"THE SILENT GARDENS BLURRED GREEN WITH RIVER MIST, IN WHOSE SETTING SHIMMERED THE CITY, BEAUTIFUL AS EVER, LIKE A PEARL IN THE MORNING SUN"
T.E. LAWRENCE

Damascus the capital, it is the oldest continuously inhabitant capital in the world.

The earliest reference to the city was in Ebla tablets, confirming the existence of Damascus in the third millennium BC. Damascus is filled with ancient landmarks, evidence of the many eras and peoples who have inhabited it throughout history. The ancient wall that surrounds the old city was built during the Roman era. The wall has seven gates.
Within the old city walls and gates is a labyrinth of streets where some of Damascus most fascinating attractions are located. The Umayyad Mosque it was built on 705 AD, within the mosque there is a lavish marble monument that commemorates
The legendary burial site of the head of Saint John the Baptist.
Other attractions in the city are the Tomb of Saladin, the Azem Palace (the Museum of Tradition and Popular Arts). Damascus is well known for its covered souks (markets) built during the Ottoman period. Hamedieh Where you can find first quality hand crafts and damask silk cloth. Straight Street as well as the church of Saint Anania and the window of Saint Paul.
And the national museum of Damascus which contains vast numbers of treasures dating back to thousands of years a collection of very ancient antiquities and relics of history as far back as the Stone Age. It is a witness of the greatness of the past and the reaction of civilizations.

Aleppo is the second largest city in Syria. 347 KM north of Damascus, the city has a distinct charm and incomparable history, it is also very modern and has all the plush amenities a traveler is in search for. Aleppo has an international airport and is accessible, via bus and train with other cities.

The earliest mentions of the city are recorded on stone tablets found at Mari, on the Syrian Euphrates, which date back to 2000 BC. From this time onwards, Aleppo was the capital of succession of prosperous city states, governed by the Amorites, the Hittites, the Assyrians, the Persians, and after 333 BC, by the Seleucid dynasty, Other settlements included the Roman and Byzantine era. During the Middle Ages, the city saw renewed prosperity for traders as a stopping ground on the Silk Road stretching from the Mediterranean to China.
The importance of the city grew after the Arab invasion of Syria, during the seventh century.

The main attraction in the city is the Great Mosque was built by the Umayyad dynasty, The Citadel is the most visible city landmark in the city. The National Museum, its markets (souks), its Hamams (public bath houses) and the Baron Hotel. The Baron Hotel has seen the likes of US President Theodore Roosevelt, Aviator Charles Lindbergh, Kemal Attaturk (founder of Turkey), Lady Louis Mountbatten, author Agatha Christie and her archaeologist husband Sir Max Mallowan. And T.E. Lawrence of Arabia, whose rooms are available.

Homs - Is the third largest city in Syria and is located 160 km north of Damascus. It has strategic location in the middle of Syria and it is a cross road city for all directions in Syria.
An industrial city in the fertile Orontes River (al-Assi) Valley, Homs was once the ancient city of Emesa,
dating back to 2300 B.C. But earthquakes had destroyed most of the historical landmarks in the city.

The most important historical building in the city is the mosque and tomb of the Arab Moslem leader Khaled IBin Al-Walid who lived in Homs for the last seven years of his life. Um Zunnar church which was named after a belt of cloth have belonged to Virgin Mary it was found under the alter during renovations in the 1950's. Another church in the area is Mar Elian church the local saint of Homs

Hama - Is situated 140 km south of Aleppo and 47 km north of Homs.
Hama dates back to 2,000 BC . the evidence of human settlement here dates back to around 1100 BC when the small kingdom of Hamath was ruled from the citadel. During the Selucid the city renamed Epiphania became an administrative center of minor importance, a function which continued through the Roman and Byzantine eras.

Hama has ancient Norias (waterwheels). The Norias have been scooping water from the Orontes River (Nahr al-Assi - Assi means disobedient, since the river runs northwards) and pouring it into irrigation canals. The groaning sound of the Norias adds a certain mystique to this ancient city.
Hama is a very conservative town where modern buildings meet the ancient past. Hama has (Spring Festival) in April where the local customs and traditions are displayed throughout the city. This annual event is always a good time to visit Hama and its surrounding areas.
Latakia - Is Syria’s main sea-port on the Mediterranean. It lies 348 km northwest of Damascus. It has retained its importance since ancient times.

Though there is evidence to suggest continuous settlement here stretching back to 1000 BC, Latakia only came to prominence in the wake of Alexander the Great's conquest, when is was transformed into a major city of the Seleucid empire. Renamed in honour of Loadicea, the mother of Alexander the Great's general Seleucus Nicator, it developed into an important port and becoming the main supplier of wine to the Hellenistic period. The town was briefly declared capital of Syria in the late second century AD by Septimius Severus. earthquakes in 494 and 555 badly damaged Latakia, but was rebuilt by Justinian before being seized by the invading Arab in 638. After being captured by the Crusaders in 1097, the town oscillated between Muslim and Christian control for nearly a century, until it was retaken by Saladin in 1188.

Some attractions in the city include a museum, which was an old Ottoman khan. The museum houses some interesting examples of pottery, glassware, clay tablets from nearby Ugarit; another attraction to the city is a Roman gateway that consists of four columns.
Tartus - is Syria's second coast after Latakia. It is 251 km from Damascus, and 90 km from Latakia.

Tartus was founded by the Phoenician colony on Arwad is Syria's only island and remained an important settlement through the Hellenistic and Roman times. During the fourth century a chapel but was built here which dedicated to the Virgin Mary. An Earthquake in 487 AD largely destroyed the chapel but a miracle left its alter miraculously unscathed. Later the city and cathedral were attacked by Saladin but the Knights Templars defended the fortified city and it prevailed to be a Crusader town until 1291.

Besides the Cathedral, other attractions include the old city and a city wall that preserves the beauty of the old city.

Arwad is Syria's only island Just 3 km off the coast of Tartus It was an independent kingdom named Aradus in the days of the Canaanites. It was often mentioned in inscriptions because of its importance in commerce and seafaring. Arwad is a small island, with a mass of houses and fortresses and narrow lanes. Its ancient citadel was used as a prison for the nationalists during the resistance against the French. The walls of some cells in this citadel are still covered with the writings of the nationalists.