Petra has long mesmerised travellers with its Nabataean grandeur, but beyond its rose-red sandstone lies a tapestry of stories waiting to be uncovered. At Petra By Night, we’re reimagining storytelling through cutting-edge projection mapping - where technology and history meet to reveal the city’s most overlooked chapters.
A New Light on Byzantine Petra
“Petra is not just carved in stone - it’s layered with centuries of human creativity and faith”.
Our latest visual narrative is inspired by Petra’s Byzantine era (4th–7th century AD), a period often overshadowed by its Nabataean and Roman heritage. This transformative chapter marked the arrival of Christianity in Petra and left traces of early Byzantine art and architecture across the ancient city.
Through high-resolution, mosaic-style projections, the Treasury is transformed into a breathtaking canvas, echoing the intricate designs and vibrant colours of early Christian artistry. Visitors are invited to witness Petra in a way that transcends time - where light, colour, and imagination bring history alive under the stars.
Where History Meets Technology
Projection mapping allows us to breathe new life into Petra’s façades without touching or altering the original stonework. As stunning visuals wash over the Treasury, guests are immersed in an experience that is both innovative and deeply respectful of Petra’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“We see technology not as a replacement for heritage, but as a bridge that connects modern audiences to ancient stories”.
Preserving the Past. Illuminating the Present.
At Petra By Night, our mission is to celebrate and preserve Petra’s rich cultural legacy while offering visitors unforgettable encounters with its beauty. The Byzantine projection not only captivates visually but also educates, inspiring a deeper appreciation for Petra’s diverse historical layers.
An Unforgettable Experience Under the Stars
As darkness falls and the desert sky fills with stars, Petra comes alive in a whole new way. The projection mapping show is more than an artistic performance - it’s a journey into history, faith, and imagination.
Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to rediscover its magic, Petra By Night offers an extraordinary perspective on one of the world’s greatest wonders.
“Light transforms Petra not just visually, but emotionally - making every visitor a part of its living story”.
Experience the Magic of Petra By Night
Join us as we uncover Petra’s hidden history and celebrate its timeless beauty with an evening of light, art, and storytelling.
Preserving the past. Illuminating the present.
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Art & Projection Mapping
01.05.25
What You’ll See in the Story of Petra by Night
Discover the Story of Petra Like Never Before: A New Projection Experience at Petra by Night
This season at Petra by Night, we’re offering something truly special — a powerful new projection show that tells the story of Petra using light, sound, and holograms. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Treasury, this show brings Petra’s history to life in a magical and unforgettable way.
1. The Carving of Petra
The show begins by showing how the Nabataeans carved Petra’s buildings directly into the rock. Through creative light projections, you’ll see the process come alive, as if ancient stonemasons are carving the Treasury before your eyes.
2. The Story of King Aretas IV
We then introduce you to King Aretas IV, one of Petra’s greatest rulers. Using 3D effects and holograms, we tell the story of his leadership and how he turned Petra into a powerful and rich capital. His rule marked the golden age of the Nabataeans.
3. The History of Petra
Next, the projection takes you on a journey through Petra’s rich history. You'll see how it became a center of trade, culture, and architecture. The show highlights the many civilizations that influenced Petra, from the Nabataeans to the Romans.
4. The Great Earthquake
One dramatic part of the show recreates the powerful earthquake that damaged Petra centuries ago. With sound effects and shaking light visuals, you’ll experience the moment the city was forever changed.
5. Petra’s Amazing Water System
Finally, the show explains how the Nabataeans built a smart and advanced water system in the desert. Using animated theories, we show how they collected, stored, and moved water, a key reason Petra was able to survive and grow in such a dry area.
Art and Imagination After the Show
At the end of the show, guests can enjoy a 15-minute photo session while we display artistic versions of Petra on the Treasury. These include colorful, dream-like, and traditional styles — showing Petra not only as it was, but as it continues to inspire the world today.
23.04.25
The Art of Mapping on the Treasury – Breathing Light into Ancient Stone
Few places in the world can match the majesty of Petra. And fewer still can claim to bring its stories to life quite like the projection mapping experience on the Treasury during Petra by Night.
This is not just light on stone—it’s art on history, a dialogue between ancient craftsmanship and modern creativity. At Petra, the past doesn’t just speak—it glows.
A Global Rarity, A Local Wonder
Projection mapping has taken the world by storm—seen on castles in Europe, skyscrapers in Asia, and public art spaces across the globe. But here, in the heart of the Jordanian desert, it takes on an entirely new meaning. To project onto the Treasury (Al-Khazneh)—a 2,000-year-old façade carved into the sandstone cliffs—is not simply a technical feat. It’s an act of reverence.
Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. That makes this experience one of the only regular projection mappings in the world performed on such an ancient and sacred monument.
Telling Stories in Light
Each show is carefully crafted to celebrate Petra’s history, culture, and ingenuity. From the advanced Nabataean water systems to the city’s role as a crossroads of trade and tradition, every visual is designed to illuminate—not just the façade, but the minds and hearts of the audience.
Using precision technology, light dances across the columns and statues, recreating scenes of Nabataean kings, desert caravans, and celestial myths. The carvings come to life, almost as if whispering their stories to those who gather in awe.
Magic in Every Detail
What makes it magical is not only the contrast of modern light against ancient rock—but how naturally the two blend. The sandstone’s textures, weathered by centuries, become part of the canvas. The light wraps around each detail, respecting the structure’s integrity while enhancing its form.
As the colors shift and music fills the air, guests are transported—not just to another time, but to another way of seeing time.
More Than a Show—A Tribute
This mapping experience is not entertainment alone—it is a tribute. A tribute to the Nabataeans, to Jordan, to every soul who has walked these paths over millennia. It is created with care, permission, and purpose—to bring Petra’s legacy to new generations without ever overshadowing its soul.
And when the final light fades and the Treasury returns to darkness, visitors are left not with flashing lights, but with a quiet memory, like an ancient secret just shared.