Syria

Overview

Syria ( Arabic : الجمهوريّة العربيّة السّوريّة al-Jumhūriyyah al-ʿArabiyyah as-Sūriyyah , the Syrian Arab Republic) is a country in the Middle East . Rich in history, the capital, Damascus , is the world's oldest continuously inhabited city, and the country has been the site of numerous empires.

Syria was known as Aram in ancient times, and was one of the great civilizations of the Fertile Crescent . Some of the oldest still-inhabited cities in the world are in Syria, like Aleppo and Damascus. Later, Damascus was the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate during the early days of the Islamic Golden Age , and Aleppo was one of the most important cities for the Silk Route in the Ottoman Empire . After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, following World War I, France was given a League of Nations mandate over Syria. Shortly following its independence after World War II in 1945, Syria participated in the first war against the newly independent Israel in 1948. It participated in subsequent wars with the Israeli state in 1967, as a result of which it lost most of the Golan Heights , and 1973.

Culture and food

Falafel , deep-fried chickpea patties, are available. Another popular vegetarian meal is Foul. Don't let the name put you off. It's pronounced "fool," and this fava bean paste – topped with cumin, paprika, and olive oil and served with flatbread, fresh mint, and onion – is tasty, satisfying, and filling.

You may also order a salad of Fatoush with your soup. Chopped tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and herbs are mixed in a dressing and finished with a sprinkling of fried bread resembling croutons. Cheese may also be grated on top.

Syrians also have a well-honed sweet tooth, with its desserts being largely similar to that of Lebanon , Jordan and the Palestinians . Syria is particularly known for its local style of ice cream, with Damascus ice cream shop Bakdash having been continuously in business for over a century. Other Syrian desserts to try include baklava, a pastry made of filo dough, nuts and syrup, and knafeh, made of kataifi and cheese.

Tea is served in a little glass without milk, sweetened with sugar. Add the sugar yourself, as the Syrians have a collective sweet tooth and will heap it in.

Syria is a traditional society with a long cultural history. Importance is placed on family, religion, education, self-discipline and respect. Syrians' taste for the traditional arts is expressed in dances such as the al-Samah, the Dabkeh in all their variations, and the sword dance. Marriage ceremonies and the births of children are occasions for the lively demonstration of folk customs.

Planning your route

All licensed taxis carry meters, and it is best to insist that the driver put the meter on and watch it stay on. Most drivers expect to haggle prices with foreigners, and the pricing may be horrible.

Other options include taxi apps (Yallago being the most popular one), which probably are cheaper, and private cab services (which advertise prominently at the airport), which charge substantially more.

Visitors can rent cars at various Sixt, Budget, and Europcar locations. Cham Tours (formerly Hertz) has an office next to the Cham Palace Hotel, which offers competitive rates starting at about US$50 per day, including tax, insurance, and unlimited kilometers.

If you have never driven in Syria before, take a taxi first to get a first-hand idea of what traffic is like. Especially in Damascus and Aleppo, near-constant congestion, a very aggressive driving style, bad roads, and highly dubious quality of road signs make driving there an exciting experience, so err on the side of caution when traveling.

Sights and landscapes

Syria is the twenty-fifth-largest country in Asia . It borders Turkey to the north; Iraq to the east and southeast; Jordan to the south; Israel and Lebanon to the southwest; and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Syrian territory covers 185,180 km 2 (71,500 sq mi). Elevation ranges from the coastal plains of the Mediterranean to the mountains of western Syria, with Mount Hermon being the country's highest point at 2,814 metres (9,232 feet). Much of central and eastern Syria consists of arid plateaus and desert regions, including parts of the Syrian desert , while the fertile valleys of the Euphrates , Orontes , and Khabur rivers support agriculture and settlement. Significant natural resources include petroleum , natural gas, phosphate rock , asphalt, marble , gypsum , and arable land.

Syria's climate varies from the humid Mediterranean coast, through a semi-arid steppe zone, to arid desert in the east. The country consists mostly of arid plateau, although the northwest part bordering the Mediterranean is fairly green. Al-Jazira in the northeast and Hauran in the south are important agricultural areas. The Euphrates , Syria's most important river, crosses the country in the east. Syria is one of the fifteen states that comprise the so-called " cradle of civilization ". Its land straddles the northwest of the Arabian plate .

Petroleum in commercial quantities was first discovered in the northeast in 1956. The most important oil fields are those of al-Suwaydiyah, Karatchok, Rmelan near al-Hasakah , as well as al-Omar and al-Taym fields near Deir ez-Zor . The fields are a natural extension of the Iraqi fields of Mosul and Kirkuk . Petroleum became Syria's leading natural resource and chief export after 1974. Natural gas was discovered at the field of Jbessa in 1940.

Travel guide text compiled and adapted from Wikivoyage article (contributors) and Wikipedia article (contributors). Sections were selected and reordered for this guide. Text is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Check current arrangements with your travel consultant.