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| Historic Tour of Syria |
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Day 1
Meet & Assist at Damascus Airport.
DAMASCUS: The capital of Syria, one of the oldest cities in the world with history that goes back for over 9 millenniums, and reached its peak during the first decades of Islam It became the capital of the Omayyad dynasty which ruled the largest empire known in human history. Another brilliant period was under the rule of Saladin, the famous crusaders adversary , making Damascus the capital of his powerful State. Today, it is a modern city with a definite old-world character and charm, where many influences and traces of these civilizations can be felt and seen. Transfer to the hotel-Overnight.
Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel – Sightseeing of Damascus: Visit the National Museum: One of the most important museums of the world. A splendid journey through time will take you from the Omayyad palace to the walls of a third century Roman synagogue passing by a Palmyrian underground tomb with its gazing statues. Many other treasures unearthed over the years are exposed, such as the treasures of prehistoric times, the Greeko-Roman and Byzantine eras as well as Arab-Islamic oriental pieces. Azem Palace a modern art gallery.
Omayyad Mosque: Established as an Armenian temple over 3000 years ago, then it was converted into a Roman temple. It was converted to John the Baptist during the 4th. century. Following the Islamic conquests in 635, Muslims and Christians agreed to share the site, performing their rituals side by side. When Al-Walid decided to erect an impressive Mosque he agreed with the Christian community of Damascus to construct a new church for them and several other plots of land streets are full colorful merchandise displayed in and out of the shops. Most prominent of these markets are: Souq al-Hamidiyeh, Souq Midhat Pasha, Souq al-Harir & Souq Al-Bzourieh. Straight street: Mentioned in the Bible, where St. Paul, blinded by God's revelation was sent by Christ. In the house of Judas he met Ananias who put his hand on him and in doing so restored his eyesight. Will visit also Anania church & St. Paul window Overnight in Damascus.
Day 3
Breakfast – Drive to Palmyra sightseeing of PALMYRA: The jewel of Syria's antiquities. This remarkable site in the middle of the Syrian Desert was the shopping place of caravans coming from the Arabian to Mediterranean lands as well as those crossing the Tigris and taking the silk route. It is most renowned for Queen Zenobia who defied Rome and took possession of all of Syria and lower Egypt. The ruins are spread over a very large area. The temples of Bell, Baalshamin and Nebo. The great colonnade that crosses the city is certainly its most captivating architectural. These and many others still bear witness to the greatness of this extraordinary city and Kingdom. Watch the sunset near the citadel . Overnight in Palmyra.
Day 4
Breakfast – Drive to the eastern part of Syria visiting Mary: modern Tell Hariri, was an ancient Sumerian and Amorite city, located 11 kilometers north-west of the modern town of Abu Kamal on the western bank of Euphrates river, some 120 km southeast of Deir eZ-Zor, It is thought to have been inhabited since the 5th millennium BC, although it flourished from 2900 BC until 1759 BC, when it was sacked by Hammurabi. Dura Eouropos: was a Hellenistic, Parthian and Roman border city built on an escarpment ninety meters above the right bank of the Euphrates river. Dura-Europos is extremely important for archaeological reasons. As it was abandoned after its conquest in 256–7, nothing was built over it and no later building programs obscured the architectonic features of the ancient city. Its location on the edge of Empires meant for a co-mingling of cultural traditions, much of which was preserved under the city's ruins. Some remarkable finds have been brought to light, Including numerous temples, wall decorations, inscriptions, military equipment, tombs, and even dramatic evidence of the Sassanian siege during the Imperial Roman period which led to the site's abandonment.Arrival to Der Ezzur-Overnight.
Day 5
Breakfast-Visit the Museum of Dier Ezzur- Drive to visit Halabiya site located alongside the Euphrates at the mouth of gorges where the course of the river narrows, as it flows across a gypsum plateau with a basalt outcrop. The Khanuqa rock bar was naturally favourable to establishing control over the river crossing. The legendary Queen Zenobia of Palmyra is credited with founding twin cities on both sides of the Euphrates: Halabiya and Zalabiya. Of the latter city, relatively few traces remain, as the river destroyed the cliff where it was built; the Zenobia site is, however, quite well preserved, even through the Euphrates appears to regularly flood the rampart that runs alongside it. Rasafa located south of the Euphrates and north of the Syrian semi-desert, 160 KM south-east of Aleppo and 30 KM south of the Aleppo-Raqa road. Russafa palace was the residence of Hisham Ibn abdal Malek, the 3rd Omayyad Chaliph, who was greatly interested in art and architecture. He had several palaces built in various parts of Syria and this one in Russafa was his residence and he was buried here as well. Continue to Aleppo-Overnight.
Day 6
Breakfast-AM; Drive to visit St. Simon: The ruins of the Basilic a of St. SIMEON are perhaps the most astonishing monument of Christian art. Well preserved, it still bears witness to the popularity of this saint who spent 42 years on top of a column which was his way of demonstrating his detachment from the world and his faith in God.
Drive to Aleppo: The second largest city in Syria, it boasts being the oldest. It is the place that leaves the deepest impression of Syria:
It's ancient history, it's effective role during the Crusades, it's prosperity under the Mamelukes and the Ottomans. The Citadel: Dominating the city, it was first fortified in the Seleucid period. And became the residence of the Hamadanides rulers during in the 10th century. Its present aspect is mainly owed to the Mamelukes after its destruction by the Mongols in 1260. The Souks: Covered old-world shopping malls with a length of over six continuous miles, they are considered as the best of all Arab and Islamic cities. Divided into specialties (like grocers, jewelers...etc) the Souk dates back to the 15th and 16th century. Overnight in Aleppo.
Day 7
Breakfast – Drive to visit Serjelleh: One of the most interesting of the ‘dead cities’, this site located in a natural basin opening out to the south compresses extensive remains of houses, a church, bath, tombs. Near the road, on the left, you will notice a necropolis area with a sarcophagus. Beyond this and a little to the SE lie the substantial remains of the baths and meeting house. A floor of the baths is dated to 473 and their existence in this remote locality indicates the degree of prosperity in the community at the time. Ugarit: is one of the few Bronze age sites in the middle east which offers identifiable remains the casual visitors and not simply to the specialist scholar or those who have the time to familiarize themselves with the wealth of published information. Unlike other centers of the period, the palace and religious building were built in stone. Whereas the mud brick of cities such as Mari or Ebla has quickly eroded with rain and wind on exposure to the archaeologist’s spade, Ugarit survives with at least its foundation coursed and much of its walls clearly delineated in stone. Continue to Latakia-Overnight.
Day 8
Breakfast – Drive to visit Salah Eddien Castle Formerly “Saone” (and still known as Christian community where Aramaic the Sahyoun Castle), it was recently named after Saladin to commemorate his capture of the castle in 1188 A.D. Though the importance of deposition had been exploited before the crusades, this castle was described as the most impregnable Crusader fortress. It stands on a rocky spur whose vertical walls rise above the junction of two fast-flowing streams. As late as 1965 it was impossible to reach except on horseback, The fortress was completely isolated from the plateau by a deep 156 meter long, 18 meter wide and 28 meter deep ditch Today there is a drawbridge and a road which provide easy access to the foot of this “ eagle’s nest” .Aphamea: Ruins stretching over a perimeter of 7 km. This site, was one of the most beautiful of the Hellenistic Orient, is dominated by an Arab fortress: Qalaat Mudiq. The main site stretches over 1,5 km from each side of the Great Colonnade. In the centre, of the north side, your attention will be attracted by the magnificent twisted columns. This town, which was flourishing from the VIth. century BC, was ravaged by strong earthquakes in 1157 and 1770. Stop at Hama & view the water wheels some of the largest and oldest water wheels in the world Overnight. It's ancient history, it's effective role during the Crusades, it's prosperity under the Mamelukes and the Ottomans. The Citadel: Dominating the city, it was first fortified in the Seleucid period. And became the residence of the Hamadanides rulers during in the 10th century. Its present aspect is mainly owed to the Mamelukes after its destruction by the Mongols in 1260. The Souks: Covered old-world shopping malls with a length of over six continuous miles, they are considered as the best of all Arab and Islamic cities. Divided into specialties (like grocers, jewelers...etc) the Souk dates back to the 15th and 16th century. Overnight in Aleppo.
Day 9
Breakfast- Drive to visit Crack Des Chevalier: The greatest castle in the world, it was the headquarters of the kings of Saint John. Originally built in 1031, it was destroyed many times by earthquakes and was last reconstructed in the late 13th century. Standing 2,300 feet above sea level, it commands The strategic valley between Homs and Tripoli. It was never taken by force; it surrendered to the Mameluke ruler Baybars in 1271. Ma'loula, language spoken by Jesus is still in use, with its small Byzantine Chapel, claims to be the oldest in the Christian world, where magnificent icons adorn the entrance of the altar dating back to 300 AD. Sydnaya: It has a famous monastery founded in 547 AD, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. The name of the village itself, "Seyda Naya" in Syriac means "Our Lady". The monastery contains a portrait of the Virgin believed to have been painted by St. Luke. Continue to Damascus- Overnight.
Day 10
Breakfast. Full Day Excursion visiting Bosra: Situated in the vast Hawran plain some 145km south of Damascus, it is an extremely ancient city mentioned in the lists of Tutmoses III and Akhenaton in the fourteenth century B.C. The first Nabatean city in the second century B.C it bore the name Buhora, but during the Hellenistic period, it was known by the name of Bustra, Later the Romans took an active interest in the city, and at the time of the Emperor Tarajan it was made the capital of the province of Arabia (in 106 BC) and was called Neatrajana Bustra. The city saw then, became a cross road on the caravan routes and the official seat and residence of the Imperial Legate. After the decline of the Roman Empire, Bosra played a significant role in the history of early Christianity. Drive back to Damascus . Sweida: is a mainly Druze city located in southwestern Syria, close to the border with Jordan. It is the capital of Muhafazat as Suwayda, one of Syria's 14 governorates, bordering Jordan in the South and the governorates of Daraa in the West and Rif Dimashq in the North and East. Chahba: In the Jabal AL Arab region 90km south-east of Damascus, Chahba stands in an oasis of orchards and vineyards. Renowned as the birthplace of the Syrian emperor Philip who ruled the Roman empire between 244 and 249 AD the city bore the name Phillipopolis during the Roman period in his honor.He took a personal interest in the city, planed it after the Roman style, built numerous palaces and temples, erected triumphal arches and public baths, a Theatre and a great wall. Overnight in Damascus.
Day 11
Breakfast. Transfer to Damascus airport for Departure.
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