Damascus - the capital of Syria. One of the oldest cities in the world. He was first mentioned in the XVI century. BC (he was a list of Syrian cities, which were captured by the pharaoh of Egypt Tutmos I). For the first time given in the Bible in the story of Abraham. In the XV century. obeyed Pharaoh of Egypt, Thutmose III. In the 12 century. Damascus is one of the centers came from the north Aramean. In 11.8 cc. BC Damascus is the center of the kingdom of Damascus, that at the beginning of the tenth century, was seized by the Israeli King David. However, by mid-century it became independent. This lasted right up to most of his fall, when it was transformed (732) in the province of Assyria, waging a constant war with Israel. After 732 years visited Damascus in the Babylonians kingdom, the powers of Alexander of Macedon, Persia, who ruled Syria. The Roman general Pompey conquered Damascus in 64 BC After the partition of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western, at 4. AD became part of the last (Byzantium). In 635 they captured Arabs, and in 661-750 years. Damascus became the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate. Once the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate moved to Baghdad, Damascus became the center of the province. In 1174 Damascus was seized by the Egyptian sultan Salah ad-Din, who led the Muslims against the Crusaders, who three times (1125, 1129, 1148 gg.) Unsuccessfully tried to subjugate Damascus. In 1260 the Mongols captured Damascus in 1401 - Timur. In the Middle Ages Damascus was the center of crafts (making knives, textiles, jewelry, etc.) and the caravan trade. Armory damask probably got the name from the city of Damascus. She was taken the Crusaders to Europe from the Middle East. Damascus was in the Ottoman Empire from 1516 until the end of the First World War. With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 reduced the value passed through Damascus trade routes. Damascus in the years 1920-1941. became the main city of the French mandated territory of Syria. When in 1941 was proclaimed the independence of Syria, Damascus declared the capital of the state.

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The role performed by the main airport of Damascus International Airport Damascus (he is twenty-five kilometers from the city center), which has directions to many large cities in Asia, Europe, Africa and South America. At the airport there is room for both business and recreation room. Currently the country fly two airlines - "Aeroflot" (twice a week) and "The Syrian Airlines (once a week). To navigate the expanses of the country is very convenient to use the buses, tickets for which are very inexpensive, or you can use fairly inexpensive flights between major cities that offer a Syrian Airlines (an airline ticket cost only about thirty dollars). Better not take a car rental without a driver, as is a big problem intelligibility and readability of road signs. Until some attractions can be reached only by neasfaltirovannoy dirt road - without a native who knows the terrain will be very difficult to navigate. Streets in Damascus are often very narrow, especially with respect to the old districts of the city. Minibuses are the primary niche of public transport in Damascus. There are about a hundred lines operating through the city, and some of them even sent from the city center in the nearest suburbs.

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Military Museum in Damascus is one of the richest collections in the world of weapons vrevnih times and Middle Ages.
In the art of arms to Syria has always been a feature of manufacturing Shamov patterned damask blades (derived from the word "Sham" - one of the names of Syria in antiquity). This type of damask pattern, followed suit for Anosov, isolated in a special kind of many historians of weapons. It is formed by short, parallel to the edge, almost straight, sometimes gathered in small groups, dark lines on a light background. Indeed this sort of Bulat well known in Syria, calling his courtly "Elif sham" that is "noble, high sham". Contrary to the opinion of many historians of European weapons, which include champagne to cheap varieties of damask steel, the Syrians, he was reputed to be quite a few common and in most cases is estimated much more expensive than Persian blades and mesh patterns.
It seems that for at least several centuries, Damascus steel Damascus, and in general throughout Syria were not allowed, and the highest achievements of the Syrian gunsmiths are damask blades.

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Mount Kasyun, located at an altitude of 1155 m above sea level is not only one of the main decorations of Damascus, but also a place where the unfolding of the tradition (here, according to legend, Cain had slain Abel), and which formed the history of the city. At the half way up is not so long ago erected palace of Qasr Al-Shaab - the residence of the Syrian president. Nemnogim above, there are cafes and restaurants. With Kasyuna can see Mount Hermon - the highest point of the Golan Heights, which belongs to the 1967 war, Syria. Israel is to this mountain tracking Syria. Syria demands the return of the Golan Heights by Israel. This is one of the main demands made by Syria in the way of resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict.

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When a very long time on the ground, where the Umayyad Mosque located temples, which are dedicated to different gods. In place of these temples and had a mosque, which has organically blended in the face of the Cathedral of St. John. Other parts of the cathedral buildings have remained pristine and to this day. This mosque was built for ten years. The idea of building the mosque belongs to the Caliph Walid (the beginning of VIII century), which at one time owned the baths "Qasr Amra in Jordan. Magnificent mosaics decorate the mosque, it is covered with beautiful carpets. In the middle of the mosque, where prayers hall is located, is a chapel of John the Baptist. Experts say that in her head of the saint, which is cut off by order of Herod Antipas and Salome given as a reward for dancing, stantsovanny her in the palace, which was in short distance from the modern Jordanian Madaba is located today. But it is not the only shrine here: if you go from the chapel to the left, immediately placed the head of Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and a lock of hair of the Prophet - place of pilgrimage for Shiites. Vicinity of the entrance to the mosque is a small mausoleum, which is really legendary person Salah Eddin, who is the storm of the Crusaders and the founder of Ayyubid dynasty.

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Very interesting are the suburbs of Damascus. Nearby are the remains of the world-famous hanging gardens of Babylon, are one of the Seven Wonders of the World. At a distance of 36 km from Damascus on the rocky hill is located the tomb. They say that it buried the second son of Adam and Eve - Abel. According to legend, he was killed by his brother Cain.
In the suburbs of the capital there are many famous spa towns, such as Bludan, Zabadani, Bukeyn, Madaya, etc. But the main attractions of neighborhoods of Damascus is located 22 kilometers from Damascus at an altitude of 1450 meters above sea level Sednayskoy Orthodox Monastery of Our Lady, as well as small town, called Maalyulya having a female monastery of St. Thekla and the Church of St. Sergius, and 2 villages, in which - unique in the world, to this day speak of Western Aramaic dialect.
At a distance of 37 km from Damascus is famous monastery of the Virgin Mary, which was erected in 547 BC on a huge rock, 1500 m above sea level, on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. In this monastery contains large number of ancient icons in silver and gold-plated salaries. The most famous icon of them - a holy icon of the Virgin, which was written by Evangelist Luke. By the number of monuments of this Monastery in the Middle East (of course, after Jerusalem), a respectable second place. Not far from the monastery of the Virgin Mary has many small monasteries and churches, bearing the general name of "holy places of the Orthodox Church.

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Huge interest damask covered markets. Adjoining the Umayyad mosque prostrated market Suk-Hamid, who about 1000 years. About 3000 stalls, shops, shops housed in the covered galleries of the market. Market famous amazing art Syrian artisans - potters, engravers, tinkers. For sale is the famous Damascus swords, inlaid tables rugs, dishes, copper pots, coffee makers.
To the north, west and south of the Old City walls spread over the new part of Damascus. Is dominated by broad, straight streets, avenues, squares with monuments and fountains. Beautiful, rounded square shape is very typical for this part of town.
There are houses, consisting mainly of three or four floors, with windows, hiding in the depths of balconies and loggias. This type of homes are absolutely typical for any of the Southern contemporary South, and they can be seen on the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is richly landscaped new part of Damascus. Here are the parliament building, the palace of the Syrian Arab Republic, government agencies, banks, large firms, the National Museum, University of hotels, great shops, restaurants, cinemas.
A notable feature of Damascus is an abundance of distinctive men's clubs. They are placed among the commercial buildings or under the shade of trees in the parks. In such a cafe is not necessarily something to order. Here, just talking, smoking hookah, play backgammon, dominoes, cards.

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