Syria  

The Most Interesting Sites
 

THE CITY OF DAMASCUS:
Damascus the capital of Syria is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It’s as old as the history.
In the beginning of the first millennium B.C Damascus was the capital of the Aramean who were followed by the Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Byzantine & Arabs. 
This city is rich with famous historical & tourist sites such as The national museum , The old covered markets & Bazaars , the Omayyad mosque & Azem Palace, Saladin’s Mausoleum, Street called Straight, the house of St. Ananias, St. Paul’s window,

SYDNAYA (Our lady):
The Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6^th century built a monastery on an impressive rocky hill. It contains one of the four Icons painted by St. Luke the evangelist many other Icons can be seen there.

BOSRA:
Bosra in the 1^st century was inhabited by Nabatians. When Christianity became an official religion Bosra became a center of Bishopric & a cathedral was built there. One of the most attractive sites in Bosra is the Grate Roman amphitheater with a citadel built by crusaders & Atabegs surrounding the amphitheater & keeping it safe . The Wined Gate, The Under ground market , Churches , Mosques , remains of columns & many other features can be seen in the ancient part of this Black basalt stones city.

CRAC DES CHEVALIERS (AL-HOSN CITADEL):
Crac Des Chevaliers (The Castle of Kurds) was built on the foundation of another one in 1110 A.D on an altitude of 650m above sea level , the location of this fortified citadel made it a perfect place to control the area. The citadel has various constructions & from one side the convent of St. GEORGE can be seen.

APHAMIA:
Apamia was a military place in the Greek period housed 500 elephants & 30,000 Stallions, it was destroyed several times. In the 12th century it was occupied by the crusaders then liberated by Nur-Eddin . Apamia is famous for it’s double rows of the distinguished twisted columns & for the museum of mosaic.

Lattakia:
Built by the seleucids at the third century B.C. it is distinguished by its main port, which had been used since the old Roman period 

UGARIT (RAS SHAMRA):
Canaanites had chosen this location to build their most important capital & the greatest civilization among all other kingdoms in that time so-called Ugarit , the royal palace which was discovered there is considered to be one of the biggest & magnificent palaces of the east. tablets & statues where found there but the most important discovery was the clay tablet of the first alphabet in the world which is the greatest achievement of the Canaanites.

Salah Al- Din Citadel:
It is 55 Km. From Lattakia, situated on top of a very slipped rocky mountain overlooking the surrounding green forests. It was described as the most impregnable fortress. The Arabian commander Salah Al-Din liberated it in 1188 A.D and in 1225 the Ambassador of Venice Marine Republic visited it and signed a commercial treaty with its governor due to its important and strategic position.

AL- Marqab Citadel:
It is 6 Km. South of Banyas and 500 m above sea level. The citadel, with its huge wall and fourteen towers, looks like a huge vessel that has embarked on the top of the hill overlooking an endless azure sea.