Click here to see our mission statement in Arabic.

Diary Entry: 11th-17th Sep 2005 - Goats and Gold
Diary Entry: 24th-26th Oct 2005 - Would you like a bit of lettuce with your salad?

Photo Album for Syria

Country Highlights En Route

Aleppo Citadel

A magnificent enormous fortress, the Aleppo Citadel, is sometimes considered to be one of the oldest in the region. The hill the Citadel stands on is supposed to date back to the 16th century BC, when the Amorites were in control. However the earliest remains that have been uncovered only go back as far as the 10th century BC when the Neo Hittites raised a temple on this site.

The Dead Cities

South of Aleppo are located a series of historic ghost towns, commonly known as "The Dead Cities". These towns date from the early Byzantine Christian period but the great mystery is why these sites were abandoned, they do not bear any signs of destruction by either invading armies or natural forces such as earthquakes.

Hama

Right in the centre of Hama, there is a pleasant park on the riverfront. Some gigantic wooden waterwheels turn here, scooping up water from the Orontes river and taking it up to the aqueduct running from it. Although the system is not used anymore in present days, it is still easy to see how simple and smart it is. Water just falls back down into the river it was taken from. In medieval times, Hama had some 30 norias, of which around a dozen remain

Palmyra

The ruins of Palmyra are extensive and cover ten square kilometres. Especially from the Citadel above it, the wall surrounding the city can clearly be seen. Although large part of the city lies in ruins after centuries of rampage, siege and earthquakes, a considerable part is still standing and makes it interesting enough to walk around in wonder for hours.

Krak Des Chevaliers

Standing as high as 2300 feet above sea level stands what is much considered the greatest fortress in the world, Krak Des Chevaliers (Castle of the Knights). With its command over the valley between Homs and Tripoli, and being a model of perfection of medieval fortification, this Castle was never besieged or taken by storm. It only fell through Baibars unique plan involving trickery.