Damascus:City of Jasmine

Damascus in Syria is usually Al Sham, and as the City of Jasmine, the capital and largest city of Syria and one of the 14 provinces is known. The Damascus Governorate is ruled by a governor appointed by the Minister of the Interior. Damascus is an important cultural and religious center of the Levant. The city has a population of 4.211 million.Damascus is attributed to the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. The old city wall, especially, feels very old and largely consists of a maze of narrow alleys, through the mysterious doors that lead into pleasing interrupted green courtyards and blank-faced houses. The old town has an authentic medieval atmosphere, although this will disappear quickly due to the increasing tourist traffic, as the city continues to be highlighted as an attraction. But life goes on in the old city wall, nor the religious and social center of the city.



The entrance of Souq al-Hamidiyya.



The Souq al-Hamidiyya, a wide street packed with small shops, is entered through columns of a Roman temple built on a site that had been occupied by an even older temple. The souks are smell of cumin and other spices characteristic and can be devoted to passages, to find everything from leather goods and copper inlaid boxes and silk scarves.

At the end of Souq al-Hamidiyya stands the great Umayyad Mosque, the building with three minarets is an architectural wonder. It was an Assyrian temple, then a Roman temple of Jupiter, a church when Rome converted to Christianity, then a mosque and a church together, and eventually to a mosque today.

Azem Palace is a palace in Damascus, Syria, which was originally built in 1750 as a residence for the Ottoman governor of Damascus As'ad Pasha al-Azm. The palace now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.

Damascus-old city, maybe you can visit a restaurant in old Damascus. There are many restaurants in the old quarter each with their own unique character, but perhaps the most famous (and touristy) is "Beit Jabri", although "Al-Khawali" is considered by many to be the best dining experience in the old city.