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Road Trips from DamascusHiking Trails Near Damascus |
Festivals and EventsArchitecture in Damascus |
1. LOCATION:
Damascus is located in the southwestern part of Syria, It sits within a fertile oasis on the eastern slopes of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range.
2. GEOGRAPHIC BORDERS:
The city is situated in a basin surrounded by the Anti-Lebanon mountains to the west and the desert to the east. The Barada River that passes through the City, played a vital role in the city's water supply historically.
3. SIGNIFICANCE IN HISTORY:
Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and the oldest capital City in the world, with a history spanning over 11,000 years. It has served as a major center for trade, culture, and politics throughout its long history with multiple successive civilisations passing through it.
"It was the capital of the Umayyad Empire in 661, which
extended from China in the east to Poitiers in south-eastern France
in the west." (Alabrash, 2019)
4. AREA:
The city of Damascus covers an area of approximately 105 square kilometers (40.6 square miles), making it one of the largest cities in Syria.
5. POPULATION AND DENSITY:
Before the Syrian conflict, Damascus was one of the most populous cities in the country, with over 2 million residents. right now and based on an estimate in 2022, the population is 2.5million.
6. LANGUAGE:
Arabic.
7. LANDMARKS:
1. Umayyad Mosque
2. Khan Assaad Pacha (my favorite)
3. Azem Palace
4. the Straight Street (Via Recta), an ancient Roman road mentioned in the Bible.
5. 7 gates of the Old City, Bab Touma and Bab Sharqui (The Eastern Gate)
5. Tkiyyeh Sulaymanyeh which is a Complex that was built under Sultan Sulayman's rule outside the old City on the Pilgrimage route.
8. ECONOMY:
Before the conflict, Damascus had a diverse economy that included manufacturing, agriculture, and trade. The city was known for producing textiles, food products, and handicrafts.
9. GASTRONOMY:
Damascus is renowned for its rich and flavourful Middle Eastern cuisine. Popular dishes include shawarma, falafel, kebabs, tabbouleh, Kebbeh, Hummus and baklawa. The city's food culture reflects its diverse and multicultural history.
What you can definitely try on the streets:
1. Shawerma Wraps (Chicken or Meat)
2. Falafel Wraps
3. Fatayer & mana'ish (Cheese pies, Zaatar Manakish, Muhammara and cheese manakish)
4. the big croissant in the old City (Quemaryeh)
Drinks:
1. Liquorice (arak Sous in arabic)
2. Ayran (Yogurt and Salt)
3. Lemon slush in the old city
4. Abu Abdo Cocktails in Salihiyyah
Desserts:
1. Knafeh Nabulsiyeh
2. Mhallayeh (yogurt/milk based pudding)
3. Dried apricots
4. Aba'ib (don't know what it's called in English)
5. Sugar coated Chickpeas.
10. FLAG AND LOGO
Damascus, like other Syrian cities, typically flies the national flag of Syria, which features three horizontal stripes of red, white, and black, with two green stars in the white stripe. The city may also use the Syrian national emblem, which includes two green ears of wheat, denoting agriculture, and a black hawk, representing Syria's strength.
There's also a logo on wikipedia that includes a Jasmine flower over two areas in yellow and green with a blue line intersecting them, the blue represents the Barada River I'm assuming.
Damascus is located in the southwestern part of Syria, It sits within a fertile oasis on the eastern slopes of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range.
2. GEOGRAPHIC BORDERS:
The city is situated in a basin surrounded by the Anti-Lebanon mountains to the west and the desert to the east. The Barada River that passes through the City, played a vital role in the city's water supply historically.
3. SIGNIFICANCE IN HISTORY:
Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and the oldest capital City in the world, with a history spanning over 11,000 years. It has served as a major center for trade, culture, and politics throughout its long history with multiple successive civilisations passing through it.
"It was the capital of the Umayyad Empire in 661, which
extended from China in the east to Poitiers in south-eastern France
in the west." (Alabrash, 2019)
4. AREA:
The city of Damascus covers an area of approximately 105 square kilometers (40.6 square miles), making it one of the largest cities in Syria.
5. POPULATION AND DENSITY:
Before the Syrian conflict, Damascus was one of the most populous cities in the country, with over 2 million residents. right now and based on an estimate in 2022, the population is 2.5million.
6. LANGUAGE:
Arabic.
7. LANDMARKS:
1. Umayyad Mosque
2. Khan Assaad Pacha (my favorite)
3. Azem Palace
4. the Straight Street (Via Recta), an ancient Roman road mentioned in the Bible.
5. 7 gates of the Old City, Bab Touma and Bab Sharqui (The Eastern Gate)
5. Tkiyyeh Sulaymanyeh which is a Complex that was built under Sultan Sulayman's rule outside the old City on the Pilgrimage route.
8. ECONOMY:
Before the conflict, Damascus had a diverse economy that included manufacturing, agriculture, and trade. The city was known for producing textiles, food products, and handicrafts.
9. GASTRONOMY:
Damascus is renowned for its rich and flavourful Middle Eastern cuisine. Popular dishes include shawarma, falafel, kebabs, tabbouleh, Kebbeh, Hummus and baklawa. The city's food culture reflects its diverse and multicultural history.
What you can definitely try on the streets:
1. Shawerma Wraps (Chicken or Meat)
2. Falafel Wraps
3. Fatayer & mana'ish (Cheese pies, Zaatar Manakish, Muhammara and cheese manakish)
4. the big croissant in the old City (Quemaryeh)
Drinks:
1. Liquorice (arak Sous in arabic)
2. Ayran (Yogurt and Salt)
3. Lemon slush in the old city
4. Abu Abdo Cocktails in Salihiyyah
Desserts:
1. Knafeh Nabulsiyeh
2. Mhallayeh (yogurt/milk based pudding)
3. Dried apricots
4. Aba'ib (don't know what it's called in English)
5. Sugar coated Chickpeas.
10. FLAG AND LOGO
Damascus, like other Syrian cities, typically flies the national flag of Syria, which features three horizontal stripes of red, white, and black, with two green stars in the white stripe. The city may also use the Syrian national emblem, which includes two green ears of wheat, denoting agriculture, and a black hawk, representing Syria's strength.
There's also a logo on wikipedia that includes a Jasmine flower over two areas in yellow and green with a blue line intersecting them, the blue represents the Barada River I'm assuming.