SYRIA

Syria is a country full of history boasting and impressive array of archaeological wonders. The range of historical Syria attractions act as a timeline of ancient history documenting evidence of Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Christian crusader occupation.

For those who are considering Syria to travel, you would best be advised to visit in the spring (March-May). The weather is warm yet the most comfortable during these months. The rainy season would have ended and the country will be freshly replenished with swollen rivers, blooming flowers and a mild climate. Between June to August the summer heat is oppressive. A Syria trip during this period is not for the faint hearted, especially without good sun block and a hat. The height of winter can also be unpleasant with blanket snow cover at higher altitudes and a lack of any real heating in some hotels. The shoulder periods of spring and autumn (September-November) are best. Travelers to Syria and the rest of the Middle East should be aware that the holy festival of Ramadan takes place during September/October. The final three days of Eid-al-Fitr ends in a lively party. Western travelers would be advised to avoid Syria vacations during this holy month or at the very least be aware that sensitivity is required.

CLIMAT IN SYRIA

Syria's climate is largely affected by the desert, with hot, sunny summers (June to August) and cold winters (December to February). Winters are milder along the coast, but wet, and humidity is higher in summer. Snowfall is common in winter on the mountains. Summer temperatures can reach in excess of 95°F (35°C) during the day, but evenings are generally cool. Spring and autumn are the best times to travel with milder temperatures, averaging 72°F (22°C) during the day.

VISA INFORMATION FOR TOURISTS
Visitors should be aware that if their passport contains an Israeli stamp, or any evidence of an intended visit to Israel, entry to Syria will be refused even if in possession of a valid visa. Visas can only be issued on arrival to those traveling as part of an organized group or if there is no Syrian representation in home country. All travelers must hold return or onward tickets, all documents required for next destination and sufficient funds to cover stay.

Americans: US nationals require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria.
UK nationals: UK nationals require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria.
Canadians: Canadians require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria.
Australians: Australians require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria. Visas can be obtained on arrival.
South Africans: South Africans require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria. Visas can be obtained on arrival.
Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria. Visas can be obtained on arrival.
New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria. Visas can be obtained on arrival.

TRAVEL ATTRACTIONS AND THIGS TO DO IN DAMASK:

It was founded in the 3rd millennium B.C., Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. In the Middle Ages, it was the centre of a flourishing craft industry, specializing in swords and lace. The city has some 125 monuments from different periods of its history – one of the most spectacular is the 8th-century Great Mosque of the Umayyads, built on the site of an Assyrian sanctuary.

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, from temple to Christian church to mosque, and took 10 years to complete. The mosque has three minarets, an enormous courtyard and a large prayer hall, consisting of three isles, which has wall to wall thick carpets and mosaic panels on the interior walls. Inside the hall is a domed shrine housing the tomb of St John the Baptists, revered by Christians and Muslims alike.

Azem Palace
This also stands at the heart of the Old City, on the southern side of the Omayyad Mosque, and very close to it. It is an astonishing example of a Damascene house, where the simple, almost primitive, exterior contrasts rather sharply with the beauty and sophistication of the interior. Here one finds a sense of space, a wealth of polychrome stone, splendid marble, cascading fountains, and fragrant flowers. The palace was built in the mid-eighteenth century for the Governor of Damascus. The palace now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.

Damascus Citadel
The only fortress in Syria built on the same level as the city; it does not top a hill or a mountain like all other castles and citadels. It was erected by the Seljuks in 1078 A.D. with masonry taken from the city wall, and turned into a heavily-fortified citadel surrounded by walls, towers, a moat and trenches. Inside, they built houses, baths, mosques, and schools; it was a city within a city. At the height of Crusader raids and attacks, it was used as residence for the sultans of Egypt and Syria such as Nureddin, Saladin, and al-Malek al-Adel, whence they supervised military operations against the Crusaders. But al-Malek al-Adel soon found that it was no longer adequate for defense against contemporary weapons and siege tactics, so he  decided in 1202 to demolish and re-build it. The outcome was an impressive modern citadel, incorporating the latest inventions in the martial arts. It has imposing walls and a dozen colossal turrets surrounding it; there were three-hundred arrow slits and enormous parapets all round. In the mid-thirteenth century, however, it was the principal target for Tatar and Mongol attacks, and was later neglected by the Ottomans. The moats and trenches around it were filled up, and the souqs of Hamidiyeh, Asrounieh, and al-Khuja were built thereon. Recently, the latter was demolished, and the western walls of the fortress came into full view. Extensive repair and restoration work is underway at the moment; when completed the citadel will become a war museum, and a center for various cultural activities.

The Souqs

The old covered souqs of Damascus have a unique flavour you can savor with eyes closed. As you walk about in the warm darkness of these streets with their fragrant scents, spices, and colourful merchandise spilling out of the shops onto the pavements, you enter the strange world of exotic legend. Most prominent of these are:

Souq al-Hamidiyeh
Souq Midhat Pasha
Souq al-Harir
Souq Al-Bzourieh

Bimaristan al- Noury

To the south of Souq al-Hamidiyeh, this was built by Nureddin in the twelfth century as a hospital, and financed by ransom money to the amount of 300,000 dinars paid by a Crusader king held captive. During the Ottoman periood it was converted into a school for girls, and it now houses the Museum of Arab Medicine and Science. It contains the most exquisite examples of decorative inscriptions used for the first time during Nureddin's reign to replace the traditional kufi inscriptions.

Saladin's Tomb and its neighboring Schools
The tomb is next door to the north gate of the Omayyad Mosque. It was originally part of al-Azizieh School built by Uthman, Saladin's son, in the twelfth century. The whole interior is decorated with polychrome marble mosaics.  Next to the tomb stands a typical mamluk edifice, the Jumaqjieh School, built in the twelfth century. The interior is decorated with inscriptions and beautiful lettering. It is one of the most splendid old schools in Damascus; and has recently been turned into a Museum of Arabic Calligraphy.  Two other schools stand nearby: al-Zhahiriya, which is an Ayoubite edifice and house the famous library of that name; and al-Adliya, which is also Ayoubite in style, and is now headquarters of the Arab language Academy.

ST. Paul's Churches
commemorates the memory of St. Paul, whose name was Saul of Tarsus, charged by the Romans to persecute the Christians. As he approached the village of Daraya, a burst of blinding light took his sight away, and he heard Jesus Christ ask him "Saul, why do you persecute me? This was a vision of faith. He was taken unconscious to Damascus, attended by Hananiya, Christ's disciple, and became one of the staunchest advocates of Christianity. His Jewish peers decided to kill him, but he hid in a house by the city wall. The church is located at the site of his escape. He traveled to Antioch, Athens, and Rome, after a brief stay in Jerusalem, and continued to teach the gospel until he died.

OTHER PLACES TO VISIT:

Zabadani

A summer resort some 45 kilometres north of Damascus, 1175 metres above sea-level. It overlooks the plain of Zabadani, a fertile land with throusands of fruit trees bearing delicious apples, cherries, plums, peaches, and pears. The source of the river Barada is in this plain and it supplies Damascus with water, and irrigates the Ghuta around the city. The source of the river forms a little lake which is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and play-grounds.  Attracted by its fresh air and beautiful scenery, Damascenes rush to this resort on hot summer days. The area has many hotels and restaurants, cafes and camping sites situated near the banks of the river.

Many Damascenes, however, prefer another nearby resort, Bludan, which spreads over the mountain overlooking Zabadani, at 1500 metres above sea-level, It is cooler here and the scenery is particularly impressive, especially at sunset. Here, too, plenty of hotels, restaurants and cafes cater to the needs of all visitors. Most notable among them is the Grand Hotel, with its spacious terrace that overlooks the entire Zabadani plain. Also on the hill-top between Zabadani and Bludan, lies the village of Buqein with its famous mineral-spring gushing out of the hillside. It is customary for visitors to stop here and sample this fresh water. This is now bottled and sold in hotels, restaurants and shops throughout the Middle East.

Recreation spots near Damascus are numerous and varied. In the western Ghuta on the banks of the river Barada, you will find hundreds of them concealed under the shade of poplar and willow trees.  The main resting-spots in this valley are: Ein al-Fijeh, Ein al-Khadra, Bassemeh, al-Ashrafieh, al-Hameh, and al-Rabweh. The eastern Ghuta, where the International Airport is located, is also a most attractive part of the Damascus environs. It is full of fruit orchards with apricot, peach, apple, and pear trees. Also a little to the north of Damascus there are two interesting villages, al-Tel and Mnein (1300 metres above sea level), well-known for their clear springs and pretty cafes.  The village of Erneh is some 52 Kilometres from Damascus, suspended at 1400 metres above sea-level on the slopes of Mount Hermon. It has over 300 springs that converge to create al-A'waj River, and it is well-known for its delicious strawberries, cherries, apples and peaches.

Ma'lula

This famous village is around 56 kilometres from Damascus, and is situated at an altitude of more than 1500 metres. Its little houses cling to the face of an enormous rock; they look suspended in mid-air. There are two monasteries here: Saint Sergius and Saint Taqla's. The inhabitants still speak Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ. Two neighbouring villages, Jaba'din and Naj'a also speak the same language. The word Ma'lula means "entrance" in Aramaic.

Seydnaya
It is around 30 kilometres from Damascus, the village is spread out over a hilltop, and is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. t has a famous monastery founded in 547, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. The name of the village itself, "Seyda Naya" in Syriac means "Our Lady".
The monastery contains a portrait of the Virgin believed to have been painted by St. Luke.

Shrine of Saida Zeinab

The interior is covered with decorations in silver and gold, ornate windows and lavish chandeliers. The shrine attracts hundreds of pilgrims daily from various countries, who come to pay tribute to the Prophet's grand-daughter, the daughter of the Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb.