Government statistics show that the number of tourists visiting Syria last year increased 12 percent compared to 2008. Syria received about six million tourists in 2009, including 1.1 million Syrian expatriates and 3.5 million Arabs. There are a number of important sites of antiquities in Syria, including the ancient city of Palymra.
Industry specialists say Syria’s practice of deeming nearly every foreigner who enters the country a tourist is misleading. The country had been under United States sanctions since 2004 because of its support for militant groups, although relations with the West have improved and Washington is seeking rapprochement. New hotels have been built in Syria over the last few years, mainly in Aleppo and Damascus, but the quality is not as good as in neighboring Jordan and Lebanon.
The Sacre Coeur Cathedral is situated on the northwest edge of the Parc de la Ligue Arabe. It is an imposing building that gracefully blends different architectural influences; the European style and traditional Moroccan. Designed by Paul Toron in 1930, the cathedral has been used as a school, theatre and cultural center. Address: Parc de la Ligue Arabe {loadposi...
Çiragan Palace's name is derived from the Persian word for torch (cherag). It is so named because of the torches used to light the lavish parties thrown by the Ottomans in the late nineteenth century. The palace was built by Sultan Abdulaziz between 1863 and 1867, though the decorating was not completed until 1872. It marked the end of the contemporary Ottoman tradition of each s...
Undoubtedly the symbol of Rome, this magnificent ruin is indelibly linked to the past glory of the Roman Empire, and its subsequent decay and fall. It takes its name from the giant statue of the emperor Nero that once stood near this location. The amphitheatre was a project started by the emperor Vespasian in 72 CE and completed during his son Titus’ reign, seven years later. Not only is it imp...
The Temple Street Night Market at Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon is a must visit just to feel the atmosphere. It now opens by 4 pm and as evening approaches it is buzzing with activity. What one can buy is immaterial as there are a lot of fakes sold here, but it is a great place for bargaining for all things from T-shirts to electronics....