Famous landmarks in Syria

Syria is a country in Western Asia, on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and Lebanon. Its capital, Damascus, is often called one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and Aleppo, in the north, is just as ancient.

Syria is known for its very long history, old markets, castles and delicious food. On the globe you can find the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, one of the oldest and grandest mosques in the world, the Crusader castle Krak des Chevaliers, and the huge Citadel of Aleppo on its hill in the middle of the city.

Geography and nature

Syria has a short Mediterranean coast backed by green coastal mountains. Inland, the land becomes drier, and much of the east and south is part of the Syrian Desert, home to the ancient oasis city of Palmyra. The Euphrates River flows across the north-east, providing water for farms. Mount Hermon, on the south-western border, is the highest point and is often snow-capped. Olive groves, wheat fields and orchards of pistachios and apricots grow where there is enough water.

People, languages and culture

Arabic is the official language, and Kurdish, Armenian and other languages are also spoken; in the village of Maaloula, some people still speak a form of Aramaic, an ancient language. Most Syrians are Muslim, and there are Christian, Druze and other communities. Syrian food is famous for mezze such as hummus, tabbouleh and kibbeh. Damascus gave its name to damask, a patterned fabric, and Aleppo is known for its olive-oil soap. Coffee and sweets are shared with guests.

History in a nutshell

People have lived in Syria for many thousands of years, and the ancient city of Ugarit used one of the earliest alphabets. Later the region was ruled by Arameans, Persians, Greeks and Romans. In 661 Damascus became the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate, which built the Umayyad Mosque. Crusaders built Krak des Chevaliers in the 1100s. The Ottoman Empire ruled Syria for about 400 years, then France governed it until independence in 1946. From 2011 a long war caused great destruction and forced millions of people to leave their homes.