A Traveler's Guide to Damascus

Damascus is the capital and largest city of Syria. Syria is located in the Middle East, north of Israel. It is one of the oldest permanently inhabited regions on the planet. The city is at a relatively high elevation (2,200 feet above sea level). It has been recently selected as the capital of Arab culture.

The high elevation of the city gives it a much cooler climate than other Middle Eastern cities. Summer temperatures are still warm, averaging in the upper 80's and low 90's Fahrenheit, but winter temperatures have been known to dip below freezing from time to time. November through February are the "rainy" months. Annual rainfall is fairly low in Damascus. The city receives around nine inches of rain annually.

Historically Damascus has been a very important trade center because of its location. In recent times, with changes in transportation technology, its importance has diminished somewhat. It is still a very important commercial hub for Syria however. The vast majority of the city's residents are Sunni Muslims. There are hundreds of mosques throughout the city. There is a fair representation of Christian churches in the city as well, the most notable of which is the Church of St. Paul.

There are several historical sites to be seen in Damascus. One of the most popular with foreign tourists is the Umayyad Mosque, which is one of the largest mosques in the world. Even though non-Muslim visitors are not allowed to enter the mosque proper, it is nonetheless magnificent to behold from outside. The Via Recta, or "the street called straight" is also a popular historical site. This road dates back to the time when the apostle Paul came to Damascus in the first century AD to persecute the Christian population there. This street is specifically mentioned in the Christian Bible.

Syrian food has become increasingly popular around the world. The most famous dishes are hummus, kibbeh, labneh, and ba'lawa among others. Ba'lawa is a sweet dish made of honey, nuts, and filo dough. Many middle eastern cultures have their own variety of ba'lawa but the Syrian version tends to be the most popular.

The city is served by Damascus International Airport which is located just over ten miles from the city center. Most international flights into Damascus come from Asia, Africa, and other Middle Eastern cities. Buses and taxis provide easy and efficient transportation around the city itself.