O D ES , G R E EC E 19 Call us on 138 747 (AU), 0800 447 913 (NZ) or contact your local Viking travel agent