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Syria

6

Reasons To
Visit Syria

  • Ancient Cities

    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.

    Ancient Cities

  • Ancient Ruins

    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.

    Ancient Ruins

  • Castles

    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.

    Castles

  • Medinas

    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.

    Medinas

  • Museums

    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.

    Museums

  • Souqs & Shopping

    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.

    Souqs & Shopping

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Excursions in Syria: St Simeon Tour

The church complex of Qalaat Semaan, which dates from the fifth century is an interesting day trip from Aleppo. The scale of the complex never fails to take visitors aback, and the finesse of the carvings makes this one of the most awesome set of remains in Syria.

St Simeon's, Syria
St Simeon'sThe Monastery of St SimeonThe Monastery of St SimeonThe Monastery of St SimeonThe Monastery of St SimeonSt Simeon'sSt Simeon'sSt Simeon's

St Simeon Tour

Aleppo, Syria
  • Culture & History

The church complex of Qalaat Semaan, which dates from the fifth century is an interesting day trip from Aleppo. The scale of the complex never fails to take visitors aback, and the finesse of the carvings makes this one of the most awesome set of remains in Syria.

St Simeon joined the community of monks in the settlement of Telanissos - the present day village of Derir Semaan - in the early fifth century. Feeling that monastic retreat had not separated him enough from the temptations of everyday life, he took to a cave in the hillside. However pious ascetics were all the rage in the early Christian world, and even in his cave he began to receive a steady stream of visitors. So he resorted to living atop ever higher pillars to escape. His final pillar was 18m high and he was chained by a collar to a railing that went round the top of the pillar. From here he would preach sermons to the faithful, although he never addresses women.

Simeon Stylites (the name for pillar-dwellers) was arguably the most famous person in the Christian world on his death, and there was an unseemly scrap for his remains when he dies - holy relics being the most prized possessions of the day. A huge basilica and church complex sprung up around his pillar, and it is the remains of these you visit. Of his pillar there is but a stub remaining, the rest having disappeared with hundreds of years of relic hunters.

Further reading:
SyriaWhen to GoHighlightsItinerary IdeasPlaces to GoThings to DoAccommodationAbout SyriaCountry Guides

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