Foto: The Azem Palace in Damascus (bron: Rita van der Veer)
Syria - Damascus, the capital of Syria, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It has held an important position in science, culture, politics, art, trade, and industry since early times. It has been called Al-Fayha’a, Al-Sham, Jollaq, and the Pearl of the Orient, as Emperor Julian called it. Damascus is mentioned in the Holy Quran as the “city of many columns of Aram, ‘… like none ever built in the land…’” Early references, such as those in the Ebla tablets, confirm that the city already had enormous economic influence in the 3rd century BCE. Damascus became the capital of the first Arab state during the Umayyad period in 661 CE, marking the start of its golden age. During this century, the city was the center of the young Islamic Empire, which reached its peak, stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Indus River and China in the east. The Umayyads took a genuine interest in building Damascus, organizing the souks (markets), improving water supply, and establishing palaces and hospitals. Today, Damascus is a living museum with thousands of years of history. Major sights include: Umayyad Mosque, Azem Palace, St. Ananias Church, Citadel of Damascus, old souks like Al-Hamidieyeh and Midhat Pasha, Bimarstan Al-Nory, Saladin's Tomb, St. Paul Church, and Al-Takieh Al-Suleimaniyeh.
Citadel of Aleppo
Syria - The Citadel of Aleppo is situated on a hill, rising fifty meters above the city. It is one of the strongest fortresses in the world, built in the middle of the Syrian city and surrounded by a 20-meter-deep and 30-meter-wide moat. One of its distinctive ...
Palmyra the City of a Thousand Columns
Syria - Two hundred kilometers northeast of the capital lies the ancient city of Palmyra, the country’s largest tourist attraction. In the middle of the Syrian steppe desert, a sulfurous spring called Afqa emerges from a limestone cliff, around which Palmyra ...