Jerash stands on the banks of Wadi Jerash, once known as Chrysorhoas, the ancient Golden River. On its left bank is the modern town; opposite stand the breathtaking ruins of Gerasa, whose heyday was in the 3C. The town's main monuments are an immense colonnade, a striking oval precinct, two theatres, plus numerous temples and churches. The pine forests on the nearby hills lend a bucolic note to the peaceful charm of this 2 000 year-old city.