Citadel of Amman turns on 'green' for Ireland

The historic Citadel in Amman turned green last night in celebrations of Ireland's National Day and as gesture of friendship between Jordan and Ireland. The "greening" of the Citadel was celebrated at a sunset event held at the Wild Jordan cafe, in the presence of Miniter of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef Al Fayez, Irish Ambassador to Jordan Isolde Moylan, officials and the Irish community in Jordan. The "greening" of the Citadel and Jordan's participation in Ireland's "Global Greening" initiative for the first time is the result of an agreement between the two countries. Fayez said that Jordan is excited to be part of the global greening of key city monuments as part of Ireland's national day. "The Amman Citadel is the city's landmark link to its vibrant past, which has witnessed thousands of years of civilizations," the minister added. Perched atop a hill that overlooks the city, he said, the Citadel can be seen from many places in the city, noting that this event is a symbol of the friendship, hospitality and diversity of Jordan as well as its spectacular heritage. The Irish envoy expressed appreciation for the Ministry of Tourism for agreeing to the greening of the Amman Citadel. She voiced hope that the considerable international publicity and goodwill which the Global Greening initiative generates around the world will serve also to highlight and promote Jordan's special attractions as a tourism destination. Ireland's Greening initiative has attracted global interest, with more than 50 iconic international monuments across the world will be lit up in green. Jordan's participation in the initiative provides an opportunity to showcase the country's remarkable historical heritage and its attractions as a prime global tourism destination. The Citadel in the heart of Amman has been continuously settled for more than 7,000 years. It contains an extensive sequence of archaeological remains dating from the Bronze Age, through the Greek, Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic periods. The Greening of the site will mainly spotlight the columns of the still-standing Roman Temple of Hercules. The government is planning to "green" the Citadel for one week, starting from March 11.