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MA'ALULA - The meaning of
the name of the city is "the entrance" in Aramaic. It is a rocky
village located north of Damascus. Famous for its monasteries,
Aramaic is still the spoken language of the city.
PALMYRA (Tadmor) - Today,
famous for its temples, walls and tombs and the warrior Queen
Zenobia, this is certainly one of Syria's main attractions. Zenobia,
who claimed to be a descendent of Cleopatra, was a woman of
exceptional ability. She turned Palmyra into an independent empire,
taking control of Egypt from Rome. Even if you think you've seen
enough ruins in the Middle East, do not pass up a visit to this
site. The history of this site dates back to the 19th century BC.
The temples, baths, theatre, Agora, and streets of the site are an
unforgettable site - again…well worth the visit. It is surrounded by
green oasis of olive, palm and pomegranate trees and looks like a
mirage in the mid vast desert.
CRAC DES CHEVALIERS -
Probably the most famous castle of the Middle Ages. It stands
proudly on a volcanic crater and overlooks the Bekaa Valley,
Homs, and Latakia. It is
extremely well preserved, and probably looked much the same 800
years ago as it does today. The Crusaders built and expanded the
fort over a period of over 100 years from around 1150. When it was
finished, it housed over 4000 soldiers. The outside wall has 13
tower plus the main entrance After visiting the rooms, towers, etc,
the best view of the Crac itself is down the road to the right and
up the small hill behind the south west corner.
ALEPPO
- Still called "Haleb" by Syrians, this city has been an
important trading point between Asia and the Mediterranean for
centuries. With its fascinating covered markets and huge citadel,
Aleppo is a very pleasant city to visit and to spend a few days in.
The market (souq) is certainly the main attraction of the city. All
under one roof everything imaginable is sold, from 22K gold to
spices to meat to clothing to jewelry to handcrafts. This is a place
just to enter, to wander about, and to get lost. The Aleppo Citadel
dominates the city skyline. After a visit to the souk and citadel,
don't forget a good relaxing massage at the Hamman (Turkish bath) -
located just next to
the citadel.
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