Travel Guides

Damascus is the capital city of Syria (an Arab country), and has borders with
Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. Damascus is located by the side of the
Barada River, on a high plateau (680 metres above sea-level) in the shadow of the
Anti-Lebanon Mountains. Modern archaeological studies in this area have shown
that the original settlement could have been founded as long ago as 8,000 BC, and
over the years this site has been inhabited by the Aramaeans, Romans, Greeks and
Umayyads.

Damascus at night, seen from Mount Qassoun

For centuries Damascus was an important stop along the vast, winding
caravan trade route that led all the way from western Europe to the far east, and was
famous for its dried fruits, wines and fabrics, including ‘damask’, woven silk fabrics
that were produced in the city and sold all over the world.

Damascus is definitely a place to see. Put it on your schedule, please, it worths 100 %! It is the oldest city worldwide continuously inhabitated since the year 10 000 B.C. There is no mistake, I am not kitting, it is not a joke. At those prehistoric times many other old people were migrants and barbarian, while Damascus could show the beginnings of an urban life. Really amazing and impressive.

Night view from Mount Qassioun. Notice the green lights, which are minarettes.

Nowadays Damascus is not a megacity, but could become. It hosts aproximately 4 000 000 inhabitants, but its population doubled within 20 years, jeopardizing the souks and the Old Town! All the people are very friendly and proud about their city, being totally entitled for that in my opinion. They have a glorious history behind: Alexander The Big was there, Cyrus was there, the holly Prophet Mohamed refused to enter the city souks, as they looked close to paradise. In the Middle Age Damascus was the capital of the Ummayad Empire, stretching from Spain to India , and reached the peak of its glory.