Places to see
Damascus
Aleppo
Bosra
Palmyra
Crac des Chevaliers
Damascus
Damascus is the largest city in Syria and its capital. Dimashq ash-Sham in the modern Arabic it is just ash-Sham for locals. As many town in Middle East Damascus began as a settlement in an oasis. The fruitful waters of the Barada River gave life to this beautiful city in the Ghouta oasis.
Damascus to be claimed the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Only another Syrian city Aleppo contests it. It had settlements as earlier as 5000 BC. Damascus experience many changes: it was a Persian capital, felt to Alexander the Great, was a Greek centre and a major Roman city.
Many travellers inspired by the beauty of the old city, bazaars and Oriental traditions stay in Damascus longer than they expected.
Old city
To be fascinated by the Damascus’ architecture and traditions go to the old city. This part of Damascus surrounds by a Roman wall which was several times rebuilt during the past 2000 years. Inside you will find ruins of the western gate of the old Roman Temple of Jupiter which was built in the 3rd century AD and the Umayyad Mosque with golden mosaics (originally a Byzantine cathedral) was built in 705 AD. In the small garden you will find the Mausoleum of Saladin who was one of the greatest heroes of the Arab history. The Mausoleum was built in 1193 and its restoration was made on money which was donated by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany during his visit to Damascus in 1898. Also visit the Mausoleum of Sultan Beybars another Islamic hero from the Mamluk dynasty.
Aleppo
Aleppo (known among the locals as Haleb) is the second largest city in Syria after Damascus. It is famous for its cozy environment. The city very resembles to most of European towns. You can enjoy the atmosphere of the souqs (the market) which keeps traditions and culture of the important trading centre in Asia and Mediterranean from the ancient times, merchants’ inns, the citadel and museums. The most interesting sight in Aleppo is the Basilica of St Simeon, the biggest Christian building in the Middle East in the 4th century.
The Old City
The main attraction of Aleppo’s old city is the souq. It covers a large area. Some parts of the souqs were built in the 13th century, the rest – in Ottoman Era. You will enjoy the art of Oriental bargain, a huge among of stands and stalls and wander along its narrow passages under a vaulted stone ceiling.
Citadel
The citadel is situated on a very high mound in the eastern part of the old city. A moat is dug around the citadel and a bridge leads you inside where you will find the castle. It is mostly ruins now but the throne room was very good restored. The main reason to visit the citadel it is to enjoy the views of the city from its highest point.
Bosra
Ash-Sham for locals this town was mentioned in Egyptian chronics in 1300 BC as Busrana. The full modern name is Bosra ash-Sham. It is enough to spend one day in Bosra to enjoy its beauty. You can get there by using public transport from Damascus.
Bosra is a wonderful place. The main tourist attraction is a well-preserved Roman theatre which was transformed into a citadel in the 12th century. The rest of the town entirely built from black basalt blocks.
Bosra has a long way history as a trade centre. Also it is believed that young Mohammed passed the town with his merchant uncle. While discussing theological matters with Mohammed a Nestorian monk Boheira recognised the spirit of the Prophet. Pilgrims and religious people stopped in Bosra on their way to Mecca to pay homage to Mohammed and Boheira.
Roman theatre
The Roman theatre was built when Bosra was the capital of the Roman Province of Arabia in the 2nd century AD. It was enough place there for 15,000 people. The original façade of the theatre was in white marble. The first wall around the theatre was constructed in the Umayyad and Abbasid periods. The Fatimids made additions to the citadel’s walls in the 11th century. The Ayyubids added more towers between 1202 and 1251 after two Crusader’s attacks. That made a ring of eight towers and thick walls around the theatre to protect it from further attacks. Two towers contain museums now. One of them is an exhibition of everyday Arab life, Arab culture and traditions from the past.
What else to see in Bosra
The Bab al-Qandil or the Gate of the Lantern (a triumphal arch built in the 3rd century AD).
The remains of the public baths.
The Mosque of Omar.
The mosque Hammam Manjak (built in 1372 under the Mamluks and a museum next door).
The Mosque of Fatima (named after the Prophet’s daughter) and the oldest monastery north from the mosque (built in the 4th century).
Palmyra
The town was formed around an oasis. It is really far from all other destinations, like a town in the middle of nowhere – 150km from the Orontes River and 200km from the Euphrates. The locals call it Tadmor - its ancient Semitic name.
A large territory over 50 hectares contains the city ruins of the 2nd century AD which was excavated by many years and well restored.
History
Tadmor was first mentioned in tables as earlier as the 19th century BC. It was an important trade post for caravans from the Mediterranean to the Gulf and from China and India to Europe. In 212 AD Palmyra became a Roman colony. The town grew rapidly and became a part of a kingdom which was ruled by a military leader Odenathus.
A well-known figure in the Palmira’s history is Zenobia. She claimed her descendance from Cleopatra. The half-Greek, half-Arab queen became the ruler of Palmyra from AD 267 after the suspicious death of her husband Odenathus. She was very ambitious and sent her troops to Rome, but they were beaten by an army of Roman emperor Aurelian in 217. Palmyra remained under the Roman power until 634 when Muslims took the town. Palmyra was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1089.
Museum
The Temple of Bel (the most important of the gods in Palmyra) is the main part of the ruins. The exhibition contains a model of the Temple of Bel, so you can get a very good idea of its original beauty. Once inside you will see a huge courtyard and the temple proper in the middle which dates from 32 AD. Also you will enjoy the view of the city theatre which was restored only in the 1950s.
Crac des Chevaliers
Remember the words of Lawrence of Arabia ‘Crac des Chevaliers is the finest castle in the world’ and visit the place to enjoy its glory.
Qala’at al-Hosn in Arabic, the first construction was a fort which was built in 1031 by the Emir of Homs. However, Crusaders expanded the castle to its present existence and built two rings of walls around it. The first ring with 13 towers and the inside wall with central construction. To defend the castle inside a moat was dug between these two walls.
The Crac des Chevaliers is never felt even under attacks of the great Muslim Beybars in 1271.It was a last outpost for the Crusader knights but instead they gave it all up.