Middle East : Syria
Syria
Syria is often called “The cradle of civilizations” because there is no civilization in the east or west throughout the world history that didn’t pass through Syria to leave a mark, but also to be deeply affected by Syria’s long history. The place is full of them: wall-to-wall walls, cast-aside castles, teetering teatros and fallen-down fortresses. If you are interested in history and historical monuments, you cannot miss Syria. The country is literary packed with the ruins and monuments of almost all civilizations that passed through here. Today these ancient sites are still the most visited attractions.
There’s Palmyra, the ancient caravans stop between the Mediterranean world and the empires of the East - Mesopotamia, Persia and India. In the days of desert queen Zenobia it really was a cosmopolitan city, were east met west and exchanged exotics. It was here the gigantic temple of Baal rose up in the heart of the city. Now it’s a city in ruins, best known for the “Valley of Tombs”.
In the North you will find the big crusaders’ castle Le Crac des Chevaliers and the cities of Aleppo and Hama. And, adjacent to the Turkish border close to Hatay, there’s the ruins of the “Dead Cities” Al Bara, Serdjilla, Qalbe Lbrse and Qirbirze. Piles of rock that were once houses palaces and churches lay abandoned on the vast desolated plains of the Idleb Province.
Syria has been a crossroads of civilization, though often described as the cradle of civilizations. It has been the bridge connecting the cultures of Eastern Mediterraneans and Fertile Crescent, and the beginning of Silk Road joining West with East.
It was here that cultures of Mari and Ugarit rose and fell, where Assyrian, Sumerian, Phoenician, Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires and cultures met and influenced each other.
Damascus, the capital of Syria, is the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city and was the major eastern political and cultural center of Roman empire in the times of prophet Jesus (pbuh). St. Paul underwent his conversion to Christianity “On the road to Damascus". Religions, philosophies, language of trade, systems of urban development; all were developed in the Ancient geographical Syria. Syria has stunning natural scenery, rugged mountains, deserts, beautiful swimming beaches, green valleys, and mountain peaks; perpetually covered with snow. Throughout the country there are magnificent ancient ruins, Medieval castles and fortresses, and wonderful Islamic mosques.
