Syria

Palmyra and the Wonders of the Desert

Rising from the Syrian desert, the ruins of Palmyra once stood as one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the world. The colonnaded streets, towering Temple of Bel, and dramatic Valley of the Tombs speak to a city that grew rich as a trading hub between the Roman Empire and the East. The Syrian desert itself is a landscape of extraordinary quiet, studded with Bedouin encampments, volcanic formations, and the ruins of Byzantine ghost towns that recall a densely populated ancient world.

Aleppo and the Great Citadel

The great citadel of Aleppo crowns a natural hill at the heart of one of the Arab world's most storied cities. Surrounded by a moat and entered through a monumental gateway, it has served as fortress, palace, and barracks across centuries of successive rulers. The medieval covered souqs stretching below the citadel were among the largest in the world and, at their height, were a marvel of commercial architecture, filled with merchants trading silk, soap, and spices along routes that connected the Mediterranean to Central Asia.

A Table Laden with History

Syrian cuisine is among the richest and most varied in the Levant, shaped by the same crossroads geography that made the country a hub of trade and culture. Mezze spreads of hummus, fattoush, kibbeh, and muhammara share the table with slow-cooked lamb dishes, aromatic rice, and the celebrated Aleppan cooking style that prizes pomegranate molasses, sour cherries, and a distinct local spice blend. Syrian flatbreads emerge from clay ovens hot and blistered, and the country's baklava traditions are a point of fierce and delicious local pride.