Syria travel Forum

Damascus
Damascus © Judith Duk
One of the most interesting places for travellers is the capital city of Damascus, brimming with history as one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, where the enormous Umayyad Mosque, Roman walls and gates, biblical sites and bustling markets hold visitors in a spell of fascination.

The wealth of historical sites date back to the many different periods of the city's history, where mosques, churches, the old city walls and ancient souqs testify to the occupation of Greeks and Romans, Persians, Christians, and the Islamic Umayyad Empire. Biblically speaking, Damascus was once the capital of the Aramean Kingdom in the 11th century BC, and was where many centuries later the apostle Paul was converted to Christianity and started the early church. The city's most glorious days, however, were as the capital of the Umayyad Empire, and many of its monuments are still the pride of Damascus today. The Umayyad Mosque, or Grand Mosque of Damascus, is one of the biggest in the world, its interior covered from wall to wall with beautiful thick carpets and richly decorated with ornate inlays and designs.

The place to get to grips with present-day Damascus is in the souqs (covered markets), the largest and most famous dating back to 1863, where haggling for inlaid mosaic boxes, chessboards, jewellery and hookah (hubble-bubble) pipes is all part of the experience. Cries of 'need a carpet/kilim/scarf?' or 'just one minute to look and looking is free' will assault visitors along with the fragrant scent of spices, and the sight of colourful merchandise spilling out onto the thoroughfares.




Attractions

Azem Palace © Raeky / krebsmaus07

Azem Palace

Visitors to Damascus can escape the hustle and bustle of the city by retreating into the tranquil grounds of the 18th century Azem Palace. The modest exterior of this building holds a treasure of marble flooring, Oriental carpets and mother-of-pearl furniture, and is also...  see full details



Calligraphy © alazaat

Museum of Epigraphy

Madrassa al-Jaqmaqiyya, a beautiful school building established in 1421, is home to the Museum of Epigraphy (the study of ancient inscriptions), and its intriguing exhibits include a select display of illuminated calligraphy manuscripts. The building itself is a well preserved example of architecture from...  see full details



Umayyad Mosque interior

Umayyad Mosque

The Umayyad Mosque, or Grand Mosque of Damascus, is one of the largest, oldest and most impressive mosques in the world. It was constructed in 705 AD on a site that has been a place of worship for thousands of years, and took...  see full details



Excursions


Aleppo

Syria's second-largest city, Aleppo is a traditional, relatively conservative place that is unfortunately overlooked by many travellers to Syria. Boasting some of the country's most memorable sights and attractions, this historic city - once the end of the famous Silk Road that led from...  see full details

Crac des Chevaliers

For keen historical sightseers, a trip to the Crac des Chevaliers - one of the most significant preserved medieval castles in the world - is a highly recommended activity. The greatest of the Crusader castles, the Knights Hospitaller took control of the Crac des...  see full details

Palmyra

The Syrian town of Palmyra is named after a staggeringly lush oasis of about a million date palms, growing in the heart of Syria, about 135 miles (215km) northeast of Damascus. Palmyra is known as Syria's only typically 'tourist town', a busy hub...  see full details
Syria travel Forum