Reasons To Visit Syria
Damascus claims to be the longest continually inhabited place on earth, and this sense of history pervades the city. Aleppo is almost as ancient, dominated by her brooding Mamluke citadel, whilst further down the Euphrates Valley, Mari is one of only a handful of extant Mesopotamian cities.
At times, it seems impossible to walk 500 yards in Syria without tripping over the remnants of one of the many ancient civilisations to have held sway in Syria. The country probably has one of the highest concentrations of historic monuments in the world and this is one of the major draws for most people.
As you'd expect of a country on so many major trade and pilgrimage routes, the years of conquest and counter-conquest have left a rich tapestry of fortifications across the country. Crusader architecture in particular reached its zenith here and there are some superb examples to explore.
The walled heart of all major towns and cities, the medina normally houses a number of attractions, from museums, mosques and monuments, to the souqs and traditional townhouses converted to boutique hotels and restaurants.
The National Museums in Aleppo and Damascus should definitely feature in your plans. Not only are they home to many fantastic artefacts from across the country, but they also help put the whole of your visit to Syria into its historical context.
Syria's souqs are probably the most rewarding in the region, selling goods almost exclusively for the locals, manufactured in Syria, rather than cheap foreign imports. The atmosphere is always exotic and unthreatening, making shopping a real pleasure.
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North Africa & the Middle East
Aleppo's historic position as a trading crossroads has given the it a cosmopolitan air, from the ancient churches of the Christian quarter to the imposing edifice of the Arab citadel that dominates the city.
Nestled in the stone-walled lanes of the old Jdaydeh quarter in a painstakingly-restored 18th-century house, Beit Wakil was one of the first of Aleppo's boutique hotels to be established in...
Aleppo's newest hotel boasts arguably the finest location of any in the city, directly across the road from the vast, imposing Citadel. The hotel is split into two parts, with the...
The Martini has proven over recent years to be one of the most accomplished converted houses in Aleppo, and such has been its success that it has expanded over several houses in the Jdaydeh...
Named after the Christian district in which it is located, the Jdayde hotel is fresh and a touch more continental in feel than other townhouse hotels in the city. Aleppine touches are here...
One of the more recent townhouses in Aleppo, this restored 17th century Arabic house has all the charm you might hope for. The eight rooms are bright and well decorated, and the care and...
After a lavish renovation, Beit Salahieh reopened in 2010 as one of Aleppo's most luxurious and historic hotels. Built in 1840, the Salahieh family lived here for close to 100 years, before...
There have been several converted houses carefully done in Aleppo, but none with the care and attention which have come to make Mansouriya the city's stand-out place to stay.
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