Damascus - Damasco

Damascus (دمشق) is the capital of Syria and its largest city, with around 4.5 million people - but what Damascus is really famous for is its reputation as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Its old town, a maze of narrow streets, is full of enigmatic doors that lead to pleasant, calm gardens and whitewashed houses. Strolling through the old town is taking a step back in time and, despite the increase in tourism and traffic, it remains one of the country's biggest attractions, as well as the religious and social center of the city.

Understand

Damascus sits on a plateau situated 690 meters above sea level, and is bordered by the Anti-Lebanon mountain range to the west and the Syrian desert to the east. The city is located in the oasis of Ghutah and the water that supplies it comes from the Barada River. Despite being geographically close to the Mediterranean, the mountain range isolates Damascus from the coast and forces the city to face east.

Climate

Damascus has a semi-arid climate, due to the rain shadow effect of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains and ocean currents. Summers are dry and hot with low humidity. Winters are mild and (comparatively) rainy, sometimes with snowfall. The maximum and minimum temperatures in January are 12.6 °C and 0.4 °C, with the lowest temperature ever recorded being -13.5 °C. July's maximum and minimum temperatures are 36.5 °C and 16.9 °C, with the highest temperature ever recorded at 45.5 °C. Annual rainfall is around 134 mm, occurring from November to March.

History

Its first historical reference occurred in the 15th century BC when it was conquered by Pharaoh Thutmosis III. According to the Old Testament, it was the capital of the Aramean Kingdom in the 11th century BC. In the 10th century BC, it began to be attacked and went to war with several other kingdoms, including the Hebrews and the Assyrians. Finally, in 732 BC, it was conquered by Tiglath Pileser II. A few years after the fall of the Assyrian capital, Nineveh, the Kingdom of Damascus was destroyed by Babylon.

Damascus was conquered from the Persians in 333 BC by Parmenio, one of Alexander the Great's generals. It later fell under the rule of the Seleucid Empire, which came into dispute with the Ptolemies, who ruled the Egypt. In 66 BC BC, it was occupied by Pompeii and belonged to the province of Syria.

The Bab Sharqi, the east gate of the city, through which Khaled Ibn al Waleed entered when he conquered Damascus.

It was on the way to Damascus that St. Paul, who was sent to kill Christians, had a divine revelation. He was approached by Jesus who sent him to Judas' house. There he met Ananias and they prayed together for Christ.

In the Byzantine Empire, Damascus was an important base to guard the Syrian Desert, but it was sacked by the Sasanians. Damascus was later besieged by Muslims in 635, and taken by Khaled Ibn al Waleed in 636. This meant a drastic move to a city as it moved from Byzantium and Christianity to the East and Islam.

The most glorious time in the city's history was the first decades of Islam, when it became the capital of an empire that stretched from the Atlantic coast to Central Asia, the Umayyad Empire. This golden age ended the Abbasids, who moved the capital to Baghdad. Since then, it has come under the influence of various kingdoms and caliphates, the most important being the Fatimid Caliphate. It later returned to its glory days, when Saladin conquered it from the Fatimids and began the Ayyubid Dynasty. At that time he was at war with the Franks (the Crusaders). Several monuments built by Nur al Din and Saladin are still the pride of Damascus.

In 1260 it was taken by the Mamluks, who pushed the Mongols away. In 1516, the Ottomans of Turkey defeated the Mamluks and controlled the city and kingdom until World War I. After World War I, Damascus was liberated in 1918 by an Arab contingent under the command of General Allenby's British Army. The Syrian National Congress was formed in 1919 under the patronage of Emir Faisal. He was declared King of Syria in 1920, and a month later was defeated by the French in the name of the League of Nations.

After strong resistance and some riots, Syria was proclaimed independent by the French general Catroux on September 16, 1941. This did not take effect until 1946, and since then it has been developing and industrializing itself, while its political role has been strengthened due to increased centralization.

To arrive

By airplane

Control Tower - Damascus International Airport.

The busiest airport in Syria it's the Damascus International Airport. There are domestic flights to Aleppo, Deir-ez-Zur, Qamishli and occasionally Latakia, costing approximately 1000 SP one way.

Of Rio de Janeiro through the Emirates, with daily flights and connection in Dubai.

The airport is relatively well equipped with most basic services. There are some stores, with very low prices, especially perfumeries. Various products, such as Lebanese wine, arak (an anise-flavored alcoholic drink) and others are cheaper at the airport than in the city.

Getting currency exchange at the airport can be difficult because money changers only accept US dollars. There are two ATMs in the main hall that accept foreign credit and debit cards, but they tend to be unreliable. It is best to bring a small amount of US dollars with you and exchange money at the airport until you can get money from the ATMs in Damascus.

Taxi prices are very high because nowadays only taxi companies (to pick up people) are allowed at the airport. The cost of a taxi from the airport to the city is around 500 SP, however prices may vary depending on your ability to travel. haggle.

There are also buses running to and from the Baramkeh bus terminal in the city center (airport buses are the only ones serving this bus station at present - all other services have been moved to the new Soumaria bus terminal outside from the city center). The price is 45 SP 25 for luggage and buses leave every half hour, all day long. At the airport, exit the terminal and turn right; find the bus at the end of the building. There is a small ticket office. In recent years, buses have been improved and are currently very good.

The bus leaves you a bit far from the Old Town, but there are plenty of taxis to take you there. Make sure you use the meter, and you must pay less than 50 SP, depending on traffic.

By train/train

There are train services to and from Aleppo, making stops in men and Hama. One of the trains continues to Qamishli via raqqa, Deir ez zoor and Hassaka. There are also trains to Latakia, stopping at Homs and tartus. However, buses or taxis are more convenient. Syrian trains are slow and make many stops. Despite this, the Damascus-Aleppo train is good. The main train station is in Qadam, a southern suburb. There are microbus services on the Qadam-Assali route between Qadam and Sharia al-Thawra in the city centre.

International

There are weekly sleeper trains to Istanbul (35-36 hours) and tehran (60 hours). There are also bi-weekly trains to Love (very slow, usually requires a change of trains at the border).

Of boat

Port and beach of Latakia.

Due to the unrest in the area, and the decline in demand in recent years, there are no longer ferries between Latakia, the country's main port and the closest to Damascus, and Alexandria (Egypt), Beirut (Lebanon) or bodrum (Turkey).

However, the port is heavily used by luxury cruisers operating in the Mediterranean. Embarking on a cruise in Latakia is nearly impossible, however. Government officials may require stamps from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassy, ​​depending on their mood.

By bus/bus

Damascus is well served by buses. There are two bus stations: the west station serves west and south destinations (including Love and Beirut), while the northern station serves northern destinations (including Aleppo).

There are frequent buses to Amman, on the Jordan, which take about four hours and cost approximately 6-9JOD.

Hatay Turizm operates frequent buses from Antakya, at Turkey. You can also catch one in Istanbul. Usually you will have to book the seat one or more days in advance, and although prices vary, you can get a bus ticket for 80 TYL.

When arriving in Damascus by bus, be sure to depart from the bus station and find a taxi in the center. If you do, you risk paying a much higher price than normal, which would be SYP150-200, because there are many cars pretending to be taxis in the terminal. This is usually a two-man scheme; one distracts him, the other puts his luggage in the trunk of the "taxi" and locks it.

If you arrive at the west station, bus number 15 takes you to Al-Marjeh Square in the Old Town (where you can find many hotels) for 10 SYP.

By taxi

You can take a shared taxi from Love or Irbid at Jordan. Depending on the political situation, there is also a service for Beirut and other points of Lebanon, as well as some destinations in the Iraq. Since Baramkeh Station closed, these shared taxis leave from Soumaria, about 10-15 minutes from the center of Damascus, following the Autostrade Mezzeh. Buses n^you 15 and 21 take you to Soumaria station from the bus station after Matry's Place.

Circular

During peak hours (10:00-16:00), the best way to get around is on foot. Smoking is absolutely prohibited on any form of public transport.

On foot

Souq al-Hamidiyya, one of the busiest "streets" in the city.

Walking is a great idea, especially if you're seeing the city's monuments, and it's the only means of transport in the Old Town of Damascus. However, walk in the new part of the city, only in the Maliki and Abu-Rumaneh areas, as the new city is usually full of pollution. Drivers in Damascus are not very responsible, so be careful walking around the city, especially in the new part.

By bus/bus

Minibuses, also known as you serve, are one of the main means of transport in Damascus. All journeys within the city cost 10 £S (approximately €0.33 or $0.75). You can go from one place to another in the city without having to change buses or, if you need to, very few times. When getting on the bus, give any passenger a coin to pass it to the driver and return the change, but remember to tell that passenger how many people you are paying for, if you are in a group, or if you are paying "for a" ("waahid") if you are alone. The route is written (in Arabic) on the bus sign. Minibuses don't usually have fixed stops except in very busy places, simply wave to the driver when you want to stop.

There are many buses in the city which, like the minibuses, cost £10. A very useful bus is #15, which runs from Al-Marjeh Square (Souq Sarouja Old Town) to the West Bus Terminal, which serves Beirut and Love.

By taxi

Taxis abound in Damascus, making them a great means of transport. the taxis of star taxi, a new private company, are more expensive than regular taxis, but are also safer and more comfortable. You can call Star Taxi headquarters, who will send you to the nearest taxi that will meet you. Taxis with the logo of the Muhafazat of Damascus on the door and a number on the roof usually has a meter, and it's best to only use them when you're trying to catch a taxi on the street. It is customary to leave a tip £S10 in addition to the amount shown on the meter. At night, taxi drivers do not usually use the meter, so it is best to negotiate the price before entering.

By car

It is not a very good idea to rent a car in Damascus. There is almost always a traffic jam, especially in summer, and parking is very difficult to find, although this does not happen in the suburbs.

Look

Umayyad Mosquida.

The city's biggest tourist attraction is the medieval historic centre, surrounded by about 5km of walls, with the Umayyad Mosque at its centre. It's a great place to get lost in its labyrinthine streets and bustling souqs, admiring wonderful palaces, madrasahs, caravanserai and mosques, or spending time in one of its many cafes

• (سوق الحميدية) (in front of the Umayyad Mosque). A covered avenue, with hundreds of tiny shops, whose entrance is made up of the ruins of an ancient Roman temple in the Umayyad Mosque square. The souq reeks of cumin and other spices and you can find sections devoted to everything from leather clothing and copper goods to silk scarves and inlaid boxes. 
• (also called Umayyad Mosque; جامع بني أمية الكبير, Ğām' Banī 'Umayyah al-Kabīr) (in front of the Souq al-Hamidiyya). Leaving the Souq al-Hamidiyya, he meets the grandiose Umayyad mosque; this building with three minarets is an architectural marvel. It was an Assyrian temple, then a Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter, a church when Pomegranate converted to Christianity, a church and a mosque at the same time, and finally a mosque to this day. All the symbols from those times are still there and you can still see some Christian designs on the walls of the mosque. The mosque contains the tomb of St. John the Baptist (for Muslims, the prophet Yahya). Women have to cover their head, arms and legs. The entry price (£S50) includes a abaya (tunics that cover the whole body). Despite being one of the holiest places in Islam, the mosque welcomes foreign tourists, who are allowed to circulate in the prayer area. 

Statue of Salah al-Din at night; in the background, the Citadel of Damascus.

• (قلعة دمشق‎, Qala'at Dimashq), Aal Al Bait Street (near the west exit of Souq al-Hamidiyya). At the opposite end of the Souq al-Hamidiyya is a part of the fort-looking city wall, the Citadel (although the Citadel of Aleppo is more beautiful and impressive, it is a place to visit anyway). 
• (تمثال صلاح الدين الأيوبي), Aal Al Bait Street (in front of the Citadel). Near the Citadel you can visit the Statue of Salah al-Din, known in the West as Saladin, the military chief who fought the Crusaders. Located right on the edge of the Citadel, it is a huge statue to take your breath away. If you walk around it, you can see two downed Frenchmen under the horse's slightly raised tail. These two knights are, according to the inscription, Guy de Lusignan, King of Jerusalem, and Reynald de Chatillon, Lord of Kerak, an important stronghold of the Holy Land. Both were captured during Saladin's victory at Hattin; Guy was imprisoned in Damascus and eventually released, but Reynald was executed as punishment for his many atrocities. 
• , 6 Tishreen Street (in the suburbs). Situated in the suburbs, well worth a visit. It was built with the help of the Government. North Korean, whose influence is obvious in the style of construction. There is an exhibition of military material abroad. You can pay a guide to show you around the museum, in Arabic or English. Approximately £S 327 (approximately €5.45). 

Azem Palace.

• (قصر العظم) (near the Umayyad Mosque to the south). One of the most beautiful palaces in the city, this palace belonged to an 18th century Ottoman governor, Assad Pasha al-Azem, and has several rooms illustrating traditional crafts and culture. 
• (المتحف الوطني بدمشق), Avenue of An Nasr & Street of Al Jamiaa (in the new part of the city). The museum has many treasures from Syria's magnificent archaeological sites, including sculptures and jewels from Palmyra, the 2nd century Synagogue of Dura Europos which has been rebuilt inside the museum, the world's first alphabet in Ugaritic tablets and mysterious statues of Mari priests. 
• (الشارع المستقيم‎ Al-Shāri` al-Mustaqīm). Rua Direita, called by the Romans Straightway, has been the main east-west artery of the city since the Hellenistic/Roman era. On the outskirts of this street you can find the grandiose houses of the Christian Quarter, most of them converted into bars and restaurants. At the end is the Roman gate of Bab Sharqi, and near the Underground Chapel of St. Ananias, where Ananias is believed to have housed St. Paul after his conversion to Christianity. The Chapel of São Paulo marks the place where São Paulo descended the wall to escape his Roman pursuers. 
• (Very close to Sharia al-Mu'awiya). The Maristan Nur ad-Din is a 12th century asylum, used until the 19th century. Patients were soothed by music and the noise of water from the fountains. It is currently an interesting museum of medicine, which shows how the Arabs were advanced in this area. 
• (التكية السليمانية Tekkiye as-Sulaymaniyye), Sharia Shoukri al-Quwatly (on the banks of the River Barada). This wonderful mosque was built by the Ottoman Sultan Sultan Sultan the Magnificent and built by its main architect, Sinan, in a mixture of Turkish and Syrian styles. Nearby is a tekke or monastery, which is now strangely crammed with army planes, and Selimiye Madrasah, a center for local crafts. 

Knife

Events

• Syrian International Rally[1] (June) - Three-day rally, starting in Damascus and passing through the entire country, organized by Clube Automóvel Sírio.
• International Flower Exhibition (July/August) - Florists and nature lovers gather each year in Teshreen Park for the capital's annual flower festival.
• Jazz Lives in Syria[2] (August) - Annual jazz festival, lasting four days and incorporating national and international talent. It takes place in the Citadel of Damascus.
• Damascus Film Festival[3][4] (November) - At the Omayyad Conference Palace and several cinemas in the city centre.
• Ramadan - The ninth month of the Muslim calendar (the date changes every year). Muslims abstain from food, drink and sex between sunrise and sunset, and evenings are spent eating, socializing, shopping and strolling in the old town.
• Eid al Fitr - Feast that takes place at the end of Ramadan to celebrate the end of the fast.
• Eid al Adha (November) - Also called the festival of sacrifice, starts on November 27th. The festival follows the annual Islamic pilgrimage and commemorates the ordeals of the prophet Abraham.

Activities

The city at night, seen from Mount Qasioun.

Hammam in Damascus.

• See the city from Mount Qasioun - It is an essential activity in Damascus as it offers a fantastic view of the city. The peak is accessible 24 hours a day, although the view is more spectacular at night, when the entire city is lit up and the minarets of the mosques are lit up with a green light. The Umayyad Mosque is a particularly impressive view from the mountain. There is a good range of food and refreshments at the peak, from street stalls to fine restaurants serving good local food and alcohol. However, check the price before entering - a very common scam in Damascus is for a taxi driver to take you to his 'favourite' café, where you end up paying over £500 for a cup of tea.
• Visit a restaurant in the Old Town - There are many restaurants in the old town, each with its unique charisma, but the most famous (and touristic) is probably "Beit Jabri", although "Al-Khawali" is for many the best restaurant in the historic center . Another restaurant, the "Narcissus Palace", situated near the Umayyad Mosque, offers a fantastic experience. Every night, a singer and band play ancient Arabic music, creating a fantastic atmosphere in the restaurant.
• bathe in a hammam, ie a Turkish Bath. - The Nur-al-Din Baths (between Azem Palace and Direita Street) and Bakri Baths (first street on the right after entering the Old Town via the Bab Touma) are two baths that are used to receive tourists Westerners. A visit to either of these costs £500, including towels, soap and a massage. Nur-al-Din's only allow men; Bakri's may allow women to book in advance.
• relax in a cafe hook - the coffees hook they are popular in Damascus and easy to find. The Old Town is full of these, and it's here that you'll find the most traditional cafes. You'll probably find a crowd of men drinking tea and playing backgammon, all of them smoking hooka. In the modern part of the city, most of the cafes are aimed at young people and are an important part of the city's nightlife, offering a huge variety of tobacco with various flavors, from apple flavor, the most common, to cappucino flavor . In almost all the main restaurants you can find hooks, including in the restaurants in the old town.

Learn

Arabic

There are several places where you can learn Arabic in Damascus:

• University of Damascus Language Institute[5] - The Language Institute is one of the best Arabic schools in the city; course materials and all interaction between students and teachers is done in Arabic. Students are grouped according to their abilities (assessed by a test) into one of three groups: beginners, intermediate and advanced.
• ma'had[6] - This state-run language academy is located in the Mezze district of Damascus. It is the cheapest option, although the courses are not as good as those at the Language Institute at the University of Damascus.
• British Council - Classes are expensive, and are mainly aimed at diplomats and businessmen.
• Standard Arabic Damascene Language School[7] - The school provides basic courses for beginners and advanced, some of which are aimed at journalists, doctors, diplomats, engineers, etc. Normal classes have a maximum of 4 students. You can also take private lessons with a teacher. Twice a year, certain courses are available for half price. Teachers have experience teaching foreigners. Basic courses start every Saturday.
• Arabic Studies in Damascus[8] - Offer various courses in Arabic.
• TikaTrip - Travel and Studies in Syria[9] - Offers private Arabic tutors as well as professional language teachers and all important services: including a car to pick you up from the airport, accommodation and advice on dealing with bureaucracy.

Buy

Damascus is one of the best shopping destinations in the middle East. Prices are low, and since few stores rely on tourists to make a profit, they leave you alone to browse the store until you're ready to shop. You can find small shops throughout the old town, although the Souq al-Hamidiyya have the highest concentration of stores. The souq is a fantastic thing to see, but be prepared for the crowds.

Markets

The great Souq al-Hamidiyya is the most famous souq in Syria. Full of spices, sweets and soaps, as well as rose water, a local specialty, and almond flavored ice cream with pistachios on top, available at the oldest ice cream shop in the country, Bakdash. Souq al-Bazuriye is good for spices and confectionery.

Comercial centers

If you are looking for shopping malls, Damasquino Mall is your destination, next to the Cham Center in Kafr Sousah, where you can buy local handicrafts at fixed prices.

key areas

The best place to look for handicrafts is Tekkiye Suleymaniyye, where it has fixed prices, Souq al-Hamidiyya and the streets around the Umayyad Mosque, where you need to negotiate the price. The east end of Rua Direita, near Bab Sharqi, has many antiques and carpet vendors.

The George Dabdoub, in Azem Palace square in the Old Town, has an excellent range of antique rugs, textiles and pottery, as well as antique furniture. It is closed on Saturdays. Ghraoui, in Sharia al-Joumhouria, is famous throughout the Arab world for its excellent chocolates, stuffed dates, and candied fruits.

hours

Shop hours in Damascus vary, but most are open between 9:30 am and 7:00 pm, with some stores closing between 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm, especially in summer. Souqs are closed on Fridays, except in the Christian Quarter, where they close on Sundays.

With the

A typical Damascene dish is the fatteh, made from stewed bread, yogurt and chickpeas. Delicious and very satisfying, it is excellent on a cold winter day. Try it with a sheep's or goat's tongue, or plain with pickles and nuts.

O shawarma is obviously popular in Damascus. There are many different varieties, including chicken and beef.

If you want to experience authentic Syrian food, visit Midan, a section of Damascus. It is south of the Old Town and can be easily accessed by walking from the western entrance to Souq al-Hamidiyya or from Bab Saghir. There is a main street called Jazmatiya which offers lots of stalls for sale. shawarma and chickpea nuggets, butchers, restaurants and many pastry shops, which stand out from the rest of the stores for their two and a half meter candy "towers". This street must be visited at night and is always very busy (although it is a very safe street) until around 3:00.

Economic

the famous sandwich of chickpea nuggets (15-30 £S), the shawarma chicken (30-50 £S) and manakeesh (10-20 £S; bread stuffed with za'atar, spinach, meat, tomato and cheese or other fillings) are available all over town and are inexpensive. Less common, but also very common in the city, are the stores that sell foul (boiled beans with sauce) and hummus.

Station One (near Noura Supermarket in Abu Rumaneh) is one of the many restaurants in town that serve shawarma.

Another very popular food is the camel kebab, available from butchers near Bab Saghir. As they usually hang a camel's head to advertise what they sell, it's unlikely you won't see them.

All over the city you can find natural juice stands. The orange juices (aasir beerdan) cost between 30-50 £S, other fruits are slightly more expensive. Some of these stalls also sell a variety of dishes, such as hot dogs, sojouq (Armenian sausage) and meat (Kebab, etc.). This food may not be very "safe".

When eating at stalls, be careful as unpeeled fruits and vegetables can cause infections. To be safer, go to newsstands that are full of people.

The area around Martyr Square has pastries serving the best, sweetest, tastiest and cheapest baklava on Earth.

Eating in empty places is a bad idea; only restaurants with lots of people can be considered safe, in any other you can suffer food poisoning from the sandwiches. shawarma or another product (especially in summer), so be careful!

• , Souq Saroujah. A restaurant of fast food which serves good pizzas, sandwiches, hamburgers and fries. A large plate of French fries costs £50, a chicken-stuffed sandwich £75 and a pizza for one person £110.. 

• , Najmeh square (After Dar Salam school, take the 1st right, 3rd store), ☎ 963113331427. A very cozy restaurant serving authentic Italian pizza, made in a traditional oven. The interior decor is lovely. The specialty is pizza, but it also serves salads, pasta dishes, and starters. Does not serve alcohol. Il Forno Pizzeria also delivers and makes sure the food arrives hot. $6-$15. 

• , Midan (south of center), ☎ 963 11 212 1111. The best damask sandwiches, and great shawarma. 

• (near Cham Palace, follow the street in the direction of Jisr-al-rais, turn right on the street in front of the Adidad store). A great restaurant, with wholemeal bread sandwiches and Apple strudel. 4 € - 8 €. 

Medium

• , Sharia al-Abed - Damascus Center, ☎ 963 11 221-1555. This restaurant offers the basics of the cuisine of the middle East, including mezze and a variety of grilled meats. There is a separate section for families. Alcohol is not served, and credit cards are accepted. 
• , Sharia Medhat Pasha. This restaurant serves folder decent and good pizzas, but also antipasti and alcohol. The service is sometimes not very good, but it's worth it to try authentic Italian food. There is no menu, order any Italian dish you want and they are likely to know how to do it. 
• (near Bab Sharqi and Pizza Pasta). It serves traditional Arab dishes, which are very tasty and inexpensive. 
• , Midhat Basha, Old Town (near Beit Jabri). The quality of the food generates discussions: some like it, others not so. But without a doubt wue has the best lemon and mint juice in Damascus, and if you want, you can just drink and not eat. 
• . A great place to have coffee. It has everything, including espressos. Full of intellectuals and bluetooth in the air. Several stores in town, including: 
  • Airport. 
  • Bab Touma Shopping Center. 
  • Abu Romanih (Souq al-Kheir). 
• , Rashad Jabri Street, Old Town (Departing from Bab Touma, go up the stairs to the police station and ask for the way.). You can eat fried foods or French cheese. Reasonably cheap, very welcoming. Alcohol is served. SYP 1300- SYP 2600. 
• , Jisr al-Abiad. Daily and "homemade" Arabic food. An excellent restaurant but unfortunately does not serve alcohol. 
• (near the italian hospital). A nice little cafe with the best coffee in town. great pancakes and muffins. A good place to escape the Damascene hustle. 

waste

• , Abu Rumaneh (near the Noura Supermarket. Walk from Jisr al-Rais towards Mount Qasioun; it's on your right). The best pizza in Damascus, the rest of the dishes are also excellent. Alcohol is not served. 

• , Bab Touma (Go up the stairs at the edge of the police station and follow the signs). One of the most popular restaurants in town, with excellent mezze. Western dishes are not so good, but the kebabs they're nothing special either. It is always full of friendly people, and younger than other restaurants. Do not serve alcohol during Ramadan. 

• (near the Four Seasons Hotel). The best Indian restaurant in Damascus. It has excellent set menus for S£600, or you can have dinner a la carte. The president ate here twice. 

• , Damascus Boulevard (on the edge of the Four Seasons). A themed cafe, part of Rotana Audio Visuals, which is probably the most famous recording studio in the Arab world. The head of Rotana is Prince Walid bin Talal. The food is great as well as the hookah (Look Activities). Some people say Rotana is the best coffee hook from the city, with many western dishes, all cooked by chefs internationally renowned. The view from this cafe is great, with Mount Qassioun and the rest of Beirut Street visible. There is also a gift shop and a music shop on the 1st floor. 

• , Abu Rumaneh (on the edge of the United Colors of Benneton). A nice cafe offering Italian food, hooks, and all kinds of coffee, including traditional Turkish coffee. 

• , Souq al-Abbabiyya - Old Town Center, ☎ 963 11 544-5900. Leila's Restaurant and Terrace has terrace seating with a fantastic view of the Umayyad Mosque. The restaurant serves traditional Arabic food; no entanto, esse tipo de comida não aparece no menu. Pergunte ao empregado. 

• , Sharia as-Sawwaf, 14 - Centro da Cidade Velha, ☎ 963 11 544-3200. Restaurante favorito entre locais e turistas, este café oferece clássicos da cozinha síria. Situa-se no pátio de uma elegante casa damascena. 

• , Sharia al-Kineesa - Centro de Damasco, ☎ 963 11 543-3999. Oferece uma combinação de cozinha síria e de cozinha francesa. Embora sirvam álcool, não se aceitam cartões de crédito. O Arabesque é um típico restaurante elegante, por isso é mais apropriado trazer roupa semi-formal. 

• , Sharia al-Amar Izzedin al-Jazzari - Centro de Damasco, ☎ 963 11 332-2321. Este moderno restaurante oferece uma grande variedade de sanduíches, saladas, e sumos frescos. Fala-se mais o francês que o árabe. O interior está ricamente decorado ao estilo escandinavo. 

drink and go out

Os cafés da Cidade Velha são um ponto a visitar. As horas podem passar muito facilmente com uma chávena de shay (chá) ou ahwa (café) e o fumo de um nargileh (uma espécie de cachimbo). O An-Naufara (que significa "A Fonte") é um fantástico local para passar o tempo, no coração da cidade velha, a este e muito perto da Mesquita das Omíadas. Existe até mesmo um Hakawati (um contador de histórias tradicionais) presente às 19h00 na maior parte das noites.

Se estiver com vontade de beber um café ao estilo europeu, dirija-se para a rua de Abu Rumaneh e procure pela loja da Bennetton. Na área encontra um grande número de cafés elegantes, incluindo um da cadeia Inhouse Coffee, que é muito semelhante ao Starbucks do Ocidente, em preços e atmosfera. One latte grande ou cappuccino custa cerca de S£ 135. Em todas as lojas da Inhouse Coffe é oferecia internet Wi-Fi grátis.

Para além destes, pode encontrar muitos bares e discotecas em Damasco, mais recentemente. Estes estão normalmente cheios de gente à noite, mas mesmo assim garantem álcool e dança todas as noites.

sleep

O Souq al-Saroujah é onde existe a maior quantidade de hotéis económicos. THE Praça dos Mártires ou "Merjeh" em árabe é outro local a se dirigir se estiver com pouco dinheiro nas mãos, embora muitos dos "hotéis" também sejam bordéis. No entanto, pelo menos os de baixo são recomendados. Mulheres que viajem sozinhas devem evitar hotéis na Praça de Merjeh, porque é a zona de prostituição da cidade.

A maior parte dos hotéis que em Damasco alegam ter 5 estrelas, é para o mundo ocidental um hotel de duas estrelas. O governo sírio é que dá as estrelas aos hotéis seguindo um método de avaliação altamente suspeito, que atribui um número absurdamente elevado a hotéis que pertencem a cadeias sírias ou que pagaram "baksheesh" (subornos) ás autoridades. Devido às relações conflituosas com os U.S, cartões de crédito ligados a bancos americanos não serão aceites (o que quer dizer que praticamente todos os cartões de crédito do mundo não são aceites).

Economic

Praça de Merjeh

• , Sharia Bahsa, Souq al-Saroujah (numa atractiva rua lateral a cerca de 5-10 minutos da cidadela), ☎ 963 11 231-8374, email: [email protected]. Tem um pátio atractivo, e quartos limpos. Pequeno almoço incluído no preço. Os empregados são prestáveis e conseguem arranjar-lhe visitas guiadas e outras "necessidades turísticas". Não é permitido trazer álcool para o estabelecimento. 600 £S por um quarto partilhado (preços de Abril de 2010), 1200 £S por um duplo com casa-de-banho partilhada, 1600 £S por um quarto duplo com casa-de-banho privada (preços de Janeiro de 2009). Pode também dormir num colchão no telhado durante o Verão por 400 £S.. 

• , Sharia Omar Ben Abi Rabia, ☎ 963 963 11 2219375, 00963 11 2210024NOCC, fax: 00963 112453817NOCC, email: [email protected]. 

• , Sharia Bahsa, Souq al-Saroujah (a seguir ao Al-Rabie Hotel), ☎ 963 11 231-9489, email: [email protected]. Alguns dos quartos no andar de cima não tem aquecedor e podem ficar muito frios no Inverno a menos que a porta esteja aberta. O pátio é mais pequeno que o do Al-Rabie, mas os empregados são simpáticos e amigáveis. Os chuveiros estão na cave. Tem empregados amigáveis que lhe podem arranjar visitas guiadas e outras "necessidades turísticas". Não é permito álcool no estabelecimento. Reserve com antecedência. Os preços são mais altos que nos motéis vizinhos - 560£S por um quarto partilhado. 700 £S por um individual, 1225 £S por um duplo, 1700 £S por um duplo com casa-de-banha privada. Pequeno almoço incluindo no preço.. 

• , Sharia Souq al-Saroujah (no Souq al-Saroujah), ☎ 963 11 231-3736, email: [email protected]. Também conhecido como Hotel Ghazal, este hotel é relativamente recente no panorama dos hotéis económicos de Damasco. Tem um muito bonito e tradicional pátio damasceno. Para pequeno-almoço eles servem o tradicional chá e café, mais um nargileh completamente grátis. Pode trazer álcool para beber no hotel se quiser. Os quartos e instalações são novas. As casas-debanho são limpas e tem água quente. Tem um cofre para guardar os seus valores. Os donos são prestáveis e simpáticos, mas são menos fluentes em inglês que a concorrência e normalmente não arranjam visitas guiadas (mas talvez consigam ajudá-lo se lhes perguntar). Falam inglês suficiente para arranjar quartos e dar direcções. Se tiver sono leve, evite quartos perto da cozinha, casas-de-banho e recepção. Os quartos virados para o pátio são calmos. 900 £S por um duplo com casa de banho partilhada e 400 £S por um quarto de dormitório.. 

Medium

• , Rua 29 de Maio (acima da Praça de Yusef Al-'Azmeh, por trás do Cinema de Assufara (dos Embaixadores)), ☎ 963 11 232-3300, fax: 963 11 232-3304, email: [email protected]. Completamente renovado em 2001, este hotel familiar com 60 quartos continua a ser um hotel muito popular, seguro e central para ficar, seja para um homem de negócios ou para um mochileiro. O Restaurante de Al Majed, aberto 24 horas, situa-se no último andar do hotel, com uma variedade de pratos, desde comida tradicional do middle East e pratos ocidentais. 

• , Rua Al Abbara (pode também entrar no hotel através de uma escada de corda nas muralhas da cidade, a cerca de 100 metros do Bab Sharqi), ☎ 963 11 541-4115. Este hotel está numa localização única, com alguns quartos numa torre na muralha da cidade. Embora a localização seja excelente e os quartos decentes, a principal razão para aqui ficar é Raymond, o dono. Um palestiniano que viveu na Austrália durante 40 anos, o Raymond é a pessoa mais amigável e prestável que alguma vez conhecerá. O serviço de lavandaria custa 200 £S. Tem TV Cabo na área comum, mas não há acesso á internet. O site tem um mapa que pode imprimir e coordenadas GPS. 

• , email: [email protected]. Aluga quartos para pessoas a estudar em Damasco numa bonita e tradicional casa árabe no coração da Cidade Velha de Damasco. A casa inclui sete quartos, duas casas-de-banho, duas cozinhas, um magnífico pátio, e um terraço com uma óptima vista da Cidade Velha. Casa quarto tem uma TV, cama, guarda-roupa e aquecedor (ar condicionado em alguns quartos). As cozinhas estão completamente equipadas (fogão a gás, microondas, chaleira, forno, ect.) e as modernas casa-de-banho tem água quente 24 horas/dia. Máquina de lavar a roupa, acesso à internet, e telefone fixo. 

• , Praça de Bab Tuma Square (perto do Restaurante Haretna), ☎ 963 11 541-4042. Fica na Cidade Velha, perto do Bab Tuma, numa das estreitas ruas pedestres, comuns na Cidade Velha. O Old Damascus tem cerca de uma dúzia de quartos e foi a casa tradicional de um comerciante dos inícios do século XX. Uma família síria possui e gere o hotel. 

• , Rua de Baghdad, Ekeibeh, Amara, Damasco, ☎00963 11 231 0884/0064FORMATNOCC, email: [email protected]. Situado numa casa com 400 anos, recentemente renovada, oferece 27 quartos completamente mobilados ao estilo otomano, divididos entre os dois andares da casa. Tem acesso a internet sem fios, serviço de lavandaria, e uma cozinha completamente equipada. Tem dois pátios com vistas do Monte Qasioun. Desde €45. 

• , Qudssaya, Damasco (a cerca de 10 km do centro da cidade), ☎ 963 11 323 56 61. Oferece apartamentos de vários tamanhos, para todos os tipos de pessoas. Cada apartamento tem varanda própria com vistas de cortar a respiração das montanhas. Desde 38,8€. 

• , Numa rua lateral, cuja entrada fica na Rua de Al Bahsa (em frente do Venesia Hotel, perto da entrada do Souq al-Saroujah), ☎ 963 11 231 6224, fax: 963 933 226 012, email: [email protected]. O hotel tem 25 quartos com ar condicionado (duplos, triplos e com duas camas individuais) com TV Cabo, telefone e mini-bar. Cofre na recepção. Empregados disponíveis 24 horas/dia. Tem um terraço com esplêndidas vistas da cidade. Desde 25€. 

• , Old City, ☎ 963 933 356955, email: [email protected]. Tem quartos com ar-condicionado (individuais e duplos) com TV Cabo, telefone e mini-bar. Pode pedir que mandem um carro para o ir buscar ao aeroporto. Tem um bonito pátio com uma fonte, e cheio de plantes. Desde 25€. 

waste

• , ☎963 11 223-2300NOCC, fax: 963 11 221-2398, email: [email protected]. A cadeia de hotéis nacional, e um dos maiores hotéis de negócios da cidade. 

• , Bab Touma (em frente do Hammam Bakri), ☎ 963 11) 543 0445/46FORMAT. Um espantoso boutique hotel numa ruela calma, por trás de uma porta sem nenhum sinal. Instalado numa magnífica casa antiga, tem um belo pátio e quartos confortáveis. 7020-14040 £S. 

• , Sharia Shukri Al Quatli, ☎ 963 11 339-1000, fax: 963 11 339-0900. O Four Seasons, situado na baixa da cidade, oferece muitos serviços, como spa, ama, e ginásio. Este hotel inclui o restaurante Al Halabi, com cozinha tradicional de Aleppo, no norte do país. 

• , Hamra Street, ☎ 963 11 3340240, fax: 963 11 3342112, email: [email protected]. Oferece todos os serviços de um hotel internacional de quatro estrelas; suite presidencial, casas de banho com jacuzzi, quartos confortáveis equipados com tecnologia moderna. 

Stay in touch

A maior parte dos hotéis arranjam maneira de conseguir fazer chamadas internacionais, mas os preços são muito altos. A maior parte dos internet cafes tem VOIP (um telefone na internet), e oferecem uma alternativa muito mais barata, embora o preço reflicta a qualidade da conexão.

O acesso à internet está disponível em vários locais pela cidade, incluindo em internet cafes e hotéis, embora o governo sírio censure tráfego, que causa alguns problemas na conectividade.

Safety

Em áreas rurais e modernas de Damasco, é vulgar pessoas perfeitamente saudáveis imitarem mendigos para conseguir dinheiro. Por vezes podem tentar enganá-lo, e tem muitos truques para o fazer, por isso tenha cuidado.

Para sua segurança, não aceite conselhos ou recomendações, principalmente acerca de alojamento, médicos e dentistas, dos taxistas.

Health

Daily

Em Damasco e no resto do país só poucos bancos, muito grandes, é que aceitam traveler's checks da American Express! Os multibancos e os cartões de crédito também não são uma boa opção para o viajante estrangeiro.

Os primeiros multibanco da Syria foram instalados em 2003, e por isso ainda são uma novidade rara em muitas partes do país, e nem sempre estão operacionais. Existem casas de câmbio em muitas áreas de Damasco, especialmente perto dos souqs grande. O euro, a libra inglesa e o dólar americano podem ser trocados nesta casa de câmbio, pelo preço habitual. Veja a taxa de câmbio actual antes de fazer o câmbio, para não ser enganado. Muitas lojas (principalmente na cidade velha) também fazem câmbio. Embora oficialmente seja ilegal, é conveniente se já estiver na Cidade Velha e precisar de dinheiro rapidamente. Pergunte entre os lojistas por um cambista e eles indicar-lhe-ão uma loja que faça câmbio.

Leave

• Bosra - Uma cidade perto da fronteira sul do país, com magníficas ruínas de uma cidade romana, no meio do deserto. Outrora foi também uma capital nabateia; actualmente, é uma das principais atracções do país.
• Homs - A norte de Damasco, trata-se da terceira maior cidade do país e uma das mais antigas (embora nem se compare a Damasco). Outrora uma importante cidade bizantina, tem um dos mais interessantes bairros cristãos do país.
• Palmira - Palmira é o maior destino turístico do país e um dos mais impressionantes sítios históricos do mundo. Chamada Tadmor pelos locais (o seu antigo nome semítico), a intrigante história de Palmira, bem como a profusão de colunas, ruínas de templos, e torres funerárias, num espantoso oásis desértico, deixa os seus visitantes sem palavras.
• Sednaya and Maaloula - Pequeno povoado cristão cerca de 27 km a norte de Damasco, Sednaya é, supostamente, o local onde Noé plantou a primeira vinha após o Dilúvio. O Convento de Nossa Senhora, construído no século VI, atrai milhares de peregrinos para verem a sua miraculosa imagem da Virgem, que se acredita ser pintada por São Lucasb. Uma viagem de táxi (25km) através das espectaculares Montanhas do Antilíbano leva-o através de uma das mais pitorescas aldeias do país, também um povoado cristão: Maaloula. Também aqui pode encontrar várias igrejas e é um dos poucos locais do país onde o aramaico, a linguagem de Jesus, ainda é falado.