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 Syria is a country with imposing ruins galore: ancient amphitheaters, fortresses, castles, wall Damascus, Aleppo and Dara'a are steeped in history with enviable remnants of former civilizations, culture and architecture.
One of the Middle East top archaeological sites is certainly the remains of the Roman palmyra. The country's costalfertile strip is 180 kilometers long but its mountain ranges from formidable border with Lebanon. The cultivated steppes are found inland with a rocky desert to the Southeast. The ideal time to visit Syria is from April to June with September to November a second choice.
DAMASCUSThe
capital of Syrian Arab Republic
The most ancient inhabited city in the history of mankind is still famous for its seven gates, old capital , oriental house , old souqs, baths & public cafes .
It was at its peak during the Umayyad Reign .
Hanania Chapel , is an ancient church connected with the converion of St.Paul to Christisnity through the help of Hanania . That is why it become one of the main tourist attracrions in Damascus .
The Umayyad Mosque , is a wonder of architecture which dates back to Al-Walid Ibn Abdul Malek Reign / 715/ A.D. The outstanding mosaic- panels are the tresures of the building . The tomb of St.John the Baptist lies between tow of its pillare .
Al-Hamidia souq , one of the most famous and attractive covered souqs in the world,stars near the Damascus Ayyoubite Citadel and ends at the Iarage gate of the Umayyad Mosque .
Al-Azem palace , is an outstanding type of Damascus, built in the 18th Century as a manor for the governor of Damascus .
Bosra Roman Amphitheatre , Bosra is a small town 140 km . to the south of Damascus .
During the Hellenistic Era it carried the name of / Bostra / . It is most famous for its Roman Amphithestre which was built in the second Century A.D. During the Roman period . This great monument is consdered as the most perfect Roman Theatre ever known .
Shahba , is an ancient town 90 km . south of Damascus. It is the birthplace of the Syrian Emperor Philip, Ruler of Rome during the 3rd Century A.D.. Philip built many palaces, temples, arches, baths and a theatre surrounded by a huge wall, following the Roman style . Many mosaic tableaus are found there. The most famous are Thetis & Venus Paintings .
Crac des chevalier , was built on the ruins of an old kurdish citadel many centuries B.C. It is 65 km. West of Homs, and 650m. above sea- level on a 3 hectares area of volcanic rock. It contains 13 huge towers, many spacious halls and soldier barracks, water reservoirs . a bridge and stone paved baths .
Maalual , 55 km. North of Damascus is famouse for its archaeological attraction
/ Deir Mar Tecla, Deir Mar Sarkis / and the / Funeral Caves / .
Maalula people still speak the Aramean Language once spoken by Jesus Christ .
Seydnaya , 30 km. North of Damascus is 1.313 m. above sea -level. It is well known for its convent which includes / the Icon of Wonders / the famous church of Sophia, and / Sherobim Minster / which was built in the 3rd Century A.D .
Hama , 210 km . to the north of Damascus is most famous for its water wheels / Norias / on the River Orontes, made mainly of wood . There are 16 Norias in the city of Hama , the largest is 21m . in diameter .
Al Bara , is a town 35 km. To the south of Idleb, where you can see the ruins of many churches, uniquely shaped houses and pyrmid shped tombs .
Apamea , 60 km. To the north- west of city of Hama, is famous for its Seleucidic city of the leader Salucos Nekator. It's a mixture of Syrian and Greek civilizations .
Tell Mardikh ( Ebla) , is 28 km. South east of Idleb . It is the site of the ruins of the city of Ebla that dates back to the 3rd Millennium B.C. Ebla is consdered the oldest civilization in Syria . Its importance lies in the discovery of the clay tables found in the royal Archives written on about 16000 clay tables , which recorded an important period in the ancient history of Syria .
Syrian coast , is the most beautiful landscape you can ever see, where the mountainous forests mix with the azure Mediterranean water . The coastline is 180 km. Long, on which tow main ports are situated namely / Latakia & Tartus / Many summer resorts and historical spots are found there .
Amrit , 7 km. To the south of Tartus , is famous for its temple, which was carved in rocks and surrounded by water in the 5th Century b.C. It is well-known for its big stadium that could seat 11000 spectators and dates back to the 16th Century .B.C .
Ras shamra (Ugarit) , is 19 km . to the north of Latakia . It is the site of Ugarit, the kingdom that offered humanity the first alphabet in the world , engraved on a small clay table preserved at Damascus National Museum .
Saladin Citadel , is 35 km . east of Latakia and 410 km. Above sea level . It stand on a rocky spur, isolated from the plateau before it by a deep moat dug to protect it from enemy forces . Saladin opened it in 1188 and it was called after him .
Aleppo , is about 350 km. To the north of Damascus . It is the second largest city in Syria . It is famous for its old covered markets, most of which date back to the 15th & 16th centuries . There are , also, the Caravanserai / khan = Inn/ near the souqs mentioned above , and there are about 60 public baths / Hammam / some of which were built more than 800 years ago .
Aleppo Citadel , is considered as the biggest , oldest and most perfect castle in the north of Syria , towering on a hill 40 m. high, in the center of Aleppo , it was first built in 312 B.C. and Saluqos Nikator used it as a defence center .
Qalat Samaan / Simeon Castle / ,is 60 km . to the north west of Aleppo . This Bacilica was built at the end of the 5th Century A.D. in honor of St . Simeon The Stylist . It has the shape of an octagon . In the center stood the pillar on which St.Simeon lived and preached for 40 years .
Palmyra , "the Bride of the Desert" . It is 235 km. North east of Damascus .Palmyra is a very ancient oasis city in the Cham desert . First established on the sides of a mineral water spring called Afqa . Its geographical location between Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean made it an ideal rest center for caravans moving along the Silk Road . Palmyra is most famous for its Bels Temple, the Straight Street of Columns , the theater , the Forum , the tombs, the museum , the Citadel of Fakhr Eddin Al-Maani and its mineral water springs .
As -Salhieh (Doura Europos ), is a town between Deirezzor and Mari . It is situated on a hill over looking both the Euphrates River and Cham Desert . This location gave it commercial economic and cultural importance during the Hellenistic , Roman and Palmyrian periods .
Halabieh & Zalabieh , 50 km. To the north of Deirezzor lay tow citadels , on the opposite banks of the Euphrates . Both citadels are surrounded by walls , which date back to the Byzantine period .
Tal Hariri (Mari ), is 125 km. To the south east of Deirezzor . It was the capital of 10th Dynasty after the Flood . It flourished between 3000-2000 B.C . It was well-known for its Royal Palace of the 300 rooms , halls and courtyards .
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