Syria

Syria is one of the oldest countries in the world and an extraordinary crossroads of civilisations. Damascus, the capital, is widely considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world - people have lived there for over 11,000 years! Throughout history, Syria was part of the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic empires - every great civilisation of the ancient world passed through here.

The ancient walled city of Damascus has a magnificent old quarter with the Umayyad Mosque, one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world, and the Straight Street mentioned in the Bible. Palmyra was a stunning ancient desert city that served as a vital Silk Road trading hub, with extraordinary Roman-era temples and colonnaded streets. Aleppo, another ancient city, was famed for its covered souks (one of the world's largest), its citadel, and its world-famous soap made from olive oil and laurel bay. Krak des Chevaliers is considered the finest Crusader castle in existence. Syria's location on the Silk Road made it a centre of trade, arts, and culture for thousands of years, and Syrian cuisine - shawarma, kibbeh, baklava, and fragrant rice dishes - has influenced the whole region.