Damascus, modern and ancient capital (Damascus)

Member Name: llamass

Product:	Damascus
Date:	24/05/09 (9 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fascinating, charming and colourful

Disadvantages: busy and crowded

The name Damascus brings up biblical images, thoughts of epiphany and crusading knights on their way to the holy land. Nowadays as the capital of Syria, Damascus is a modern city but it retains a magical edge to it as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.

The walled old city is specatular and away from the buzz of the city it has an authentic medieval air where if you close your eyes it is possible to feel knights, islamic clerics and saints walking around you. Open your eyes and the venders in the souqs, stunning surroundings and calls of the Muezzin are just as evocative.

The old city is the focus of most of the sights of the city. The old city itself is a great place to have a wander around and explore the twisting streets and alleys but the 'must-sees' are as follows:

1. Souq al-Hamidiyya-entered through Roman columns this souq is filled with anything a tourist might like to buy. It is bright, colourful and fantastically noisy as you can hear the bargaining and shoppers around you.
2.Umayyad mosque- gone from temple to church to mosque and back and forth a few times too this is one of the most spectacular religious buildings in the world. The mosque is huge, one of the largest in the world and beautifully ornate on the outside. The interior is tranquil and contains mosaic fragments as well as one of it's main claims to fame, the head of John the baptist.
3.Mausoleum of Salah al-Din-usually known as Saladin in the west, this is the tomb of the arab hero who eventually pushed out the western crusaders.
4.Mount Qasioun-the peak has panoramic views over Damascus, at night the old city is illuminated and breathtaking sight from above.

After appreciating the sights of this most ancient of cities the other attractions can be explored. Visit a hammam (Turkish bath) to scrub away the cities dirt, then relax with apple-flavoured smoke in a Hookah bar. Finally try falafel or shawarma along with juice freshly squeezed in front of you from one of the many venders around the town.

Summary: Evocative city with important historical sites