From the capital of Syria said the poet Abu l-Hasan Ali: «Damascus is a paradise / where the stranger forgets his homeland.» Because the ancient Dimasq has always been the object of desire of kings, soldiers, businessmen, artists and travelers.

The famous globetrotter tangerina of the fourteenth century, Ibn Battuta, said of this city on the banks of the Barada River that excels and beats all other cities in beauty and good disposition. Any description, which is long, falls short in comparison to her beauty.

Damascus has shown to be inhabited without interruption for over time. Aramaeans passed through here, Assyrians and Babylonians, whose footprints came upon the Persians. Alexander would take the three hundred years before Christ and centuries after the Romans who would enjoy the city. Finally, in the year 635, the Muslim troops of the Caliph Omar pave the way for an era of great splendor of Damascus, where was the capital of the Umayyad Empire. Its stormy history continued throughout the centuries: the Crusaders tried to conquer it on numerous occasions, Tamerlane and left the fire burning for three days in 1400 and the Turks take over the centuries, which continued domination of the Western powers, Syrians finally proclaimed independence in 1946.

This tight series of historical events, battles and occupations have not diminished one iota the hospitality of the people of Damascus, well known throughout the Arabic world for their excellent welcome visitors. The only danger of Damascus is the traffic on its main routes atruena, which can only be tackled with courage and bravery. If we succeed in crossing avenue Zaur (Revolution) and access to the old medina for some of its eight gates, we must not frighten us from motor vehicles in the old city cars barely fit through the narrow streets, so you can pause to calm on the terrace of a cafe to enjoy a arguile (water pipe) and its delicious flavored snuff. If we do not smoke, it’s best to overcome the voltage drop or summer-winter, the intense cold will take a qahua, delicious coffee flavored with cardamom.

With the bubble of our feet arguile can contemplate life damascena. The city itself is a melting pot of cultures within its old walls or in their neighborhoods newest resident Sunni and Shiite Muslims, Maronite Christians, Catholics and Orthodox, Druze … All have a place in this city, the capital of a strictly secular state. Damascena wealth is not only religious, it is ethnic: Arabs, Kurds, Armenians, Turks and a good community of Europeans living together this great Eastern capital.

The most famous monument in Damascus and with reason is the Umayyad Mosque, a magnificent classical building decorated by mosaics of floral motifs that allude to architectural and garden paradise that awaits the Muslims after his death. Commissioned by the Caliph al-Walid in the eighth century, a thousand workers and craftsmen are struggling to get up in just a decade. Thirteen centuries and many wars later, the mosque still attracted admiration.

Another place worth visiting in the old part of town is the al-Azzem Palace, built in the eighteenth century as a residence for the governor of the city. Patios, gardens, and richly decorated rooms make it the most beautiful construction of Damascus.

We cannot leave without losing the Medina Souq Hamadiya. Refurbished during the nineteenth century is not as intricate as other Arab markets, but is packed with shops that offer the most varied products and equipment. Covered in full, is a pleasant place to pass on during the hours caniculares.

To get an idea of the extent of Damascus and admire the colorful town planning, it is more advisable to climb, preferably a sunset to Casiun nearby hill, where you can enjoy magnificent views of the city on which he said the medieval poet Sharaf ad-Din: «Land where the pebble is pearl, amber dust  and breezes from the north came as a cold.»