Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art and Restoration | Madaba

The Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art and Restoration (MIMAR) is a specialized educational facility located in the historic center of Madaba, Jordan. It is the only regional institute dedicated to the professional training of artisans in the scientific preservation and production of mosaic art.

Visual Characteristics

The institute occupies a campus of stone buildings and open-air workshops adjacent to the Madaba Archaeological Park. The interior features studios equipped with stone-cutting benches, large-scale mosaic frames, and storage for thousands of natural stone tesserae categorized by geological color. Modern laboratories for chemical analysis and archaeological conservation are integrated into the traditional limestone architecture.

Location & Access Logistics

The facility is situated on Hussein bin Ali Street (the "Tourist Street") in central Madaba, approximately 30 kilometers south of Amman. It is positioned between the Madaba Visitors Center and the Archaeological Park. Visitors can reach the institute via a 5-minute walk from any central city landmark. For those arriving by vehicle, the nearest public parking is at the Madaba Visitors Center 100 meters to the north.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The institute was established in 2007, evolving from the original Madaba Mosaic School founded in 1992 through a partnership between the Jordanian Department of Antiquities, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Italian government. Its creation was a direct response to the need for local expertise in maintaining the city's vast 6th-century Byzantine floor mosaics and preventing the loss of traditional Levantine stoneworking techniques.

Key Highlights & Activities

Visitors can observe students and master artisans engaged in the "direct method" of mosaic creation, using hammers and hardies to hand-cut natural limestone, basalt, and marble. The institute manages a gallery where contemporary mosaic works are exhibited for public viewing. Technical tours may include demonstrations of archaeological cleaning processes and the application of lime-based mortars for heritage conservation.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The campus includes an exhibition gallery, a specialized library for mosaic research, and public restrooms. The site is fully equipped with 4G and 5G cellular coverage. While the institute itself is a focused educational site, it is surrounded by commercial cafes, bookshops, and restaurants within the immediate pedestrian-friendly district of old Madaba.

Best Time to Visit

Operational hours are typically Sunday through Thursday, 08:00 to 15:00. Visiting during these hours is essential for those wishing to see active workshops in progress. The gallery is most accessible in the mid-morning. For enthusiasts, the months of March through May provide the most comfortable weather for exploring the indoor-outdoor campus layout.

Facts & Legends

MIMAR is responsible for the restoration and maintenance of the famous Madaba Map and the mosaics in the Church of the Apostles. A specific "secret" for visitors is that the institute often accepts custom commissions, allowing individuals to order bespoke mosaic reproductions created using the same stone types and techniques employed by Byzantine craftsmen 1,500 years ago.

Nearby Landmarks

Madaba Archaeological Park – <0.1km South

The Burnt Palace – <0.1km South

Madaba Visitors Center – 0.1km North

St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church – 0.2km Southeast

Shrine of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist – 0.4km Southwest