Sunrise over Damascus.

Sunrise over Damascus.

The Umayyad Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus.

The main courtyard of Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.

The shrine of John the Baptist also known as Yahya in the Muslim world.

A vegetable vendor in the street of Damascus.

Headstones.

Damascus.

A historical baths in the centre of Damascus.

Damascus.

Damascus.

Damascus.

Damascus.

Krak des Chevaliers.

This fortress was built during the 11th century Crusade.

Salah al-Din castle.

Monastery Mar Musa from 6th century was rebuilt on foundations of a Roman castle.

The community of monks receive pilgrims with meal and accommodation.

Morning prayer in the chapel of the monastery Mar Musa.

Latakia is a 3th largest city in Syria. An important port city by the Mediterranean Sea.

Latakia.

Syrians like the singing of birds, for there are many cages with birds along streets not always well protected against scorching sun.

Ruins of the ancient city of Apamea first built by Greeks in 3th BC.

In 64 BC. The city was conquered by the Romans.

Apamea.

Apamea.

A ruined building from one of a settlements called "dead cities" which dates back to 5th century.

The cities were inhabited mainly by Christians, therefore many emblems and house decorations show Christian architecture.

In Islam, Friday is the day off from school and work and the ruins draw entire families together for picnics and leisure.

The citadel of Aleppo.

Ibrahim Hanano's mosque.

Aleppo.

Aleppo.

Aleppo.

The Great Mosque of Aleppo is just 10 year younger sibling of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.

This 45 meter minaret built in 1092 year is the only remaining original part of the mosque as the mosque was destroyed and rebuild countess times.

Aleppo.

Aleppo.

Aleppo.

Aleppo.

Aleppo. The sign of Kabba on the wall of the house indicates that the householders have undergone the holly pilgrimage to Mecca.

Aleppo.

Aleppo is known among various things but one of them is a unique soap made of olive and laurel oil. The soap is sold in many shops for kilograms.

Zatar - a blend of spices popular in the middle east.

Pita - a type of round flat bread. Almost every morning Syrian bakeries are besieged by locals to obtain the common commodity.

Still hot bread is spread out to cool it down and eliminate any excess of humidity.

Aleppo. On the way from a bakery.

Aleppo. On the way from a bakery.

Aleppo. On the way from a bakery.

Aleppo.

The Church of Saint Simeon Stylites from 5th century.

The boulder on pedestal it is all that remains after once 18 m. high column on which Saint Simon was sitting.

Ruins of a temple dedicated to the goddess Ishtar in Ain Dara.

The Hittite temple was flourishing between 1300 and 740 y. BC.

The 91 cm long foot prints on the threshold of the temple may symbolize the entrance of the goddess to the temple.

The salt lake Jabbul.

The salt lake Jabbul.

An ancient city Dura Europos by the bank of Euphrates.

Euphrates.

An irrigation system on the bank of Euphrates river.

The town Tadmur better known under its Greek counterpart Palmyra.

The ruins of Palmyra.

On the mount towering over the ruins there is an Arab castle from c17th (Qal'at Ibn Maan).

Before the castle was surrounded by a moat but now it is surrounded by tourist and touts.

The valley of the tombs in Palmyra.

A tomb is a few story building with square base. On each floor there are several compartments for laying coffins.

The Great Tetrapylon.

Tetrapylon in Greek means four gates or four columns. In Palmyra it is situated on the main crossways.

A triumphal arch.

In Palmyra as in many other archaeological sits in Syria, excavations are a common site.