Major Cities and Tourist Places
Damascus
The world's oldest continuously inhabited city. Many civilizations have left their mark on Damascus over the centuries:
Aramaen, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Arab. Most important sites: The Omayyad Mosque, Azem Palace. The house of
St. Ananias, St. Paul's Window, National Museum, Al- Takieh, Hamidiyah Bazar, Saladin's Mausoleum, Street Called
Straight.
Aleppo
350 km. (220 miles) north of Damascus. Fabled city of a long history of glory and prosperity since the 3rd millennium
B.C. (the legend holds that prophet Abraham once milked his cow atop its hill.) Until our own century, Aleppo dominated
the trade routes connecting East and West. Today, this second largest Syrian city still plays a key economic role.
Most important sites: The Citadel, Khans (inns), medieval Suqs which are covered and wind through the old city
for more than 12 km. (8 miles), Grand Mosque, National Museum.
Homs
160 km. (100 miles) north of Damascus, Since ancient times its midway location (between Damascus and Aleppo, Palmyra
and the Mediterranean) has made it a principal crossroad. Today Homs still plays a similar role as a crossing point
for pipelines. It contains an important oil refinery and many major factories, plants and mills. Two famous Roman
emperors (Elagabal, Alexander Severus) originated from Horns. Important sites: Ibn Al Walid Mosque, the Virgin's
Belt Church, St. Elian Church.
Hama
140 km. (90 miles) south of Aleppo. An old and timeless city famed by its Norias, the huge wooden waterwheels that
have been scooping water from the Orontes and pouring it into irrigation canals for centuries. Important sites:
the Museum, Grand Mosque.
Lattaquia
186 km. (120 miles) south- west of Aleppo. One of the 5 cities built in the 3rd century B.C. by Seleucos Nicator.
Today, it is Syria's principal port on the Mediterranean, and a starting point for excursions to summer resorts,
medieval castles and archeological sites in the surrounding mountains and the coastline area. Principal Tourist Sites
Maalula
At 60 km. north of Damascus: Ma'alula, the spectacular village, carved in the mountain, where people still speak
Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ.
Aphamea
At 55 km. (35 miles) north-west: the ruins of Apamea, the ancient Greco- Roman city built in 300 B.C. It was a
very prosperous settlement inhabited at one time by nearly half a million people.
Ugarit (Ras Shamra)
16 km. north of Latakia. In 16th century B.C., it was an apogee in culture, diplomacy, administration, religion
and economy. Its brilliant invention was the world's first alphabet. The 30-letter inscription on a finger size
clay tablet soon revolutionized human knowledge and became the basis of western alphabets.
Mari (Tell Hariri)
Dates from the 4th millennium B.C. Its strategic location on the Euphrates made it a prosperous and powerful
kingdom. When discovered in 1933, a 300 room palace was unearthed.
Ebla (Tell Mardikh)
40 km (25 miles) south of Aleppo. Brought to light in 1974. It was a prominent kingdom in the 25th century
B.C. Excavations uncovered its palace library of over 17.000 clay tablets. Among these was the world's earliest
bilingual dictionary.
Palmyra (Tadmor)
150 km (90 miles) east of Homs. It rises abruptly from the desert as a dreamlike oasis. A jumble of magnificent
ruins whispering of the grandeur of this metropolis which, in the 3rd century A.D., was ruled by the extraordinary
Queen Zenobia. Principal sites: the Temple of Bel, Arch of Triumph, Senate, Agora, Theater and the Museum.
Bosra
One of the world's best preserved Greco - Roman Amphitheaters is at Bosra 120 km. (75 miles) south of Damascus.
Built in the 2nd century. It seats 15000 people.
SYRIAN CASTLES
Crac Des Chevaliers, 65 km.(40 miles) west of Homs
Castle of Saladin's, 35 km.(21 miles) east of Latakia
Al-Marqab.95 km. (60 miles) south-east of Latakia.
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