Syria / Tartous - موقع طرطوس

An Incomparable Role in History

Syria is the cradle of the great civilizations , and the accomplishments of it's her ancient peoples are renowned throughout the world .

It was here where agriculture began ten thousand years ago , that settlement commenced and civilization emerged . houses , not caves , became man’s dwelling , and he embarked on a journey of self-discovery . he observed heaven and sang the earliest hymns . He tried his hand at drawing and sculpture . Evidence of these ancient arts are found all over Syria , at Mereibet . Jeyroud , Yabroud , and on the river banks .

Syria also presented the world with another discovery . It was here that copper was made pliable and bronze civilization came into being at Tel Halaf.

At Mari ( Tel Hariri ), by the Euphrates and elsewhere , there was an abundance of palaces , temples and murals reflecting advanced cultural and commercial activity .www.tartoos.com

The kingdom of Ugarit ( Ras Shamra ) offered mankind the first alphabet in history .At Elba ( Tel Merdikh ) , a royal palace was discovered containing one of the largest and most comprehensive .

Documentary archives of the ancient world . These specialized in industrial , diplomatic, commercial and administrative matters , in addition to war and peace relations with other countries .

The Amorites , the Canaanites and the phoenicians inhabited the coastal regions , the Arameans were the highlanders , and the Nabateans inhabited the south .

Successive waves of migrations from the Arab peninsula gave an Arab identity to Syria , and it managed to withstand the invasions by Hittites, Persians, Greeks and Romans . The Islamic conquest of 636 A.D . only confirmed this Arab identity and gave a sense of unity to the land .

The immense strategic importance of Syria is due to her unique position as a meeting – point of three continents ( Asia , Africa , and Europe ) and as a crossroad between the Caspian sea , the Indian Ocean , the Black Sea , and the Nile River . through Syria lay the silk route which led from China to Doura Europos ( Salhieh ) , from Palmyra and Homs to the Syrian ports on the Mediterranean , where for thousand of years Syrian seafarers had ridden the wave in their enormous fleets with gleaming white sails .

This geographical position lent distinction to the country , not only as a trade and caravan route , but also as a melting-pot of diverse ideas , beliefs , talents , and cultures . www.tartoos.com

A journey through Syria is a journey through time . When you enter the old souks you realize that history is something alive and tangible , something you can see and touch . you walk down the street called straight ( Midhat Pasha ) with stretches from Bab al-Jabieh , and you feel that you are walking beside saul of Tarus when he saw the light of faith , the light on the Road to Damascus .

The silk weavers with you see in Damascus , Hama and Aleppo still work at their wooden hand looms just like their ancestors bid in Ebla four thousand years ago . Glass blowers at their brick furnaces recall their predecessors who invented coloured glass three thousand years ago . folk artists still draw pictures of epic heroes almost identical to those engraved on stone by Doura Europos artists in the year 300 B.C .

Syria is often described as the largest small country in the world because of its wealth of ancient civilizations . Modern man is indebted to this land for much of this thought and learning . Indeed it was aptly said that every intellectual has tow homelands : his own , and Syria .www.tartoos.com

The continuity of Art in Syria

Syrian Icons

How to get to Syria

By land :

Syria is linked with other countries by a network of international roads through Turkey , Lebanon , Jordan , and Iraq . an international railroad links the country with Turkey and the rest of Europe .

By sea :

Through the tow seaports of Latakia and Tartus on the Mediterrean .

By air :www.tartoos.com

Syrian Arab Airlines ( the national airline ) and a number of world airlines link Syria the international airports of Damascus and Aleppo to all parts of the world .

Travelers to Syria can obtain all other relevant information from Syrian embassies and tourist bureaus abroad .

Entry and Exit procedures :

Foreigners entering Syria must be in possession of :

1. A valid passport .

2. A valid entry visa granted by the Syrian Embassy or Consulate in the visitor’s country of origin or residence .

3. Where there is no Syrian mission in the passport holder’s country , an entry visa may be issued by any other Syrian mission abroad , or at the point of entry to Syria .

4. groups of tourists of ten or more are granted a group a group visa gratis ( free of charge ) provided each member of the group be in possession of valid passport .

5. visitors planning to spend more than 15 days in the country are required to apply to the security authorities for an extension of stay .

6. Every tourist must pay 100 S.P . as a departure airport tax .www.tartoos.com

7. Bills at all hotels are paid currency .

8. Passport of visitors to Syria must not carry an{ Israeli } visa .

9. Fees charged for entry visas are subject to the principle of reciprocity with the country concerned .

Visitors are not required to obtain an exit visa if their stay does not exceed a period of 15 days .

Customs and Excise :

1. clothes and personal belongings are not subject to customs duties .

2. visitors are allowed the following items free of customs duties although they must be declared :

- 1 liter of eau de cologne .

- 1 liter of spirits .

- 2 used packs of playing cards .

200 cigarettes , or 50 cigars . or 250 grams of tobacco .

3- The following items are also exempted from customs duties provided they be used , declared on entry , and re-exported on leaving the country :

- 1 camera and tow films .

- 1 cine-camera for amateur photographers .www.tartoos.com

- 1 pair pf binoculars .

- 1 portable musical instrument .

1 portable tape-recorder ; a perambulator : light camping equipment and utensils ; personal games ; a bicycle ; a hunting rifle licensed by the appropriate authorities both in the visitor’s country and in Syria ;a small iron ; a standard medical kit ; make-up ; and traveling rugs and blankets .

Customs officers are authorized to admit other personal belongings at their discretion .

4- The entry of a motor car subject to the owner bring in possession of an international driving licence , an international car certificate , and a triptick . The car can be used in Syria for total period of 180 days .

However , visitors can obtain more detailed and up-to-date information from periodical circulars available at Syria embassies and consulates or at Syria’s international borders .

Accommodation in Syria

More than 400 hotels provide a considerable choice with regard to costs . There are international Hotels in Damascus ( Sheraton , Meridien , al – Cham , Ebla ) .

Latakia ( Meridien ) Palmyra ( al-cham ) .

Aleppo ( Shahba al – Cham ) , and in Deir al- Zor ( furat al – Sham ) .www.tartoos.com

Several youth hostels and student dormitories are available during the summer season in Damascus , Aleppo , and Latakia .

Camping sites are also available on the outskirts of some cities and a summer resorts .

In the coastal region there are numerous camping sites with full facilities , as hundreds of chalets of various categories and prices .

Food :

Visitors to Syria will always find something to their liking . Syria cuisine is well – known for its variety . Western cuisine is also available at hotels and restaurants throughout the country .

Drinking water in Syria is perfectly safe ,clean and hygienic . It is derived from natural ground and mountain springs and sources and is treated with the most advanced techniques . Most notable is the is the Ein al-Fijeh source with supplies the city of Damascus with its drinking-water . Other mineral water source are renowned for their purity . Among these are the Boukein and Dreikish spring water source s available in bottles throughout the country .

Other Essential Information :

1. there are no endemic or communicable diseases in Syria .

2. Urban crime with plagues most cities is virtually non-existent Syria .

3. Electric power : 220 volt \50 cycles .

4. Office hours : between 8 a.m and 2.00 p.m .

Shops are open all day until 7 p.m . in winter and 8 p.m . in summer : some shops close a few hours in the afternoon .

The basic unit of Syria currency is the piastre : it is 1\100^th of the lira on which the money system is based . Banknote denominations are as follows ( in liras ) : 1 ; 5 ; 10 ; 25 ; 50 ; 100 ; and 500

Coins include ( in piastres ) :

5 ; 10 ; 25 ; 50 ; and 100 www.tartoos.com

Weights and measures in Syria follow the Metric system .

Transport and travel : inter-city travel in modern air – conditioned coaches is organized by toe major companies ( Karnak and transtour ) .Service taxi and trains run regularly between cities , and there are internal flight by Syrianair between Damascus – Aleppo – Latakia – Qamishli – and Deir al Zor .

In – town transport is made easy by taxi cabs in Damascus charge fares indicated by meters ; in other cities fares are set by government departments .

Direct telephone services : are available between Syria cities and the rest of the world . Visitors can readily obtain information on internal and international calls hotels or from the Telephone service .

Telex and telegram services are also available in all parts of the country .

Climate : Syria has a moderate Mediterranean climate , four distinct seasons , and cloudless blue skies for the great part of the year . Temperature in autumn and spring rang between 20 and 25 degrees centigrade , 30 degrees in summer , and 5 to 15 degrees in winter .

Winter is generally moderate but wet in the coastal region and cold inland ; summer is hot and dry inland ,hot and humid on the coast .

Winter clothing is recommended between October and May , and summer clothing between May and September .

A considerable number of Syrians speak English or French . Those who speak only Arabic are helpful and hospitable to foreigners .

Shopping in Syria is an endless pleasure . Tourists enjoy buying local products unique for their distinctive originality . favourite items with visitors are :

- Silk brocade embroidered with gold and silver thread , for which Damascus has always been famous .

- Hand-engraved brass with silver inlays of different patterns and designs .

- Popular hand-printed cotton garments and cloth , and the sarma gold embroidey for which Hama is renowned .

- Pictures of epic folk painted on glass or cloth .

- Mosaics inlaid with mother-of-pearl and tinted wood .www.tartoos.com

- Hand-women rugs made of pure wool .

- Glass mad as you-wait-and-watch ; this the work of glass blowers using mud furnaces where liquid glass is turned into pretty beakers , plates , and lamps .

Delicious sweets filled with pistachios . preserved fruit , and Turkish Delight.

Religious services are held in mosque , churches , and other places of worship throughout the country .

Visitors are expected to respected the sanctity of these places with regard to dress and conduct as they would do elsewhere .

There are clean sand beaches stretching all along the coast , and swimming pools are plentiful in all cities ; in sports compounds , large hotels, and the suburbs .

Artistic and cultural events abound throughout the year . Exhibitions , lectures , and seminars are held at universities , museums , and cultural centers . painting and sculpture by local and foreign artist are exhibited in private galleries throughout the country .

A number of art festivals and trade fairs take place regularly every year .

Radio and television : Programmes on radio are mainly in Arabic but there are foreign programmes . As for television , there are tow channels : one in Arabic and the other in English and French – In addition to the Arabic presse , there is local daily in English .

Syria today

Until the end of world War 1 , geographical Syria included present –day Syria , Jordan , Palestine .Present-day Syria , however , coves some 185.000 sq. km . with a population of 12.000.000 people ( 1986 estimate ) . Its neighbours are Turkey to the north , Jordan and Palestine to the south , Lebanon to the west , and Iraq to the east .

It also has a Mediterranean coastline to the west . It is triangular in shape east of the Mediterranean ,and extends between latitudes 32 to 37 north and longitudes 25 to 42 east of Greenwich .

Syria can be divided into five distinct touristic regions with varying features and terrain .

In the west there is a coast line 175 km long , and mountains divided into tow ranges standing opposite each other .

The eastern rang , stretching along the Syria – Lebanon border and called Eastern Mount Lebanon , wherein Mount Hermon constitutes the highest peak rising to some 2814 meters and covered with snow all year .

The Western range , called Mount Lebanon , extends to the northern part of Syrian coastline where it is know as the Latakia Mountain , and is covered with thickets and forests .

The Orontes river flows between these tow ranges and creates a fertile valley extending north to Homs , Hama ,and the Aleppo plains .www.tartoos.com

The central part of Syria is covered by what is know as the Al-Sham desert , where plains and pasture lands lend an unusual charm to a vast terrain of sand and roc . In the middle of this lies the famous oasis of palmyra .

North of the desert there is a huge fertile basin formed by the Euphrates River , whose source is in Turkish territory . It crosses Syria diagonally in the north-east to exit into Iraq territory , having been fed by tow tributaries in Syria , namely the Khabur and Balikh rivers . On the Syrian part of the river rises a great dam which forms the 80 km – long al – Assad Lake .

In this part of the basin there are several mountains , and some newly-discovered oil-fields .

- In this south –west the Ghuta forms a green belt of orchards and farms which surround the capital , Damascus , full of fruit trees . Through this region runs the river Barada , which the Romans called “ The Golden River ‘’ Its spring is in Zabadani , a summer resort near Damascus . The river flows through miles of meadows and orchards , then branches into seven small rivers before reaching Damascus .

- In the south , Jabal al-Arab forms the greater part of the region with its hills , volcanic rocks , historic cities , and rich vineyards . the vast plain of Houran and the Golan Heights form the remainder of this region , and have long been the most fertile part of it along the borders with Lebanon and Palastine .

A land of diversity:

Ancient irrigation canals and modern dams , the plough and the tractor , wooden norias in perpetual motion and the latest spraying devices are to be found side by side giving life to the dry and thirty land .The costumes of country people are no less colourful and divers than the lands they cultivate .The individual character of each village is reflected in the architecture of its houses , and in the dress of its inhabitants .The art festival held at Palmyra and Bosar every year show how the symmetry of the ancient columns and arches blends with the music from all over the world . www.tartoos.com

Traveling in Syria :

one can see several civilizations within an hour . for example, when browsing in the Damascus souq near the Omayyad Mosque .

The mosque is an impressive Islamic construction erected on the remains of an ancient Aramaic temple . Just outside it there is an enormous Roman arch on huge columns , and close by are Byzantine engravings surrounded by Ottoman , Ayoubite and Mamluk domes .

As you leave urban areas behind to wander about the countryside with its mountains , hills , valleys and plains , you will find an endless variety of colour and scenery .

An hour’s driver will take from fields wheat and cotton to vineyards and olive trees , to pomegranate and palm-tree oases , to daisy and oleander meadows . www.tartoos.com

On the sea-shore to the north you can watch the Mediterranean’s white waves , while in the golden desert you will see a deluge of wild flowers in spring .

Adminitrative Regions

Syria is divided into 14 provinces , each one with a main city as its center .

These provinces can be divided into 3 areas :

The south provinces : the city of Damascus , the Damascus province , Sweida , Dar’a, and Quneitra .

The Mid-Wstern provinces : Homs , Hama , Tartus , Latakia , and Idleb .

The North-Eastern provinces : Aleppo , Raqqa , Deia al Zor , and al-hasakh .

SOUTHERN PROVINCES

THE CITY OF DAMASCUS THE DAMASCUS PROVINCE
SWEIDA

DARA’A

QUNEITRA

Damascus

Damascus is the oldest continuously ihabited city in the world . It has occupied of importance in the fields of science , culture , politics , art , commerce , and industry from the earliest times . It has been called ‘’ al-Fayha ‘’ ( the fragrant city ) , al-Sham, Jollaq , and ‘’ Pearl of the Orient ‘’ as the Emperor Julian named it . It was mentioned in the Holy Qur’an as the many-columned city of Arma , whose like has never been built in the land .

Early references to the city , such as those in the Ebla tablets , confirm that ‘ Dameski ‘ ( Damascus ) during the third millennium B.C was as a city of immense economic influence . www.tartoos.com

Ancient pharaonic scripts refer to it as ‘ Damaska’ . It enjoyed great prominence during the second millennium B.C as the center of an Aramaic kingdom under the name of ‘ Dar-misiq ‘ ( the irrigated house ) . The Aramites were the original inhabitants of Damascus , and their language was Syriac . Many villages around Damascus are still known by their Aramic names .Damascus full under the domination of the Greeks , the Romans , and the Byzantines . They all left their mark on the city as visitors can still readily observe today . In the Roman era , Damascus was first among the ten most prominent cities . It received many privileges , especially during the reign of the Syrian dynasty of Roman emperors . It was from Damascus that the most talented architect of the Roman Empire came . This was Apolodor the Damascene , who designed the celebrated Trajan Column in Rome , and the great bridge on the river Danube . Part of the heritage of this era are the remains of the city-plan which Apolodor designed in oblong shape according with Roman architectural style . There is also part of the Roman temple of Jupiter , which was erected on the site of an older Aramic temple ( Hadad ) where the Omayyad Mosque stands today . this part of the temple is distinguished by its huge Corinthian columns with their richly decorated capitals .

In the Byzantine era , a great number of churches and monasteries were built , and most of them have survived to the present .

Damascus became the capital of the first Arabe state at the time of the Omayyad in 661 A .D . this marked the beginning of its golden epoch , and for a whole century it was the center of the youthful Islamic Empire . This reached its peak of expansion during this period , and came to stretch from the shores of the Atlantic and the Pyrennese in the West , to the river Indus and China in the east . The Omayyad took a genuine interest in building up the city , organizing its souqs and districts , improving its water supply and erecting palaces and hospitals in various parts of it .

Following the decline and fall of the Omayyad , Damascus went through a period of neglect and deterioration . It suffered disaster and destruction , seeing only temporay prosperity , depending on whose domination it was subjected to .

However , when Independence was achieved in 1946 , the city started to regain its importance as a significant cultural and political center in the Arab world . When president Hafez al-Assad became leader of the country in 1970 , an immense process of modernization started in the fields of construction and development . As has Syria , Damascus has now recovered its status at the heart of Arab and international affairs .

Visiting Damascus www.tartoos.com

It is impossible to enumerate all the place of interest in Damascus . The city is a living museum spanning thousands of years . one can only review the most important landmarks in the old part ( within city-walls ) and the new part ( outside city –walls ) of the city .

Landmarks of Old Damascus

1. The Wall and Gates :

The wall was built in the Roman era with large , tapered stones . It was oblong is shape , designed in the manner of Roman military camps , cities , and fortifications . There are seven gates in it : Bab Sharqi , Bab al-Jabieh , Bab al-saghir , Bab keissan , Bab tuma , Bab al-jeniq , and Bab al-faradiss . The main thoroughfare traversed the city from Bab al-Jabieh to Bab Sharqi ; on both sides there were Corinthian columns , and across it numerous triumphal arches . But this thoroughfare has been submerged over the years to about six metres underground , and has been superseded by Souq al– tawil or Midhat Basha, under which are occasionally discovered some Roman columns , especially when road works are in progress .

One such discovery was made in 1950 when a triumphal arch was found at Bab Sharqi , brought up to street level , and re-erected after its restoration was completed .

At time of the Islamic conquest in 635 A.D . the wall was still solid and impregnable , so the tow Muslim leaders Khaled ibn al-walid and abu Obeida ibn al-Jarrah entered the city through Bab Sharqi and Bab al-Jabieh respectively.

Thus the Wall was preserved , and remained intact throughout the Omayyad era . But when the Abassids stormed Damascus in 750 A.D . they destroyed large parts of it . It began to deteriorate over the years so much , so that it became oval in shape . But it was partly restored and reinforced at the time of the Nourites and Ayoubites , in order to withstand the attacks of the Crusaders . During Ottoman rule , however , it was neglected altogether , and some masonary was removed for use in other building ; later on , numerous houses were built upon the greater expanse of it .www.tartoos.com

The only part of historic significance still standing in its original form is 500-meters long , and stretches from Bab al-salaam to Bab Tuma . Most of thr gates are still there , although much altered by additions and engravings done over the years . Other gates were made during the Islamic era , such as Bab al-Salaam and Bab al-Faraj which were built by Nureddin . Bab Keissan and Bab al-Jeniq were blocked up ; and Bab al-Nasr , which had stood next al-Qal;a ( the castle ) was removed when souq al-Hamidiyeh was built in 1863 . The remaining towers on the Wall are : The Nureddin Tower to the south ao Bab Tuma , and al-saleh Ayoub Tower to the east .

2. The Omayyad Mosque

This great Mosque stands at the heart of the Old City at the end of Souq al-Hamidiyeh . It was built by the Omayyad Caliph al-Walid ibn Abdul Malek in 705 A.D . when Damascus was the capital of the Arab Islamic Empire .

It was constructed on the site of what has always been a place of workship : first , a temple for Hadad , the Aramena god of the ancient Syrians three thousand years ago ; a pagan temple ( the temple of Jupiter the Damascene ) during the Roman era . It was later turned into a church called John the Bapist when Christianity spread in the fourth century . Following the Islamic conquest in 635 , Muslims and Christians agreed to perform their rituals side by side .

When al-walid decided to erect an impressive mosque suited to the grandeur of the Arab state whose like was never built before , nor will ever be built after’as he is reported to have said , he negotiated with the Christian community of Damascus , and undertook to construct a new church for them ( St. John’s ) and allot several pieces of land of other churches , if they relinquished their right to their part of the mosque . they agreed . It took ten years and eleven million gold dinars , as well as a huge number-layers , and painters to complete . It became an architectural model for hundreds of mosque throughout the Islamic world .

A prominent feature of it are the three minarets built in different styles ; the upper parts of which were renovated during the Ayoubite , Mamluk , and Ottoman eras . The mosque has a large prayer hall and an enormous courtyard . The interior Walls are covered with with mosaic panels , made of coloured and gilded glass , portraying scenes from nature . The dome is grayish-blue , celebrated for its magnificence . The prayer hall contains a domed shrine venerated by both Christian and Muslims , the tomb of St. John the Bapist .www.tartoos.com

3. The Azem Palace

This also stands at the heart of the Old City , on the southern side of the Omayyad Mosque , and very close to it . It is an astonishing example of a Damascus house , where the simple , almost primitive , exterior contrasts rather sharply with the beauty and sophistication of the interior . Here one finds a sense of space , a wealth of polychrome stone , splendid marble , cascading fountains , and fragrant flowers .

The place was built in the mid-eighteenth century for the Governor of Damascus . The place now houses the Museum of Arts and popular Traditions .

4. The Damascus Citadel

The only fortress in Syria built on the same level as the city . , it does not top a hill or a mountain like all other castles and citadels . It was erected by the Seljuks in 1078 A.D > with masonry taken from the city wall , and turned into a heavily-fortified citadel surrounded by walls , towers , a moat and trenches .

Inside , they built houses , bath , mosque , and schools ; it was a city within a city . At the height of Crusader raids and attacks , it was used as residence for the sultans of Egypt and Syria such as Nureddin , Saladin , and al-Malek al-Adel , whence they supervised military operations against the Crusaders . But al-Malek al-Adel soon found that it was no longer adequate for defence against contemporary weapons and siege tactic , so he decided in 1202 to demolish and re-build it . The outcome was an impressive modern citadel , incorporating the latest inventions in the martial arts . It had imposing walls and a dozen colossal turrets surrounding it ; there were three-hundred arrow silts and enormous parapets all round .

In the mid-thirteenth century , however , it was the principal target for Tatar and Mangol attacks , and was later neglected by the Ottomans . The moast and trenches around it were filled up , and the souqs of Hamidiyeh , Asrounieh , and al-Khuja were built thereon . Recently walls of the fortress came into full view . Extensive repair and restoration work is underway at the moment ; when completed the citadel will become a war museum , and a center for various cultural activities .www.tartoos.com

5. The Souqs

The old covered souqs of Damascus have a unique flavour you can savour with eyes closed . As you walk about in the warm darkness of these streets with their fragrant scents , spices , and colourful merchandise spilling out of the shops onto the pavements , you enter the strange world of exotic legends . Most prominent of these souqs are :

Souq al-Hamidiyeh

Follows a straight line from the west ( where Bab al-nasr used to be ) to the Omayyad Mosque . It dates back to 1863 , to the rule of the Ottoman Sultan Abdul-Hamid , after whom the souq was called . It is coverd with high iron the darkness of the souq . The shops here sell everything from tissues to leather-work , from sweets and ice-cream to exquisite handmade brocades , mosaic , and copper inlaid with silver www.tartoos.com

Souq Midhat Pasha

( The long souq ) : founded by the governor of Damascus Midhat Pasha in 1878 . It stands above the roman ‘ street called Straight ‘ which used to traverse the city from Bab al-Jabieh to Bab Sharqi , and runs parallel to souq al-Hamidiyeh , with numerous side-souqs separating them .

On both sides of the souq the shops are filled with local textiles , silk cloth , woolen cloaks , headbands and skull caps ; there are also ancient khans ( inns ) whose entrances and archways house an endless number of other smaller shops . one half of this Souq ( the part closer to Bab Sharqi ) is uncovered , and is well-know for its coppersmiths , engraved copper products , and silver inlaid utensils.

Some archeologists say this is the location where Damascus first came into being thousands of years ago . In one of the side streets in this part , Maktab;Anbar is situated . This is the most exquisite of Damascus houses built in the nineteenth century . In 1887 it was turned into a secondary school , and continued functioning throughout the Ottoman and French periods . It was repaired and and restored recently to become a cultural center . It contains some of the most striking tinted glass windows , spacious patios , ornamented halls and painted ceilings .

At the end of this souq , just befor Bab Sharqi , there are several beautiful churchres , such as the Hananiya Church , which dates back to the Byzantine era , and the N’assan House , which represents a typical old Damascus house .

Souq al-Harir

Founded by Darwish Pasha in 1574 . Its entrance is at the end of souq al-Hamidiyyeh just outside the Omayyad Mosque . Its shops are filled with local embroidered cloths , perfume essence , and tailoring and sewing requisites . Here , too , a number of old khans have been converted into shops , best known for their cloaks , capes , mantles , shawls , and ‘ galabiyas ‘ Most interesting of these clusters of little shops is an old bath called al-Qishani .www.tartoos.com

Souq al-Harir leads to yet another souq called al-Khayatin ( tailors ) which was Shamsi Pasha in 1553 ; a multitude of shops here sell woolens and material for men’s clothing . Hundreds of celebrated tailors of traditional wear used to work here in the past . Between these tow souqs stands the mosque and tomb of the Muslim leader Nureddin ibn Zenki . The mosque was erected in 1173 , and is distinguished by a dome of unequalled beauty , and interior and exterior designs of unique originality .

Also between the tow souqs stands Madrassat ( school ) Abdallah al-Azem , constructed in 1779 , during the Ottoman period , which has been converted into a cluster of small shops for traditional crafts

Souq al Bzourieh

Extends between souq Midhat Pasha and the Omayyad Mosque and is famous for its quaint little fruit , medicinal herbs , and confectionery .

In the middle of this souq stands a bath ( one of the tow hundred public baths ) which has been in continuous use from the twelfth century . Here , too is the celebrated khan of As’ad Pash built by the owner of al-Azem Palace in the mid-nineteenth century ; it is now being converted into a hotel .

Another little souq branches out of al-Bzourieh ; this is the Goldsmiths’Market , where an endless vatiety of hand-made jewellery is sold ; the southern entranace to the Omayyad Mosque overlooks this glittering little souq .

Bimaristan al-Noury

To the south of souq al-Hamidiyeh , this was built by Nureddin in the twelfth century as a hospital , and financed by ransom money to the amount of 300,000 dinars paid by a Crusader king held captive . During the Ottoman period it was converted into a school for girls , and it now houses the Museum of Arab Medicine and Science . It contains the most exquisite examples of decorative inscriptions used for the first time during Nureddin’s reign to replace the traditional kufi inscriptions .www.tartoos.com

Saladin’s Tomb and its Neighbouring Schools :

The tomb is next door to the north gate of the Omayyad Mosque . It was originally part of al-Azizieh School built by Uthman , saladin’s son , in the twelfth century . The whole interior is decorated with polychrome marble mosaics .

Next to the tomb stands a typical Mamluk edifice , the Jumaqjieh School , built in the twelfth century . The interior is decorated with inscriptions and beautiful lettering . It is one of the most splendid old school is Damascus ; and has recently been turned into a museum of Arabic Calligraphy .

Tow other schools nearby : al-Zhahiriya , which is Ayoubite edifice and houses the famous library of that name ; and al-Adliya , which is also Ayoubite in style , and is now headquarters of the Arab Language Academy .

St. Paul’s Church

Is situated behind Bab Keissan , one of the gates in the old wall encircling Damascus .

It commemorates the memory of St. Paul , whose name was Saul of Tarsus , charged by the Romans to persecute the Christian . As he approached the village of Daray , a burst of blinding light took his sight away , and he heard Jesus Christ ash him ‘ Saul , why do you persecute me ? ‘’ This was a vision of faith . He was taken unconscious to Damascus , attended by Hananiya , Christ’s disciple , and became one of the staunchest advocates of Christianity . His Jewish peers decided to kill him , but he hid in a house by the city wall , and at night was lowered by his disciples in a huge basket from a slit in he wall . He travelled to Antioch , Athen , and Rom , after a brief stay in Jerusalem , and continued to teach the gospel until died .www.tartoos.com

Landmarks of the New City

Ever since the eleventh century , when the old city was already too small for its inhabitants and their houses , the city started to expand beyond its walls . In the Nuri and Ayoubite periods new suburbs emerged ; theu were separate and independent of the city proper , but they , in turn , continued to grow at such a rate during the Mamluk period that they joined the wall , and the old city became indistinguishable from the new . Most notable among the suburbs was al-Salhieh at the foot of Jabal Qassiun , al-Uqiba , al-Midan , and al-Mazzeh . Mamluk princes and sultans also erected numerous school and mosque beyond the old city walls . During the Ottoman period four new edifices were constructed , namely : Sheikh Muhieddin , al-Takieh al-Suleimaniyeh , al-Darwishieh , and al-Sinanieh . In the nineteenth century , new roads were built across the city along with new residential eras . European architectural styles started to appear . Most important among the buildings of this period are : al-Hamidiyeh Barracks , al-Saraya ( now housing the ministry of the interior ) , al-Muhajirin palace ( the presidential Palace ) , the national hospital , and the law school ( now being renovated to accommodate the Ministry of tourism ) . Construction of new roads , bridges , hospitals , public parks , hotels , government offices , and new residential suburbs began after Independence and is still going strong today .

Places of interest to the visitor are :

1- The National Museum :

the national museum of Damascus is generally recognized as one of the finest of its kind in the world . Visitors can see artifacts of the great civilization that emerged and flourished in Syria . There are thousands of statues , stamps , pieces of jewellery , weapons , precious stones ; sculpture , masks , tablets , textiles , mosaics , glass-work and earthenware , coins , and manuscripts from the ancient Syrian kingdoms of Ebla , Ugarit , Palmyra , Tel Sukas , Mari , Doura , Europos , Bosra , Shahba and others . the main Oriental Antiquities : ( the ugarit alphabet , gold, silver , and ivory statues , stamps , antiquities of the coastal and interior regions , the civilization of Mary . The statue of Ornina , ivory picture panels , jewellery , gold masks , and various

weapons ) .www.tartoos.com

Classical , Greek and Roman Antiquities : ( the Palmyra civilization , Doura Europos , mosaics , the Byzantine period, and basalt sculpture ) .

The Arab –Islamic Section : ( the façade of Qasr al-Hir al-Gharbi , glass-work , ceramics , weapons , astrolabes , earthenware , coins , and manuscripts ) .

Modern Arts Section : ( Work of contemporary Syria artists since the 30’s , painting and sculpture ) .

2- Al-Takieh al-Suleimaniyeh :

A remarkable example of Ottoman architecture ; it was built by order of Sultan Sulriman al-Qanouni ( hence the name ) in 1554 . It was erected on the site of the famous palace of Zhaher Bybars , and designed by the celebrated architect Sinan . Most striking are its tow elegant minarets . It is divided into tow parts : the great Takieh which consists of a mosque and a school , and the minor takieh with a prayer hall and a large patio surrounded by archways , arcades and rooms , now housing the handicraft market .

3- The City of Damascus Historical Museum :

An eighteenth-century building , which , like al-Azem Palace , is considered a fine example of old Damascene houses . It contains historical documents relating to the inhabitants of the city of Damascus

4- Al-Salhieh :

situated at the foot of Mount Qassiun which overlooks Damascus . Building in this area started in the eleventh century to accommodate refugees arriving from Jerusalem following the Crusader occupation of the city . Here you find numerous old schools and hospitals , as well as mosque and the shrines of prominent Muslim thinkers and Sufi leaders such as Muhieddin Ibn Arabi and Abd al-Ghni al-Nabulsi . In the Muhieddin district , a colossal wooden noria was erected in the thirteenth century , based on a design made by al-Jazri , the leading mechanic of this time . It lifted water from the river Yazid to a height of 12 meters to supply al-Qaimarieh Hospital at al-Salhieh . It is the only one remaining of a great many norias that were scattered all over the district . There is an alley called the Noria Alley .

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Damascus

COUNTRY AND ENVIRONS

Places of interest of the visitors :

Ma’ lula

This famous village is some 56 kilometres from Damascus , and is situated at an altitude of more than 1500 meters . Its little houses cling to the face of an enormous rock ; they look suspended in mid-air . There are tow monasteries here : Saint Sergius and Saint Taqla’s . The inhabitants still speak Aramic , the language spoken by Christ . Tow neighbouring villages , Jaba;din and Naj;a also speak the same language . The word Ma’lula means ‘ entrance ‘ in Aramic.

Seydnaya

Some 30 kilometrs from Damascus , the village is spread out over a hilltop , and is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves . It has famous monastery founded in 547 , dedicated to the Blessed Virgin . The name of the village itself , ‘’ Seyda Naya ‘’ in Syriac means ‘’ Our lady ‘’.

The monastery contains a portrait of the virgin believed to have been painted by St. Luke .www.tartoos.com

Shrine of Saida Zeinab

Located some 10 kilometres to the south of Damascus . The interior is covered with decorations in silver and gold , ornate window and lavish chandeliers . The shrine attracts hundreds of pilgrims daily from various countries , who come to pay tribute to the Prophet’s grand-daughter , the daughter of the Imam Ali ibn Taleb .

Summer Resorts and Recreation Spots :

Zabadani

A summer resort some 45 kilometres north Damascus , 1175 metres above sea-level . It overlooks the plain of Zabadani , a fertile land with thousands of fruit trees bearing delicious apples , cherries , plums , peaches , and pears . The source of the river Barada is in this plain and it supplies Damascus with water , and irrigates the Ghuta around the city . The source of the river forms a little lake which is surrounded by cafes , restaurants , and play-grounds .

Attracted by its fresh air and beautiful scenery Damascenes rush to this resort on hot summer days . The area has many hotels and restaurants , cafes and camping sites situated near the banks of the river .

Many Damascus , however , prefer another nearby resort , Bludan , which spreads over the mountain overlooking Zabadani , at 1500 metres above sea-level . It is cooler here and the scenery is particularly impressive , especially at sunset . Here , too, plenty of hotels , restaurants and cafes cater to the needs of all visitors . Most notable among them is the Grand Hotel , with its spacious terrace that overlooks the entire Zabadani plain .

Also on the hill-top between Zabadani and Bludan , lies the village of Buqein with its famous mineral-spring gushing out of the hillside . It is customary for visitprs to stop here and sample this fresh water . This is now bottled and sold in hotels , restaurants and shops throughout the Middle East .www.tartoos.com

Recreation spots near Damascus are numerous and varied . In the Western Ghuta on the banks of the river Barada , you will find hundreds of them concealed under the shade of poplar and willow trees .

The main resting-spots in this vally are : Ein al-Fijeh , Ein al-Khadra , Basseemeh , al-Ashrafieh , al-Hameh , and al-Rabweh . The eastern Ghuta , where the International Airport is located , is also a most attractive part of the Damamscus environs . It is full of fruit orchards with apricot , peach , apple , and pear trees .

Also a little to the north of Damascus there are tow interesting villages , al-Tel Mnein ( 1300 meters above sea level ) , well-known their clear spring and pretty cafes .

The village of Erneh is some 52 kilometres from Damascus , suspended at 1400 meters above sea-level on the slopes of Mount Hermon . It has over 300 springs that converge to create al-A’waj River , and it is well-known for its delicious strawberries , cherries , apples and peaches .

IMPORTANT SITES IN SOUTHERN PROVINCES

Bosra ( Dora'a province )

Situated in the vast Hawran plain . some 145 kilometres south of Damascus . It is an extremely ancient city mentioned in the lists of Tutmose III and Akhenaten in the fourteenth century B.C . The first Nabatean city in the second century B.C , It bore the name Buhora , but during the Hellenistic period . it was known by the name of Bustra . Later the Romans took an active interest in the city , and at the time of the Emperor Trajan it was made the province of Arabia ( in 106 B.C ) and was called Neatrajana Bustra . the city saw its greatest period of prosperity and expansion then , became a crossroads on the caravan routes and the official seat and residence of the Imperial Legate . After the decline of the Roman Empire , Bosra played a significant role in the history of early Christianity . It was also linked to the rise of Islam , when a Nestorian monk called Bahira , who lived in the city , met the young Muhammad when his caravan stopped at bosra , and predicated his prophetic his prophetic vocation and the faith he was going to initiate .

The oldest Islamic square minarets ( still standing ) are found in Bosra , whose prosperous role as an important halt for pilgrims on the way to Mecca lasted until the 17 th century .www.tartoos.com

The most interesting part of the city today is the famous Roman theatre built in the second century A.D . which seats 15 thousand spectators , and is considered one of the most beautiful and well-preserved of Roman amphitheatres in the world . The stage is 45 meters long and 8 meters deep . Every summer , it hosts Arab and international performers who entertain audiences during the Bosra Art Festival against a majestic background of Roman columns and arches .

The city itself contains a great number of Roman ruins , a part of the Byzantine Bahira Church , as well as the al-Mabrak Mosque , which is said to have been erected on the site where the Prophet's camel stopped to rest . There is also the Omar Mosque ( also called the al-Arouss Mosque ) , which is the only one of its type remaining from the early days of Islam , and it retains its th century primitive form .

An important Muslim citadel , dating back to the Ayoubite and Mamluk period still stands , and one of its towers now houses a museum of Antiquities and Traditional Arts .

- In addition , the city also has :

Remains of walls ( Nabatean ) ;-

Bath ( Roman , 2^nd century ) ;-

- al-Birkeh ( a hug pool : 155 by 122 meters)

- ( Nabateau ) ;

- A Nabatean temple dating back to the first century ;

- A Cathedral ( Byzantine , 4 th century ) ;

Shahba ( Sweida province )

In the Jabal al-Arab region 90 kilometers south-east of Damascus . Shahba stands in an oasis of orchards and vineyards . Renowned as the birthplace of the Syria Emperor Phillip who ruled the Roman Empire between 244 and 249 A.D to honour him , the city bore the name Phillipopolis during the Roman period . He took a personal interest in the city , planned it after the Roman style , built numerous palaces and temples in it , erected triumphal arches and public baths , a theatre and a great wall surrounding it . He is said to have wanted to turn Shahba into a replica of Roman itself .www.tartoos.com

Visitors to the Shahba museum can see the immense mosaic panels representing ancient Greek myths ; the god of wine and fertility Dionysus , the goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite , and the legendary poet and musician Orpheus . Another collection of Shahba's mosaic panels is in the National Museum in Damascus .

Remains of the city temple ( Philipon ) , some public baths , parts of the old wall and its four gates , as well as the tow intersecting thoroughfares and the Roman canal can still be seen in the town .

Salkhad ( Sweida Province )

Some 38 kilometers south of Sweida and 20 km east of Bosra . Here you find :

Remains of a citadel built by the Nabateans on a volcanic hill ; it was renovated by the Ayoubites and Mamluks who added watch-towers to the original building .

- The minaret of an Ayoubite mosque in the town square .

- An Ayoubite tomb with stones inscribed with Arabic lettering .www.tartoos.com

Tel Shehba ( Dora'a province )

Famous for its water-falls which flow into wadi Khalid , and the remains of its ancient wall .

Qanawat ( Sweiad Province )

7 kilometers east of Sweida , it was a city of great importance during the Roman period . In the year 60 B.C , the Roman named it one of the Decapolis League of commercial cities of which Damascus was chief city . This position of importance explains the abundance and richness of its ruins which are among the most interesting in the whole Jabal al-Arab region .

The location of Qanawat lends beauty to its remains ; the village lies stretched and along the crest of a hill and extends down the side of a valley full of trees , orchards , meadows and fields .

Of greatest interest to the visitor is a cluster of columns which were part of 2nd century temple dedicated to the sun god Helios . Another temple of the same period dedicated to Zeus was built with decorated basalt . Of this temple there are only six columns left . On this right side of the valley there are the remains of an Odeon .

Sweida ( principal Town in the province )

Situated some 90 kilometers south-east of Damascus , it is well-known for its plentiful vineyards . It stands 1100 meters above sea-level , and was known by the name of Suwada ( little black town ) in the Nabatean period , because it was built with black volcanic stone . The Romans , in the 3rd century , considered it one of the most important towns in the province of Arabia and called it Dionysus .www.tartoos.com

Ruins of ancient civilizations are numerous but widely scattered ; some of the most notable of these , along with a collection of exquisite mosaics discovered in 1962 , are now housed in the Sweida Museum . One part of this mosaic collection represents Artemis , goddess of chastity and the hunt , surrounded by her nymphs when she is surprised by a hunter while bathing . This fine Roman work dates back to the sixth century . Another scene portrays the birth of Venus and the wedding of Thetis . Statues carved in hard basalt show sings of a mixture of Nabatean , Greek , Roman , Byzantine , and Arab influences .

There are also the ruins of a 3 rd century Roman temple surrounded by a Corinthian columns

WEST AND CENTRAL PROVINCRS

HOMS HAMA LATAKIA TRTOUS IDLEB

Homs

Homs is the third most important city in Syria . It lies 160 km to the north of Damascus . Like Petra and Palmyra . Homs was an Arab emirate in the 2 nd century B.C . It was also the third station on the ‘ silk route ‘ after Doura Europos and Palmyra .

It still retains this position of importance toady , as the oil pipelines pass through the city .

Unfortunately, many buildings and citadels in Homs were destroyed by ancient earthquakes . There remains only one citadel in the south of the city with its Damascus and Palmyra gates .

This historical city produced many impressive personalities . Bassianos ( an emir of Homs ) , through his daughter’s marriage to the Roman emperor , Septimium severus , who ruled Rom from 193 to 221 , sired three rulers , Caracalla , Heliogabalus and Alexander Severus . The city was the birthplace of the famous Syria philosopher , Longenius , counselor to Queen Zenobia , and of the famous physician Marlin .

This historical city produced many impressive personalities . Bassianos ( an emir of Homs ) , through his daughter’s marriage to the Roman emperor , Septimium Severus , who ruled Rome from 193 to 221 , sired three rulers , Caraaclla , Heliogabalus and Alexander Severus . The city was the birthplace of the famous Syrian philospher , Longenius , counselor to Queen Zenobia , and of the famous physician , Marlian .www.tartoos.com

Among the most significant historic constructions remaining in Homs is the Mosque of Khaled ibn al-walid , the great commander of the Muslim Arab armies . Tow very tall white-stone minarets lend lightness to the imposing structure . The slender colonnade in black and white stone in horizontal rows is representative of traditional Syrian architecture .

Many church still stand in Homs from The days of early Christianity in Syria . one of these Churches is said to possess the girdle of the Blessed Virgin . The church of St . Elian is unique for its collection of fine frescoes discovered in 1970 . These bear inscriptions in Greek and Arabic , and date back to the end of the 12 th century . The Nuri mosque also dates back to the 12 th century , distinguished foe its beautiful entrance .

In the Homs museum , there are many archaeo logical artifacts dating back to the ancient Syrian , Greek , Roman , Byzantine and Arab eras .

The Qattina lake is 15 km from Homs , it is rich in fish , and has the first rainwater dam used in agriculture which dates back to the 2 nd millennium B.C. close to ths lake is the archaeological hill called tel al-Nabi Mand(Qadesh ) , where a historic battle took place between the Hittites and the Egyptians in the thirteenth century B.C .

Palmyra

Palmyra is the heart of Syrian desert , and is often described as ‘’ the bride of the desert ‘’. Its magnificient remains tell of a heroic history during the reign of Queen Zenobia .

The ‘’ Oasis ‘’ as it sometimes called , is located near a hot-water spring called Afqa . It was mentioned in one of the Assyrian tablets of Mari . Palmyra was an ideal halt for the caravans moving between Iraq and al-Sham ( present-day Syria , Lebanon and Jordan ) , trading in silk from China to the Mediterranean .

This strategic location made Tadmor ( Palmyra ) prosper in a well-established kingdom from the 2^nd century B.C .

However , Tadmor was located between tow warring empires , Roman and Persia . Tadmor found that her interests lay more with Rome , since the Persians had ambitions to take over the mouths of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers which would endanger Palmyra’s trade .

When the Romans conquered Syria , Tadmor became knoen as the ‘’ city of plam-trees’’ and flourished even more : it imposed high taxes on goods from the caravans , and its horsemen fought alongside the Roman armies . When the Roman emperor Adrian visited Palmyra , he declared her a ‘’ free city ‘’ in return , the people of Tadmor gratefully called their city ‘’ Adrianapalmyra ‘’.

When the severus emperors , who were originally Syrian , came to rule Palmyra, they treated her people extremely well . The Emperor caracalla declared her a Roman colony , something the Palmyrians had always hoped for , since it exempted them from paying taxes on luxury items such as perfumes , spices , ivory , glass and silk .

This made the city a luxurious one : new constructions , streets arches , temples and statues were built , making Palmyra one of the greatest cities of the Roman empire .www.tartoos.com

When the conflict between Persia and Rome reached its crisis , Rom resorted to the ruler of Palmyra for help . This ruler , Auzaina managed to withstand the Persian armies , which led the Romans to call him ‘’ The leader of the East ‘’, But hw was soon assassinated in mysterious circumstances , and his second wife , Zenobia , a woman renowned for her exceptionally strong character , took power . She ruled Palmyra in a way that astonished both West and East .

She was exceptionally intelligent and attractive . She was a gifted linguist , an eloquent speaker of Palmyrian , Greek and Egyptian . Zenobia had a wide knowledge of politics , and in her court , she had many philosophers , scholars and theologians .

Queen Zanobia was soon fired by the ambition of getting rid of Roman domination . In 268 , during the reign of Emperor Aurelian , she decided to conquer all of Rome’s territories . Aurelian was then very much engaged in internal conflicts as well as external wars .

This enabled Queen Zenobia to take over the whole of Syria , conquer Egypt and send her armies to Asia Minor , gaining control thereby of all the land and sea-ways to the far East . She took the title of ‘’August’’ which was only used by the emperor of Rome , and she had money coined with her and her son’s likeness upon it , without that to the emperor of Rome .

However , the Emperor Aurelian took quick action in settling his internal disputes , and started to plan his revenge on Queen Zenobia . He formed a new army for this purpose , which proceeded through Turkey to conquer Zenabia’s army in its first defensive position in Homs . It besieged Palmyra until it fell in 274 .

Queen Zenobia was defeated and taken captive to Rome , fettered in chains of gold .

The destiny of the great kingdom of Palmyra was no better than that of its queen ‘ the city fell prey to looting and destruction .

Archaeologists are still working on excavations there in order to uncover the queen’s palace which was destroyed by the Roman and replaced by a military camp .www.tartoos.com

Queen Zenobia’s ambitious dream is still embodied in the magnificient remains of what she built .

Palmyra lies 210 km northeast of Damascus and 155 km east of Homs . A tour among the ruins , which cover an area of 6 square kilometers , requires a full day in order to form an adequate idea of the beauty of the architecture which has remained . Worth visiting are the Baal temple , the Arch of Triumph , the Congress Council and the ‘’ Straight Street ‘’ , the Congress Council and the Cemeteries . Close to Palmyra , on a nearby hill , stands the citadel of Fakhr al-Din al-Ma’in ( 17th century ) .

The meseum of Palmyra ( the Tadmor museum ) is rich in art of different periods ; sculpture , mosaic , gold , bronze and pottery . It also exhibits the folklore of Palmyra and the Syrian desert .

The spring of Afqa in Palmyra is the source of life of the famous oasis . Its sulphurous mineral water is said to aid in the treatment of skin diseases , chest and liver complaints and anemia . It also stimulates digestion and blood circulation .

Hama

The city is 200 km to the north of Damascus and 60 km to the east of Banyas . It is a very ancient city , which has flourished continually since ancient times , and has known the successive civilization of the fertile Crescent .

Battles was that of Qarqar , where the Assyrian army was defeated in 853 B.C . Unfortunately , few of its ancient relics have been preserved . However , Hama is well known for its enormous waterwheels ( noriahs ) on the Orontes , which are as old as Hama itself .

One of Hama's ancient buildings is al-Jami' al-Kabir ( the great Mosque ) , which dates back to the 14 th century and includes tow tombs of two emirs who ruled Hama in the 13 th century . Another mosque is that of Abu al-Fida , named after Hama's Sultan , who was a famous Arab geographer and historian . The city is aften linked with his name . A third ancient mosque is the al-Nuri mosque , which was built in the days of Noureddin al-Zanki in 1129 ; on its wall appear inscriptions in both Arabic and Greek . Hama is particularly famous for its traditional industries , especially textiles and cotton cloth .

Aphamea an the citadels of Nudiq and Shaizar

Apamea is located on the right bank of the Orontes . about 500 km to the northwest to Hama . It overlooks the Ghaab plain . It was built by Saluqos Nikator , the first king of the selsucids in Syria in 300 B.C . He named it after his wife , Afamia . The city flourished to an extent that its population numbered half a million . As an Eastern crossroads , it received many distinguished visitors : Cleopatra , Septimus Severus Apamea became a center of philosophy and thought ,especially of Monophostism .

Most of the uncovered ruins in it date back to the Roman and Byzantine . It is distinguished for its high walls and the main thoroughfare surrounded by columns with twisted fluting . The street is about 2 km long and 87 m wide . The ruins of the Roman theatre , which have been frequently disturbed , are now a great mass of stone . Its colonnade is 145 m long .

Erected in the 2 nd century , it was destroyed in the 12 th century by tow violent earthquakes ; some columns are still standing nevertheless . To the West of the city , stands the Mudiq citadel which once formed a defence line a long the Orontes . Fierce battles with the Crusaders attempting to comquer it look place in the 12 th century , and Nur al-Din finally surrendered it in 1149 . The citadel has huge towers , overlooking the Ghaab plain . It also has a a Khan built by the Turks in the 16th century , and transformed into an archaeological museum wich houses Apamea's mosaics .

To the south of Mudiq castel lies the citadel of Shaizar overlooking the Orontes . In the Middle Ages it coula only be reached by a draw-birdge . the main tower to the citadel is square in shape and overlooks the defensive fortresses . Arabic inscriptions form the Mamluk periods appear over it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1157 . The Crusaders tired to occyy it several times , but in vain . www.tartoos.com

The Aleppo Citadel

50 m above the city , a ring of crenellated walls and towers rises from a steep glacis , encircling a mass of ruins from every period . It has always been extremely important , both strategically and militarily . It was built in the days of Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamadani , on the remains of earlier civilizations .

The citadel's fortified entrance is a marvelous example of Arab military architecture . On the north and south sides , great towers rises above the moat . The moat , 20 m deep and 30 m wide , emphasizes the fortress;s proud isolation .

The main parts of the citadel are : the throne room , the bathroom , the small mosque ( Ibrahim's mosque ) , the great mosque built in 1213 whose square minaret is 21 m high and from which can be see a splendid view . Inside the citadel there is a small museum that contains relcs uncovered during restoration and reconstruction .

Worth visiting also are the high walls of ancient Aleppo , with their fortified doors ( Hadid , Antika , and Qinsrin ( which are fine example of Islamic military architecture .

Souqs and commercial Khans

In terms of spaciousness and originality , the covered souqs of Aleppo , which extend for more than 10 km , are the most striking in any Isalmic city . The souqs are named after the various crafts : hence , we find the souq of gold , the souq of copper , cotton , ect .

Traditionally , there is always a foundation in the center and sometimes a little garden planted with jasmine and roses . Most of these souqs date back to the 15 th century . They are living museum which depict medieval life .

The Khans ( caravanserai ) are in the same area as the souqs , since they were used for the accommodation of traders and their goods . These Kahan are characterized by their beautiful facades and entrance , their high arches and fortified wooden doors . Some of these Khans are : Jumruk ( Customs ) ,Wazir ( minister ) and Saboun ( soap ) .

Places to visit in Aleppo

- The national museum ; this includes in particular documents and relics from Ebla and Mari .

- Museum of popular arts and traditions .

- al-Jami'al-Kabir ( the great mosque ) , similar to the Omayyad mosque in Damascus .

- Old schools , churches , mosques , bathes and ancient houses , some dating back to the 15 th century , like the al-Bounduqiah ( Venetian ) Consulate , which contains superb ornaments and antiquities .

Qal'at Sam'an ( Saint Simon )

This citadel is 60 km north-west of Aleppo . It was named after the hermit Saint Simon ( Sam'an ) , a shepherd fron northern Syria , who became a monk after revelation in a dream . Following Saint Simon's death in 459 , the Emperor Zenon ordered that a cathedral be built where the Saint used to pray .www.tartoos.com

The layout was original , centering on the famous column from which Saint Simon used to preach . Four basilicas , arranged in the shpe of a cross , opened into an octagon covered by a dome , in the center of which stood the holy column .

It a beautiful church built on the ridge of the hill where Saint Simon had taken up ' residence ' .

Simplicity and harmony combine to make the ruins of the Basilica of St.Simon an earthquake destroyed parts of the church less than half a century after it had been built ) a masterpiece of pre-Islamic art in Syria .

In the 10 th century , some towers and walls were erected . It was then called ' Qal'at'an ( Simon's citadel ) . It became the center of conflict between Byzantuim and the Hamadani kingdom; in 986 , the son of Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamadani finaly captured it .

The church of Qalb Lawzi ( Idleb )

This is 65 km west of Aleppo . It dates back to the 6th century, and is a masterpiece of Syrian Byzantine art .

Ebla ( Tel Mardikn-Idleb )

This ‘ Tel is 25 km south-east of Idleb . It is the site of important and recent archaeological discoveries . Excavations in the ‘ Tel’have revealed a very old Syrian civilization , that of Ebla , which flourished in the 3 rd and 2 nd millenniums B.C .

In the palace of this great kingdom , a library containing more than 17,000 clay tablets was uncovered . These tablets are the earliest written documents in Syria .

Palaces of the Semi-Desert

Rasafh

It is located south the Euphrates and north of the Syrian semi-desert , 160 km south-east of Aleppo and 30 km south of the Aleppo-Raqqa road .

Rasafh palace was the residence of Hisham ibn Abdul Malik , the third Omayyad Caliph , whose age was a golden one , due to his great interest in the arts and in architecture . He had several palaces built in various parts of Syria . He was in favour of simplicity and modesty ; this is why he chose Rasafh as his restdence . There, he died and was buried .

The palace was originally a church, built to commemorate a Roman officer ( St.Sergius ) , who died in defence of Christianity in the 4 th century . In 616, the church was invaded by the Persians , robbed and destroyed . When Hisham ibn Abdul Malik became a caliph in the 8 th century, he built tow beautiful palaces on its site . Later , the Abbassids invaded and destroyed what the Caliph Hisham had built . Very little of the ruins of the Mar Sarkis church remain . Parts of the church have been used as a mosque ; inscriptions in both Arabic and Greek , engraved on the walls , indicate that Christians and Muslims co-existed peacefully in Syria from the 13 th century onwards .www.tartoos.com

Qase al-Hir al-Gharbi

45 km south-west to Tadmor ( Palmyra ) , built by the Caliph Hisham ibn Abdul Malik in the 8 th century , this palace is square and surrounded by a huge wall , at each corner of which there is a round towers . At each side of the main gate there are tow half-rounded towers . It has a courtyard with columns with Corinthian crowns .

Qaser al-Hir al-Sharqi

110 km north-east of Palmyra, this palace was built by the Caliph Hisham in 628 . It contains a palace-residence for the caliph and for the garrisons . There is a small mosque built in the style of the Omayyad Mosque in Damascus . There is a bath with hot , warm and cold running water . This is the oldest Omayyad bath . The palace is surrounded by a wide garden .

Raqqa

Located on the left bank of the Euphrates between Aleppo ( 188 km ) and Deir al-Zor ( 105 km ) . It is an ancient city built by Alexander the great in the 4 th century B.C. In 662 the Cliph Mansur built , on the ruins of Raqqa , a new city imitating the style of Baghada which called ' Rafqa ' . Invaded by the Mongols in the 12 th century . Raqqa has few remains left from that period . Theses were built by the Caliph Harun al-Rashid in the Abbasside age . Some remains of ancient Raqqa survive today . Those built in pink tile reflect a particular style of architecture . Of the Jami'I al-Kabir ( the great mosque ) , there remains only the minaret , which was reconstructed by Nur al-Din in 1166 .

Pottery and glass were famous and there is a museum in the city which contains many relics can also bee seen in museums in New York , Washington and other Western cities .

Raqqa is beginning to flourish again , and to play an important economic role ( after the building of the Euphrates Dam ) in the life of Modern Syria .

Al-Thawra ( Tabaqa )

This is new city that rose up out the sand . It was inaugurated by president Hafz al-Assad in 1973 .

Al-Thwara , ' The revolution ' , is the capital of the area of the Euphrates dam . Here , when people talk of " the dam " they do not only mean the huge structure that holda back the river ( 4500 meters long , 60 metres high , 512 metres wide at the base , 41 million cubic metres of rock earth and clay ) , but they also mean the al-Assad lake ( 80 km long , with 12 billion cubic meters of water, and a hydroelectric power-station , as well as the 640.000 hectares of agricultural land now brought under cultivation ) .

Gone are the fears of devastating floods . Experimental farms and agricultural colleges are pointing the way to the future .

Thanks to the cooperation between Unesco and the Syrian government , monuments of the site were saved from the river flood , including Ja'bar Citadel and the tow minarets of Maskana and Abi Hurayra ; relics of this sites can now be seen in the Aleppo Museum .

In the distance , on the other bank of the dam , a pink fortress appears reflected in the blue water of the lake . This is at Ja;bar , one of the Seleucid fortress reconstructed by Nur al-Din in the 12 th century . It is surrounded by tow walls with thirty-five towers of different shapes .

The facades of the towers are richly decorated with ornamentations and inscriptions . The citadel which has been restored is to be turned into a tourist centre .www.tartoos.com

Deir al-Zor

320 km south-east of Aleppo , Deir al-Zor is the most important urban center in the east of Syria . It is river is the Euphrates , lifeline of the region and flount of civilization throughout the gaes . With the formation of Lake l-Assad , it is now possible to regulate its once capricious flow and to make plans for new harvests .

85 km south of Deir al-Zor , on the western bank of the Euphrates , is the archaeological site of the birthplace of Seleucus , near the Arab village of Salihyeh . This was the historic town built by Seleucus Nicator , Alexander's lieutenant , the fortified town od Doura Europos . This town was closely liked with Palmyra , serving as an important forward-line of defence against the Persians .

The site did not attract significant attention until 1921 when some mural paintings were discovered in a temple ( there were sixteen temples dedicated to the various gods of Palmyra . many other discoveries followed , notably frescoes dating from 235 A.D . which were in a remarkable state of preservation . They , too , were transported to the Damascus Museum in 1936 . Doura Europos , however , is still a place of interest for visitors .

120 km south of this town is the site of the kingdom of Mari ( Tel Hariri ) , near abu Kamal . This kingdom dates back to the 3 rd millennium B.C . It was ruled by kings of the 19 th dynasty after the flood . The discovery of Mari (1932 ) , like the recent discovery of Ebla ( 1975 ) , attracted the attention of archaeologists and researchers in various fields . Twenty thousand tablets with their cuneiform inscription recount the political and diplomatic life in these kingdoms . Many of the remains and relics statues , jewels , tablets and stamps , are now at the Damascus , Aleppo , Deir al-Zor and paris museums .

Another archeological site is at the intersection of the Euphrates and of the Khabour near Mavadin ( Tel al-Ashara ) , where are ancient city of Tarqa , the capital of Khana kingdom , flourished in the 2 nd millennium B.C . after the fall of Mari . The wall enormous of the ancient world ; it had a diameter of 20 m .

Halabiya and Zalabia

North-east of Deir al-zor , there is a vast enclosing wall with three fortified gateways which enfolds within its towers a town that dates from Byzantine days . Both Halabiya and Zalabiya were forward-defence lines against Presianst invasions . At Mayadin is the Rahbi Citadel , which was built by Assad al-Din Shirgoh , the uncle of Salah al-Din al-Ayoubi .www.tartoos.com