The Capital of Syria is the world's
oldest inhabited city. A central feature of this cluttered and
clamorous city is the Ummayyad Mosque, entered by passing through
the Al-Hamidiyah Bazar.
The history of the mosque in many ways traces the
history of Damascus: built on the site of a temple to the ancient
Aramean god Haddad, the original temple was adapted and enlarged
by Romans and used as a temple to Jupiter. It was later knocked
down by the Byzantines who replaced the pagan temple with Cathedral
of John the Baptist, and it was subsequently converted into a
mosque to accommodate the Islamic teachings brought by the Arabs
in AD 636. The mosque houses the Tomb of St. John the Baptist.
The Tikiyeh mosque, built in the mid-16 th century. Stands out
by its two elegant minarets and great dome.
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The 18th- century Al Azem palace
is now a national museum, where there are amongst other examples
of Islamic art, beautifully illuminated copies of the Quran.
Situated in old Damascus, a little way off the famous Via Recta
, or 'straight Street' is the House of Hanania , where St. Paul
hid, using the underground chapel for worship. The church in the
Damascus Wall from where St. Paul escaped in a basket is also
still preserved. Also worth seeing is the Long Souk. Other attractions
include the Sayyida Zainab Shrine
(the granddaughter of the Prophet
Mohammad) the Tomb of Saladin at the backyard of the Ummayyad
Mosque, and the outskirts of Damascus, especially Dummar,
with seasonal entertainment and restaurants Ghota,
the fruit orchards surrounding Damascus, is at its best during
the blooming of apricot, plums, cherries and other trees in early
spring.
Ma'alula means (the entrance) in
the Aramic Language. It is a rocky village located in Al-Qalamoon
Mountains, in the eastern lower part of Lebanese eastern mountain;
its houses cling on hills of limestone and has two famous monasteries
1. St. Sergius monastery: built in the fourth century A.D and
has valuable icons from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
in addition to portraits of Arab saints.
2. St. Tecla monastery: People of all religions venerate the shrine
of St. Tecla who was one of the first saints in Christianity
Up till now, the people of Ma'alula still speak
the Aramic, the language of Jesus Christ
About 35 km further, still
at the foot of the Anti- Lebanon buttresses, you will reach Seidnaya.
A town where houses are built around a rock with a very old monastery
on top.
This rock the outline of which is evened by belt
of high convent buildings, glowing with age, is an acropolis bearing
a church as a queen bears her crown, A steep climb up many steps
takes you to this monastery which is said to date back to the
Emperor Justinan.
Many Summer resorts are scattered
around Damascus and are famous for their wonderful climate fresh
fruits and tasty foods….
