Damascus holds a unique place in human history. Founded sometime in the 3rd millennium BCE, it has been continuously inhabited for over 11,000 years — making it arguably the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. To walk through the streets of the Old City is to walk through layers of history that few places on Earth can match.
From the Aramaeans to the Romans, from the Umayyads to the Ottomans, each civilization has left its mark on the city. The Umayyad Mosque, built in 715 CE, stands as one of the most magnificent religious structures in the world, its courtyard a peaceful oasis in the heart of the bustling old city. The mosque houses the shrine of John the Baptist, a site venerated by both Christians and Muslims alike.
The old souks of Damascus — Al-Hamidiyah, Medhat Pasha, and the Street Called Straight — have been centers of trade for centuries. The Damascene steel that made the city's swords legendary, the intricate woodwork and mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, the famous Damascus rose — all are threads in the rich tapestry of a city that has witnessed the rise and fall of empires while remaining steadfastly itself.
