
- CLICK
FOR LARGER VIEW
Damascus
Area185,180 km²
(4.6x the Netherlands)
UTC +3
LanguageArabic, Kurdish, Armenian
Highest pointJabal Ash Shaykh - 2,814 m
The current flag was adopted in 1980. It was previously the flag of the United Arab Republic between 1958 and 1961.
The Syrian pound was introduced in 1919. Depicted on the banknote is a branch of the fig tree, the train from Damascus to Medina and the Hejaz train station in Damascus and at the top a highway junction.
The Qala'at Al Hosn is better known as the Craq des Chevaliers.
The construction of this crusader fortress started in 1150 and would have
been finished more than a hundred years later.
It was also the
headquarters of Richard the Lionheart. It accommodated 4,000
troops. It was abandoned by the Crusaders in 1271.
Palmyra is located in the middle of the Syrian desert. An oasis with a lots
of palm trees. In 212 it became a Roman colony.
When one of the regents died, his wife Zenobia declared herself
queen and wanted to be independent from the Romans. In 271
her army was defeated and Zenobia was led through
streets of Rome as a prisoners. Extensive excavations have been carried out.
As result a theatre and the great temple of Bel were exposed.
A 17th century Arabic Fortress, Qala'at Ibn Maan, is located prominent on a bare hill.
A good spot to view the sunset. In the valley next to it is an extensive Necropolis. The
best preserved is a grave tower, dating from 103, with four
floors that could accommodate 300 sarcophagi.
Of the Roman city of Apamea only the Cardo (heart) remains.
A 2km long road, flanked by columns. The
Roman emperor Seleucus I built the city, named after his wife,
in the 2nd century. At its peak nearly
half a million people lived there.
Qala'at Samaan is located near Aleppo. In the fifth century a shepherd from
the north of the country had a vision at this place
He went to sit on top of a pillar and then stayed there for
36 years. A chain prevented him from falling down. After his
death in 459 a huge church in the shape of a cross was
built, containing the pillar. Construction finished in 490 and
St. Simeon was the largest church in the world at that time. Today only a ruin remains.
Bosra, near the border with Jordan, was the first city of
the Nabatans in the 2nd century BC. In 106, the kingdom was
defeated by Trajan, who had the theater built. It offered
seating for 15,000 spectators and is surrounded by a fortfication from the 11th
century, made by the Umayyad. Between 1947 and
1970 it was thoroughly restored. The theater is 102 meters wide.
The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus was first a basilica, built late 4th
century on the remains of a Jupiter temple. Arabs
conquered Damascus in 635. Caliph Al Walid built the mosque in 705.
The colonnade and two towers of the basilica were spared. The building is
decorated with beautiful mosaics.
On the north side is the mausoleum of Saladin (1193).
Visit the Souk of Damascus. Walk through the narrow covered
alleys with small booths with herbs etc.