Association of The Syrian Arab Community in Italy

Tour in Syria

DOURA EUROPOS
Founded around the 4th Century BC during the Hellenistic period, it was a fort guarding against incursions of the Parths and Sassanides. There is also an interesting group of Palmyrian, Parthian, Roman

and Babylonian traces, most notably the existence of sixteen sanctuaries of different religions.

MARI
One of the most ancient cities of the world, dating back to 2700 BC. It was inhabited by Semites and located between the cradles of the Mesopotamian cultures, the Mediterranean coast and the Anatolian plateau, all imposing their influences. Very interesting statues and mosaics dating back to the 25th and 24th centuries BC are proofs of the extraordinary vitality of Mari's culture.

RASSAFA
Being the most interesting dead city after Palmyra, it became important under the Romans and Byzantines. St. Sergius was martyred there around 297 and became the patron saint of the city when Christianity became legal. Two of its most fascinating features are the Gypsom stone wall, still magnificently preserved and the St Sergius Basilica.

RAQQA

Founded in the 4th century by Alexander the Great, it was also the summer residence of Haroun Al Rasheed. It was built in 772 by the Caliph Al Mansour on the same plan as the "round city" of Bagdad. It's museum contains the many treasures unearthed in Raqqa especially glass objects and superb ceramics with glossy decorations and earthenware.

ALEPPO
The second city of Syria, it boasts being th

e oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It is the place that leaves the deepest impression of Syria: It's ancient history, it's role during the Crusades, it's prosperity under the Mamelukes and the Ottomans.

- Aleppo Museum: As important as the one in Damascus. Its treasures include the antiquities unearthed in northern Syria, from Mediterranean (Ugarit) to the center region (Mari). Its collection includes the famous Goddess with the pouring jar from Mari (18th century BC), sculptures and clay tablets from Ebla and a fascinating collection from Ugarit dating from the 18th to 13th century BC.
- The Citadel: Dominating the city, it was first fortified in the Seleucid period. It became a place of royal residence in the 10th century under the Hamadanides. Its present aspect is mainly owed to the Mamelukes after its destruction by the Mongols in 1260.
- The Great Mosque: Founded in the 8th century under the Omayyades on the site of the old Byzantine Cathedral. Its style depicts Mameluke influence. Its beautiful minarets date back to 1090 with its fine proportions and Kufic inscriptions are good examples of the great period of Islamic architecture in Syria.
- The Souks: Covered old-world shopping malls with a length of over six continuous miles, they are considered as the best of all Arab and Islamic cities. This is due to their beauty and authenticity since they still conserve their original character. Divided into specialities (like grocers, jewelers...etc) the Souk dates back to the 15th and 16th century.

ST. SIMEON

The ruins of the Basilica of St. SIMEON are perhaps the most astonishing monument of paleo-Christian art. Well preserved, it still bears witness to the popularity of this saint who spent 42 years on top of a column which was his way of demonstrating his detachment from the world and his faith in God.

BOSRA

The Theatre - FortressPreserved from the storms of sand and of men by a wall of stone, the amphitheatre of Bosra has survived the ages practically intact. This theatre of basalt surprises the visitor not only by its size, but also by the quality of its architecture. Condemned to silence for over fifteen centuries, today it once again vibrates with emotion as many theatrical representations are performed here.

APHAMEA

Ruins stretching over a perimeter of 7 km.
This site, which was one of the most beautiful of the Hellenistic Orient, is dominated by an Arab fortress: Qalaat Mudiq. The main site stretches over 1,5 km from each side of the Great Colonnade. In the centre, on the north side, your attention will be attracted by the magnificent twisted columns. This town, which was flourishing from the VIth century BC, was ravaged by terrible earthquakes in 1157 and 1770.

HOMS
Called Amesa under Roman rule, it was one of the most prestigious cities. It also has Byzantine and Islamic influences and an early Christian history, most notably the Greek Orthodox church of the Virgin's Belt, where a belt, believed to have belonged to Mary, together with a manuscript written in Syriac and bone fragments in an urn behind the main altar were discovered.

HAMA
Being the fifth town of Syria, Hama is often qualified as traditional due to its religious conservatism, but also romantic with its Norias, huge wheels of wood that have not stopped turning since the 14th century.

Copyright © 2002 Association of the Syrian Community in Italy Acsii.org All Rights Reserved