DAMASCUS
The capital of Syria, one of the oldest cities in the world with the establishment of a human community at least since the 9th millenium before our era. Its history is very long and rich, during which many civilizations took turns invading the city. It is during the first decades of Islam that Damascus had its glorious age. It became the capital of the Omayyad dynasty which ruled the largest empire known until that time. Another brilliant period was under the rule of Saladin, who defeated the Crusaders, making Damascus the capital of his powerful kingdom. Today, it is a modern city with a definite old-world character and charm, where many influences and traces of these civilizations can be felt and seen.

Damascus National Museum: A splended journey through time will take you from the Omayyad palace to the walls of a third century Roman synagogue passing by a Palmyrian underground tomb with its gazin statues. Many other treasures unearthed over the years are exposed, for example, treasures from prehistoric times, the Greek-Roman and Byzantine periods as well as Arab-Islamic oriental pieces. There is also a modern art gallery.

Omayyad Mosque: Built as a religious temple over 3000 years ago, first Armanean then Roman. In the fourth century when Christianity spread out, it became the John the Baptist Church. Following the Islamic conquests in 635, Muslims and Christians agreed to partition in between them, performing their rituals side by side. When Al-Walid decided to erect an impressive Mosque he negotiated with the Christian community of Damascus and undertook to construct a new church for them and allot several plots of land for other churches. They agreed. It took ten years to construct and became a model
for hundreds of mosques in the Islamic world.

Azem Palace: Built in 1749 by the Ottoman governor of Damascus, it is one of the jewels of Damascus architecture. It houses the museum of popular arts and traditions, which displays objects of Syrian daily life during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Straight street: Mentioned in the Bible, where St. Paul, blinded by God's revelation was sent by Christ. In the house of Judas he met Ananias who put his hand on him and in doing so restored his eyesight.

Saint Paul's Window: Where St. Paul was lowered down the wall of the city in a basket to escape arrest by the men of King Arestas.

MAALOULA
A Christian community speaking to this day Aramaic, the language of Christ. St. Sergius Convent, with its small Byzantine Chapel, claims to be the oldest in the Christian world, where magnificent icons adorn the entrance of the altar dating back to 300 AD.


CRAC DES CHEVALIERS
The greatest castle in the world, it was the headquarters of the kings of Saint John. Originally built in 1031, it was destroyed many times by earthquakes and was last reconstructed in the late 13th century. Standing 2,300 feets above sea level, it commands the strategic valley between Homs and Tripoli. It was never taken by force, it surrendered to the Mameluke ruler Baybars in 1271 who tricked the defenders.

TARTOUS
A small harbour town, it had a small walled city built by the Crusaders in the 12th and 13th centuries. It also has Semitic, Phoenician, Byzantine, Muslim and Roman monuments.

LATTAKIA
Syria's main sea port on the Mediterranean with the best beaches on the coast. Lattakia was one of five cities built by Seleucus I Nicator in the 2nd century BC.

UGARIT
The capital of a Syro-Phoenician kingdom of exceptional importance. In the 15th century BC the consonatic alphabet was invented here and was later adopted by the Greeks and the Romans. The Royal Palace which dominates the site has no less than 90 rooms laid around a garden and many yards.

PALMYRA
The jewel of Syria's antiquities. This remarkable site in the middle of the Syrian desert was the shopping place of caravans coming from Arabian to Mediterranean lands as well as those crossing the Tigris and taking the silk route. It is most renowned for Queen Zenobia who defied Rome and took possesion of all of Syria and lower Egypt. The ruins are spread over a very large area. The temples of Bell, Baalshamin and Nebo are all there. The great colonnade that crosses the city is certainly its most captivating architectural feature. These and many others still bear witness to the greatness of this extraordinary city.