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FESTIVAL |
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COSMETIC EXPO 2008 : Damascus (Syria) |
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Info
Damascus
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Damascus Presentation
Damascus is a crowded metropolis of 6 million people and is the chief manufacturing and trading center of Syria. Most of the main sites of interest are found in or near the Old City including the workshops that still make Damask silk brocade, carpets, gold and silver filigree jewelry and beautiful inlaid woodwork.
In Damascus, past and present mingle at every turn. In a region where a number of cities claim the title of "the world's oldest", Damascus credentials are very impressive. Josephus attributes the building of Damascus to Uz, the grandson of Noah, from whose father, Aram, the Arameans are descended. A settlement of the Fifth millennium has been excavated in Tell Al-Salihiye and pottery from the third millennium was unearthed in the Old City. In the Ghouta, systems of irrigation canals were dug prior to the second millennium BC and were expanded by successive rulers.
The minimum time required to see Damascus is two days but five would be best. The sites that are a must are Souq Hamidiye, the Citadel, Nur Al-Din Hospital and Museum, Madrassa Zahiriye and Adiliye, the Tomb of Salah Al-Din and the Omayyad Mosque a feature interesting to Christians is the South-East minaret) named Madhanat Issa, the Tower of Jesus. According to Muslim tradition Jesus, will descent to earth via this tower to fight the Antichrist before the Day of Judgment. Also the Azem Palace Museum and Souq Assagha (the gold market).
Do not miss a visit to the Hammam Al-Malik Al-Zaher (Turkish style steam room, massage room, and bath). Dating from the 11th or 12th century the baths have been completely restored and modernized. They cater only to men. It is one of the few places left in the world where men can still enjoy Arabic coffee and a Narghile (Water-Pipe).
For more information visit : www.syriatourism.org.
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