Al Deir Monastery in Petra, Jordon
When one needs to construct a structure out of reach from those who would do harm, the best place is the side of a hill, in a gorge, in the middle of nowhere. Carved into the rock or out of the rock if you prefer, the Dier has a somewhat mysterious past. It’s not really a monastery, although it may have served as a temple at one time. Archeologists and historians do not agree on what it once was. What they do agree on is that it’s huge. At about 120 feet across and more than 75 feet tall, it’s massive. The front door is about 25 feet tall; the chamber inside 35 feet high. It’s about a 40-minute hike to the site from the Nabataean Museum, easy enough to reach by car or taxi.