| ALEPPO |
Mentioned
in the Hittie documents of 2nd Millenium B.C. The most interesting sites
are: The Great mosque, the Citadel, the Old bazars and Khans, and
Cora'an schools. |
| APAMEA |
One
of the great centers of Seleucid Kingdom 400 B.C. founded by Seleucus
Necator, who called it Apamea in honour to his Persian wife. The city
was distroyed by an earthquake in 1157 A.D. Famous for its Roman
theatre, the Colonnades street, the Monumental Arch and Antioch gate. |
| BOSRA |
Bosra
enters history in Hellenistic time at the beginning of the first century
B.C. In 106 A.D. Romans built a theatre (15000 seats ) which is
considered as one of the largest and best preserved. The famous sites
are: the House of the Nestorian priest Bahira, the Basilica, Roman pool,
Islamic mosques and the Emphitheatre. |
| DAMASCUS |
One
of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, it became the capital of
Aramean Kingdom. In 333-332 it was captured by Alexander. Around 85
B.C., the Nabateans from Petra took the city. In 66 B.C. was occupied by
Romans. Damascus is famous in the annals of Christianity as the place of
the conversion of St. Paul. In 635 A.D.. it opened its gates to the
Arabs. The most important sites to visit: the National Museum, Tekieh
Souleimanieh, Omayyad Mosque, Azem Palace, the Straight street,
St.Ananias House and St. Paul's window. |
| HAMA |
Hama
(Hammatha) was a capital of a Syro-Hittie Kingdom and had a strong
fortress, at 11th century B.C. .It occupied by Romans, Byzantines and
Arabs. the city is famous for its museum and the Norias (wooden water
wheels). |
| HOMS |
Famous
during the Roman time under the name Emesa, then captured by the arabs
in 636 A.D. The great mosque which contains the Mausoleum of the arab
conqueror of Syria Khaled ibn al Walid is very famous . |
| KRAK
DES CHEVALIERS |
The
most famous medieval fortress in the world, well noted for its admirable
architecture, it has been occupied by crusaders in 1110 A.D. The inner
castle was completed in 1170 A.D when it was captured by Sultan al Zaher
Baibers in 1271 A.D. and by 1200 A.D Krak looked very much as it does
today. |
| LATTAKIA |
Lattakia
is the Syrian main port on the Mediterranean. It was conquered by
Alexander after the battle of Issus in 333 B.C., Seleucus 1 gave it the
name of Laodicea in honour to his mother. During the Byzantine period
the city was destroyed by 2 earthquakes in 494 and 555. Later it was
rebuilt by Justenian (527-565). |
| MAALOULA |
Maaloula
is the most beautiful summer resorts of the Qalamoun Mountains in which
there is a famous split as a narrow passage between two mountains. The
monastery of St. Takla is considered one of the oldest in the world
contains the remains of the st's body. On top of the mountain (1625m)
lies the monastery of St. Sergios and Bakhus which has a little church
considered as one of the oldest churches in the world. The most
fascinating thing is that the inhabitants still speak the Language of
Christ (the Aramaic). |
PALMYRA
(TADMOR) |
Palmyra
was occupied by the Arameans and later in 64 B.C. by the Romans. In 266
A.D. and after the assassination of her husband, Zenobia claimed the
title of Augustus to her infant son Vahaballath. In 272 A.D. Palmyra
capitulated and Zenobia was taken as a prisoner to Rome. The most
important sites are the temple of Bel, the Temple of Baal Shamin, the
Monumental arch and Great colonnade street. The Theatre, the Agora, the
Tetrapyle, the Necropolis, the Museum, and the famous Tombs. |
RESAFA
(SERGIOPOLIS) |
The
famous date was 305 A.D. when the Romans killed Sergios and Bakhus, the
famous Christian martyrs. The city's name became Sergiopolis. The
Omayyad caliph Hisham (724-743 A.D. ) restored the walls and cisterns
and built a fine palace outside the walls .The main sites are: the
Basilica of St. Sergios, the Walls, the North gate and the water
cisterns. |
| SALAHEDDIN
CASTLE (Castle of Saone) |
The
origin of Saone is very ancient, it goes back to the time of Alexander
the great 333 B.C. . The position of the castle became very important at
the Crusaders period, and in 1188 Salaheddin succedded in capturing it
and remaind in Moslems hands since then . |
| SEIDNAYA |
It
goes back to the time of Justenian, the Byzantine empire 547 A.D., the
most important part of the monastery is a chapel containing a miraculous
icon of the Virgin, drawn by st Luk. |
| SHAHBA
(PHILIPOPOLIS) |
The
ancient Philipopolis founded by Philip the arab 232-237 A.D, famous for
its theatre, Tetrapyle and the ancient Roman baths and the mosaic
museum. |
| ST.SIMEON |
The
hermit St. Simeon the setillite, born in 390 A.D. and settled here in
412 A.D after several attempts at monastic life, he lived on the column
for nearly 30 years surrounded by pilgrims, and dead in 459 A.D. The
Basilica was built at the end of the 5th century, shortly after his
death. Four Basilicas are arranged in the shape of a cross with an
octagon at the center where the base of his pillar still seen till now . |
| TARTOUS
(TORTOSA) |
Is
a small town on the Mediterranean which holds an important place in the
history of Christian Syria. It is located on the sea shore, facing the
Phoenician Island Arados ( Arwad ) and it was the main port of
Crusaders. |
| UGARIT |
It
was the most famous ancient city of the Phoenicians, and has been
destroyed several times by earthquakes and fires till 1200 B.C., In 1928
the french archeological mission discovered the city and found a large
number of terracotta tablets with inscription in Babylonian and Ugaritic
cuneiform, the oldest and famous is the Alphabet which goes back to the
14th century B.C. and consists of 30 letters. Famous for its Royal
palace, Tombs in the Mycenaen style, Temples of Baal and Dagon. |
| TYRE |
The
church of first crusades. |
| BAALBECK |
Old
temples of jupiter and Bacchus. |
| PETRA |
The
most famous site in Jordan called the rose_red city, 2000 years of
civilization. |
