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Travel's itinerary

(October - November 2000)

1st DAY (28th October): ITALY/DAMASCUS 

Arrived to DAMASCUS in the first afternoon with flight via Vienna, we achieve a tour of the city with the bus crossing the streets of the center and climbing to the Qajum Mountain, from where we enjoy an ample panoramic sight on the city. Returned in city center, we visit the courtyard of the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the Artisan and the Museum of the Army inserted in the Foundation of Suliman the Magnificent with the Madrasa and the Mosque. Then transfer in the hotel Ebla Cham situated near the Airport. 

2nd DAY (29th October): BOSRA - DAMASCUS 

In the morning visit to the site of BOSRA in the south of the country near the border with Jordan. The Roman theater of Bosra inserted in the Arab strengthened citadel is included in the List of the Patrimonies of the humanity of the UNESCO. Besides the theater, we visit also some rests of Byzantine basilicas.

Return to DAMASCUS and in the afternoon visit to the Archaeological Museum, rich of work of art deriving from the most famous sites of the country as Ebla, Mari, Ugarit, Palmyra, etc. To follow we enter in the old city crossing the suq to arrive to the Ummayad Mosque, built by the first Arabic caliphs on the site of a Byzantine basilica. To a side there is the Mausoleum of the Saladin with the wooden sarcophagus. The visit of the Mosque begins from the courtyard with very suggestive mosaic decorations to continue in the Room of the prayers that also includes the Chapel of St. John  the Baptist that preserve, according to the tradition, the Baptist's head. 

3rd DAY (30th October): DAMASCUS/SAFITA

In the morning departure to Lebanon for the visit to ANJAR, ancient Islamic installation of the Umayyad period and to BAALBECK, with his imposing and fascinating temples of Jupiter, Bacchus and Venus of Roman age. Both the sites belong to the Patrimonies of the humanity. 
From Lebanon crossing the fertile Bekaa Valley, we reenter in Syria to reach SAFITA with its white tower of the epoch of the Crusaders.

4th DAY (31st  October): SAFITA/LATAKIA 

The beginning is the visit to the KRAK DES CHEVALIERS, extraordinary military fortification that was, for almost 3 centuries, one of the strongpoints of the Crusaders during the struggle against the Moslem Kingdoms. Pursuance to HAMA, famous for the gigantic wooden wheels called "Norias" that pick up the water of the Orontes river for the irrigation of the fields.

In the afternoon visit to APAMEA, the city with thousand columns built by the Macedonian general Seleuco Nicator, with the unbelievable Decumanus colonnade long 2 Kms. Arrival to LATAKIA on the Mediterranean Sea.

5th DAY (1st November): LATAKIA/ALEPPO

In the morning visit to the spectacular fortitude of the Crusaders age note as SALADIN'S CASTLE. 

In the afternoon, arrival to SERJILLA, one of the innumerable Syrian "dead cities" flourished above all during the late Roman and Byzantine period and that for mysterious reasons were abandoned toward the IX century. Pursuance to EBLA, one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the last years brought to the light from an Italian archaeological mission. Arrival therefore to ALEPPO.

6th DAY (2nd  November): ALEPPO - QALAH SIMAN

Excursion to QALAH SIMAN, to the Sanctuary of St. Simon, the big ascetic that, during the IV century AD, passed in penitence a lot of years in top to a column around which then was built the church. Return to the city of ALEPPO, considered between the most ancient cities of the world with the visit to the spectacular citadel, ancient nucleus of Aleppo since its origins. 

In the afternoon visit to the Umayyad Mosque, completely rebuilt by the Turkish Selgiuchidis in the XI century and walk between the streets of the suq.

7th DAY (3rd November): ALEPPO/DEIREZZOR

Departure in direction southeast following the course of the Euphrates River and arrival to RUSAFAH, one of the most suggestive dead cities of the Syrian desert: its rests ascend to the Roman-Byzantine period, between which the splendid surrounded boundaries and the basilica of St. Sergius. 

Stop therefore in HALABYAH, strengthened citadel founded by the Palmyrians, where a beautiful panorama is admired on the big river. Arrival to DEIREZZOR.

8th DAY (4th November): DEIREZZOR/PALMYRA

Visit to DURA EUROPOS, an important fortitude in epoch ellenistico-Roman, built in defense of the Persians attacks, where the mighty boundaries, the rests of temples and residences are visible.

After the crossing of the most northern part of the Syrian Desert arrival to PALMYRA with its oasis, to be able to enjoy the sunset from the Arabic Castle that dominates the town.

9th DAY (5th November): PALMYRA/DAMASCUS

Day spent to the visit of the mythical city of PALMYRA, situated in the center of the ancient commercial street that from the Mesopotamia, going beyond the Euphrates, conducted to Egypt and to the Hellenistic Area through Syria. Its grandiose rests are still visible despite the destroying strength of the legions of the Roman emperor  Aurelian that, in 272 AD, put an end to the Palmyrian kingdom. The visit includes besides the Archaeological Museum, rich of typically palmyrian sculptures thanks to the availability of a of particularly soft stone, the big Temple of Baal, the imposing Great Colonnade, the Tetrapylon, the splendid theater, the agorà, etc. as well as the Valley of the Tombs. Return to Damascus. 

10th DAY (6th November): DAMASCUS/ITALY

Visit in the morning to the Christian district of DAMASCUS with the House of Anania, where St.Paul got back the sight, and to the refined Palace Azem, center of a Museum of the Arts and popular Traditions. The crossing of the suq is an occasion to snoop and to make shopping in the innumerable little shops. 

Return to Italy in the evening.