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Bookmark & shareA mixture of tradition and modernity - roads have always led to Damascus.
Legend has it that on a journey from Mecca, the Prophet Mohammed cast his gaze from the mountainside onto Damascus but refused to enter the city because he wanted to enter paradise only once - when he died. In a place that vies for the title of the world's oldest continually inhabited city, it is but one of thousands of stories. With its position as the first stop for travellers from the east, and with the Barada River flowing down freely from the mountains where the Prophet stood, Damascus has always been a coveted capital. The machinations of those wishing to claim the city as their own is as fascinating as the wealth of architecture and culture they left behind, with Damascus collecting the calling cards of myriad civilisations.
Travel Warning: Protests and Demonstrations
Travellers should avoid demonstrations and political gatherings while in Damascus. The US has issued a strong warning against travel to Syria due to anti-American protests and the possibility of violence. Avoid driving at night.
severity: Mid-level alert
Fast Facts
Population
5,000,000
Currency
Name: Syrian Pound
Code: SYP
Symbol: S£
Electrical Plugs
220VAC 50Hz
Languages Spoken
Official: Arabic
Time Zones
GMT/UTC +3
Country Dialing Code
+963
Weights & Measures
Metric
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