Syria Travel Guide
Syria, the name of the country alone conjures images of exotic locales and
historic sites, mysterious peoples and fascinating landscapes. It is a land both
ancient and modern, a window to the past and a glimpse to the future.
Syria's capital, Damascus, is the world's oldest continuously inhabited city,
first mentioned in written sources as far back as four thousand years ago.
Archeological finds show Damascus to have been an inhabited location since the
seventh millennium B.C. Throughout the millennia Damascus has been home to
several peoples and cultures, each of them leaving their own unique mark on this
ancient city.
Some gates and ramparts of the Old City of Damascus are still standing today, on
the northern, eastern, and parts of the southern side of the Old City. The
oldest of these gates date back to Roman times. One of these gates, Bab Kisan,
is held by tradition to be the gate from which St. Paul was lowered in a basket
to escape from Damascus.
Christianity is not the only religion to have influenced this city. The Grand
Mosque of Damascus, the Umayyad Mosque, is on of the oldest and largest mosques
in the world. It supposedly houses the head if John the Baptist, who is revered
by Moslems and Christians alike. Before becoming a mosque, the Umayyad Mosque
was the Church of Saint John. Before that, it was a Roman temple to Jupiter, and
even before that, it was an Aramean temple to the god Hadad. The Umayyad Mosque
is an impressive architectural wonder, with its grand courtyard and towering
minarets.
Damascus is not all historical and religious sites, it is also famous for the
Souqs. The souq is like a market of stalls and booths selling nearly every
imaginable thing. A souq is every shopper's dream, and Damascus' colorful souqs
are filled with bargains and souvenirs just waiting to be found.
Syria is also home to the city Aleppo, another of the oldest continuously
inhabited cities. The citadel of Aleppo, a medieval castle, is found in the
middle of the city. It is one of the oldest and largest castles in the world,
dating back to the third millennium BC and was subsequently built upon or
improved by succeeding occupants. Its base is an elliptical mound covered with
limestone. The fortified gateway of the citadel, accessible through an arched
bridge, is one of its distinguishing features. The Byzantine Hall, the Throne
Hall with its restored ceiling, and the amphitheatre are some of the sites in
the citadels interior that are particularly fascinating. The citadel's
amphitheatre is often used in the present for concerts and other cultural
productions.
Even the desert wastes are not bereft of wonders. Palmyra, an ancient city of
ruins in the Syrian Desert, is a caravan city built on an oasis. It was part of
the ancient Silk Road and was called "Bride of the Desert". The ruins of Palmyra
cover an area of six square kilometers, including graceful columns and towering
arches glowing pink under the desert sun. Ruined temples to Babylonian and Roman
deities still stand along colonnaded streets.
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