Damascus

INTRO
"The silent gardens blurred green with river mist, in whose setting shimmered the city, beautiful as ever, like a pearl in the morning sun" T.E. Lawrence No wonder that they call it "the pearl of the East". The city of Damascus wakes up every day and opens its arms to touch you softly like the fabric of damask and bloom in front of you in its entire splendor like a damask rose. Visiting its mosques and palaces you find yourself intoxicated by the magic of this ancient city.

City Profile
City: Damascus
Country: Syria
Population: 6,500,000
Governor: Bishr Mazen Sabban
Language: Arabic

LOCATION
Lying close to the Mediterranean Sea, Damascus has always been an important commercial centre. The capital and main city of Syria is situated in the southwestern part of the country. It lies in the heart of the Ghutah oasis on the bank of the Barada River. Its borders are marked by the desert to the east and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains to the west.

TIME TO VISIT
As far as the climate goes, there are two clearly distinguished seasons in Damascus, a hot and a cold one, respectively December-February and July-August. The annual rainfall is between 150 mm and 200 mm and falls for the most part between November and February. Winters are usually very cold with daily averages of as low as 5 C whereas the temperatures in the summer tend to be high and could reach 35 C in July and August. Consequently, the best time to visit Damascus seems to be the period between April and May as well as from mid-September to mid-November.

POPULATION
Damascus is claimed to be the world's oldest continuously inhabited city and reports run back at least 3.500 years. The current population of the city is estimated at around 6.5 million people. The local people of Damascus called Damascene are believed to represent about one-fifth of the population, the majority of which was a product of migration from the villages to the cities. The official language is Arabic but other languages such as Kurdish and Armenian can also be heard.

DISTRICTS
Damascus is divided into a large number of districts. A key part of the city is constituted by the so-called "old city". It is surrounded by suburban areas, which originally arose as important religious centres. The modern administrative face of the city started to form itself in the late nineteenth century to the west of the old city around the Barada River. The most important districts are following:

The Old City lies on the southern bank of the Barada River and is sheltered by Roman city walls to the north, east and south. There are eight city gates. Most of the city's main tourist attractions and historical sites find their place in this authentic and breathtaking part of Damascus.
Al Merjeh is the administrative and commercial district of the city. It is situated to the west of the old city, around the river. It is home to the city hall, the courts of justice, the railway station and the post office.
Martyrs' Square is epicentre of the City, housing the most popular shops, hotels and restaurants.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
The major sights and attractions in Damascus are inevitably linked to the rich ancient history of the city and also its religious outlook. You can find astounding achievements of architecture from different historical periods. You simply cannot feel the unique atmosphere of the city and call your visit real without visiting the following places.

Omayyad Mosque represents Damascus in its colourful religious history. It was built in 705 on the site of an ancient temple and a Christian cathedral. It is a precious jewel and a great work of Muslim architecture with several amazing mosaics and three original minarets. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Middle_East/Syria/Muhafazat_Dimashq/Damascus-1814868/Things_To_Do-Damascus-Omayyad_Mosque-BR-6.html
Saladin Mausoleum was built in 1193. Saladin was one of the greatest leaders of Damascus. He was buried in the tomb on the north side of the Omayyad Mosque. The mausoleum is covered with a red dome and set in a beautiful garden. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Middle_East/Syria/Muhafazat_Dimashq/Damascus-1814868/Things_To_Do-Damascus-Omayyad_Mosque-BR-6.html
Azem Palace is one of the various castles of Damascus, which lies south of the Omayyad mosque. It was built in 1750 as a residence for the Ottoman ruler of Damascus from alternating lines of black basalt and white limestone. Between its walls you can today find the Museum of the Arts & Popular Traditions of Syria. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Middle_East/Syria/Muhafazat_Dimashq/Damascus-1814868/Things_To_Do-Damascus-azem_palace-BR-1.html
The Straight Street also known as Via Recta is Damascus' trademark. It is mentioned in the Bible and was the east-west main street in Roman Damascus, spreading over 1500 metres. Nowadays it hosts a variety of small shops and markets, where you can find local treasures.
The National Museum is a must for anyone visiting Damascus. The museum's facade was once the entrance to the ancient military camp Qasr al-Hayr al-Ghabi. Inside the museum you can find a fantastic array of exhibits but the most popular part is a synagogue from 2nd century AD. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.syriatourism.org/index.php?module=subjects&func=viewpage&pageid=726

AIRPORT
You can easily travel to the city of Damascus by air from almost every continent. There is one international airport, which is close to the city centre and well connected to other international airports.

Damascus International Airport, also abbreviated as DAM and OSDI is situated around 25 km away from the city centre. The cheapest way to reach the centre is the airport bus service, offered by the state bus company, Karank. It costs no more than 25SYP. You can also use other private bus companies and taxies, which are more expensive. More info at: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294011-i5846-k1169026-Damascus_bus_from_airport_to_Old_city-Damascus.html

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
You can get around the city of Damascus by a couple of ways of transport:

Public minibuses are the most popular and probably the cheapest means of local transportation. There are more than 100 lines that operate inside the city. Fares 10-20SYP
Service taxis operate on the bus routes but are more expensive than minibuses. Since not all taxi-drivers use their meters it is better to agree a price before leaving. Tipping is expected. A cross-Damascus taxi journey should not cost more than 40SYP.

HISTORY
There is firm evidence to confirm that Damascus was inhabited by a wealthy civilisation in 3000 BC. However, the earliest documented history dates back to 2000 BC, when it served as the capital of an Aramean Principality. Its name comes from the Arabic word Dimashq ash-Sham, which stands for both "north" and "Syria" and thus signifies its geographical position north of the Arab homelands. In 732 BC Damascus was conquered by the Assyrians and in 332 BC it fell to Alexander the Great. Then followed the Roman period, the Byzantine period and the arrival of Islam. Finally, the end of the Ottoman rule marks the beginning of the modern history of Damascus.

CITY LINKS

Damascus Post, online news about Damascus in English: http://www.wn.com/damascus
The Old City of Damascus: http://www.oldamascus.com/home.htm
Interesting facts and useful tips: http://www.damascus-online.com/
Syrian Ministry of Tourism: http://www.syriatourism.org/

UNIVERSITY LINKS

Damascus University, the largest and oldest university in Syria: http://www.damasuniv.shern.net/english/index_en.htm
Syrian Virtual University, established in 2002 still the first virtual education institution in the region: http://www.svuonline.org/sy/eng/
International University for Science and Technology, private university 30 km away from Damascus: http://www.iust.edu.sy/