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MA'ALULA: Ma'alula
means (the entrance) in the Aramaic language. It is a rocky village
located in Al-Qalamoon Mountains, in the eastern lower part of Lebanese
eastern mountain, its houses cling on hills of limestone and has two
famous monasteries:
Up till now, the people of Ma'alula still speak the Aramic, the language of Jesus Christ. THE
SOUTHERN REGION Horan
region expands on natural platforms in the basaltic mountains south of
Damascus, it also extends to the Syrian desert and was inhabited since the
stone age by many peoples. Great
monuments left by Nabateans, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs could be visited
such as: BOSRA It
was the Roman capital for the Arabic region and located in the middle of a
fertile valley. There is a big gate leading to the city with its old paved
roads, the lively and brilliant colors of costumes in this city create a
strange, charming and amazing contrast with the dark and gloomy color of
the basaltic stones of the temples, palaces, high columns and mosques
dating back to the middle ages. In Bosra, there is a magnificent
amphitheater dating back to the second century A.D and can accommodate up
to 15000 audiences. SHAHBA It
is the village that witnessed the birth of Philip, the Arab Emperor who
rebuilt the city in 244 A.D, in Shahba, you can see the ruins of its
theatre, baths and temples. Its local museum contains wonderful mosaic
panels in addition to a Marble Head of Philip. THE
MIDDLE REGION This
region forms a link between all Syrian cities and considered as an
important agricultural and industrial center. It is distinguished by its
old history and special position when a Syrian family from this region
managed to rule in Rome through many emperors and important persons. All
these facts made the important poet (JUVENAL) says: "the Orontes
river flows into the tiber". The oldest irrigation means were
invented and still used on its banks, the water wheels (Norias) which are
still running and sending their everlasting moaning tune. PALMYRA Palmyra
city stands as a symbol for its Arab Queen (Zenobia), who was an example
of the ambitious woman. Who stood against the greatness and mightines of
Rome. Today,
Palmyra is famous for it temples, walls and tombs. It is surrounded by
green oasis of olive, palm and pomegranate trees and looks like a mirage
in a mid vast desert. Brilliant Palmyra is located between the
Mediterranean Sea and the Arab Jazirah and it was an important point on
the Silk Road. CRAC DES CHEVALIERS It
is the most famous castle of the middle ages. It stands proudly on a
volcanic crater and overlooks the Beka'a plain, Homs and Lattakia
mountains. This castle tells the story of two centuries of bloody and wild
struggle ended with its liberation in 1271 by the sultan Al Zaher Baybars
who rebuilt its ruined parts and added new touches into it. AFAMIA
(APAMEA) Seleucus
Necator who named it after his wife, Afamia, built it in the fourth
century B.C. Many famous personalities visited this city like Antonio and
Cleopatra and Hannibal. A philosophical school of modern Platonic approach
was established in it. The
Romans rebuilt it so the Persian and the Roman civilizations were
wonderfully mingled in it. It was a commercial center where trade caravans
used to frequent. Two severe natural earthquakes then destroyed it. You can see a wall surrounding its beautiful ruins such as high columns, old houses and big churchs dating back to the fifth and sixth centuries A.D in addition to a splendid amphitheatre. Its museum has a lots of extra-ordinary mosaic panels. Shaizar citadel, dating back to the 13th C., stands proudly over the nearby hill. |
