Damascus - the capital of Syria
Historians claim that the capital of Syria - magnificent Damascus - is the most ancient capital of the planet. And the fact that today a rare tourist dares to travel to this great city due to military events can be considered a world tragedy..
Many biblical stories are associated with Damascus, so many Christian pilgrims dream of visiting here. The tragic irony is that the biblical legend connects with Damascus the first murder on the planet, the innocent victim of which was Abel, who was killed by his brother Cain.
Treasury of the world
It is worth exploring the map of Damascus to get acquainted with its architectural, religious, cultural sights. The old town is one of the unique sites under the protection of UNESCO specialists..
The old part of the city has preserved in some places the original layout and is surrounded by a wall built by the ancient Romans. Tourists who have visited this great city can only admire the photos taken in the ancient quarters, which capture the most interesting buildings and structures: the Umayyad Mosque; the ancient mausoleum of Salah ad-Din, the legendary Muslim political leader and commander, revered in many countries of the East; the palace, which became the residence of one of the Turkish governors of the province.
Christian places of worship have survived in Damascus, including the Temple of the Virgin Mary, which is the main cathedral in the city, and the church in which the Apostle Paul was baptized..
Damascus museums
An important event took place in the capital of Syria in 1936 - the opening of the National Museum of Damascus. Over time, the largest collections of historical and archaeological items were collected here, and artistic works of modern geniuses were added to them. Among the most valuable exhibits of the National Museum of the Syrian capital: the alphabet, considered the earliest in the world; ancient unique frescoes; jewelry dating back more than one century; ancient stone statues.
Muslim shrines
The most famous mosque was named after the caliph from the Umayyad dynasty, it was built on the site of the former temple of the ancient Christians. Now the mosque is a center of pilgrimage for Muslims from all over the world. The building resembles Byzantine palaces, since architects from different states were invited for the construction. The decoration uses precious metals and stones, such as pearls and mother-of-pearl.
