Irbid, the ancient Arabella, is Jordan's second largest city located about 85 km north of Amman, situated at an equal distance from Pella and Umm Qais and 7 km to the north from Al Hisn.

The seat of the Irbid Governorate, the city has a bustling community and is a major ground transportation hub between Amman, Syria to the north, and Mafraq to the east. Irbid is also home to several colleges and universities, the two most prominent of which are Jordan University of Science and Technology (actually located about 20 km to the east) and Yarmouk University.

History

Artifacts and graves in the area shows that Irbid has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Before the advent of Islam the city was known as Arabella and was famous for some of the best wines in the ancient world. The area in the region had extremely fertile soil, with the moderate climate allowing the growing of high quality grapes.

In the Hellenistic period, it was a major trade center and the birthplace of Nittai of Arbela.

After the introduction of Islam the city became known as Irbid, and moved from wine to olive oil production. Wheat was also an important produce in the area.

The city of Irbid is also notable as being close to the Battle of Yarmouk, a decisive battle across the banks of the Yarmouk River roughly 30 kilometres north of the city. The battle was between the power of Arab and the Roman Empire. This battle set the stage for the departure of Roman armies from Greater Syria and the beginning of the expansion of the Muslim rule.

Modern Irbid

Irbid today combines the bustle of a provincial Middle Eastern town and the youthful nightlife of a typical college town, while being less affected by the urbanization and growth that have impacted larger cities such as Amman.

Though traditionally not a major tourist destination itself, Irbid is home to two notable museums, the Museum of Jordanian Heritage and the Jordan Natural History Museum, both on the campus of Yarmouk University. University Street, which defines the western border of the Yarmouk University campus, is popular with locals as well as with the occasional foreign visitor who stops to kick back in any of its numerous restaurants and cafés. Furthermore, Irbid's strategic location in northern Jordan makes it a convenient starting point for tourists interested in seeing the northern Jordan Valley; visiting Umm Qais, Malka, Kufr Ja'yez, Aadon, Harima, Pella, Ajloun,Jumha, Umm Al-Jimal, and other historical sites; or traveling on to Syria.

Source: Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irbid