Al-Deir, The Monastery
This is the largest tomb facade in Petra and is set in splendid isolation in a magnificent setting overlooking a large courtyard.
It is a pleasant walk away from the main site of Petra – well worth visiting.
The scale of this monument makes a firm statement to all visitors. It is 50m wide and 40m tall. One can’t help feeling very small and insignificant when close up to it. See for instance the photo, below, of me in its entrance. It was a scramble to climb up into it.
View from a nearby cave (after I shooed away the goats).
There are great views overlooking the valleys from here.
Part of the experience is the climb itself up to the Monastery. Here I am with Pearl.
Looking back you can see the Royal Tombs in the distance – showing how far we had climbed.
The Lion Triclinium. Along the way you can glimpse other more modest tombs.
