Photos of Palmyra and the Temple of Bel - Syria

Palmyra. Pick up any tourist brochure about Syria and undoubtedly you will see a picture of this ancient city somewhere on it, if not on the cover.



This is the place that people usually come to see. It is impressive to say the least and the grounds cover such a vast area. Several places (such as museums, the Temple of Bel, the tombs) charge entry fees but you can visit and wander the grounds for free. Unfortunately i only had time to visit the Temple of Bel and wander the grounds.

Let me make a few suggestions. If you want to visit this place I highly recommend doing it over 2 days and staying at the Zenobia Hotel if you can afford it because it is right at the site. I didn't spend the night but i ate lunch there and it was great being able to just sit there and take in the view of Palmyra. Also after all the day tourists (like me) have gone, you have the place to yourself. I was there till sunset and it really is something spectacular. If you want to travel around Syria, do it towards the end of summer (so around this time or even later is best) because it is still hot but not so much that its unbearable and there is no shelter at many of the historical sites. Take a hat, sunblock and plenty of water!

OK on to the photos.

First up Palmyra's Monumental Arc taken as i was walking towards the Temple of Bel. The next is taken from the steps of the Temple of Bel looking out at the Monumental Arc and the Porticoed Way which leads down past the Tetrapylon (third photo) to the Funerary Temple and other sites.



The Temple of Bel. The photo is taken from within the grounds as the Temple is walled all the way around. The next one is of the "Entrance" to the site which houses the ticket office.



On the left is the actual main entrance into the Temple. The right is a random photo taken from the grounds looking out to the ruined Castle that is part of Palmyra.



Below is the passage which is believed to have been used to bring in sacrificial animals into the temple. And an artsy shot of the columns of the passage from the temples windows.



Lastly Palmyra at sunset, I don't think the photos do it justice though.



Hope you enjoyed this little photo tour. I really had a great time at Palmyra and would love to go there again and see more of it, maybe even spend the night. Its such a breath taking place. To stand there among the amazing ruins and to try to imagine what that city would have been like, the people who lived there and how their lives were cant help but leave an impression.

Wishing you all happy travels and explorations.

VP

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The Water Wheels of Hama - Syria

I spent a night in Hama which is a small town that lies south of Aleppo almost halfway to Damascus. I used it as a base point to Crac des Chevaliers and Apamea and as a stop over after returning from Aleppo. It is mainly known for its large water wheels. Unfortunately the river has been so polluted that it looks murky green and has a smell.

However at night the wheels are lit up and the scene is pretty.





My photos didnt turn out so well but my friends did so the below are some photos he took while he was there. The last one is of the clock tower which is the centrepiece of the main street in Hama.

Most of the buget hotels can be found along this street.





VP

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Photo tour of Apamea - Syria

Apamea, amazing.



Also known as Afamia, it is home to the longest roman colonnaded road in the world. Apeama is named after the wife of a former general to Alexander the Great. It used to be a great city, very prosperous, wealthy and fertile. I'll spare you the history lesson and just get on with the photos but i do recommend finding out more, it really is very interesting.



On the way to Apamea, the first thing you see is the Citadel. It is still inhabited and has grown so much it has extended beyond its original walls. Unfortunately I didn't see it. Being such a full day already we didn't have much time. At the site of the ruins you can see clearly how the citadel stands.



Apamea is one of those places which is not very touristy at all...yes you get the odd person trying to sell you something but mostly it was deserted. Other than one other tour bus group there was hardly anyone there. There has been some excavation work and some attempts at restoring certain aspects of the old city. It really is an incredible sight, the sheer scale of the city, the grooves in the roads made from chariots makes your spine tingle.



You can walk around anywhere and touch everything - you could probably pick up a piece of the city and take it home and no one would notice! Of course I'm kidding about that, aside from Syria being very strict about its artifacts, no one should take something from a historical site. Take a look at this photo...it really broke my heart. This piece is beautiful, it could have been the top most piece of a column or something similar but it lies in the sand partially eroded and broken...and theres lots more like that...carry on luggage anyone??

Where was I? Right, Apamea was ruined by earthquakes several times and was rebuilt but finally after the last one that shook the region and devastated the city, it was never rebuilt. But it is beautiful still.

On to the photos...

1) A facade of what is believed to be shopfronts

2) A view of the 2km long road

3 and 4) The Portico

5) the Portico and the Votive column which marks a major intersection







VP

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Photo tour of Crac Des Chevaliers - Syria

Crac Des Chevaliers (can be spelt Krak Des Chevaliers) is known as Qal'at Al-Hosn in Arabic and is one of the best preserved Crusader Castles in the world. It is UNESCO world heritage listed. It is massive and you can easily spend a day there exploring. The views from its turrets and ramparts are beautiful and on a clear day you can supposedly see the Lebanon boarder.

I visited it yesterday along with Apamea (see following post) on the same day. The castle in the morning and Apamea in the afternoon as the castle closed earlier. Starting out from Hama and returning back to Damascus late last night. Its doable but tiring. Anyway i hope you enjoy some of the pics i took out there and dont forget to check out the ones of Apamea in the next post.



One of the many passageways in the castle with light filtering in from the ceiling.





A view of what is now left of the moat - where it ends is where the hammams are in an underground labyrinth.



The picture on the right is of a supporting column that runs through 2 floors and shows some detailed stonework with Arabic writing which is possibly a prayer from the Koran.



A view from one of the towers towards the center of the castle.








In most other countries the ramparts of a castle would be off limits or only certain reinforced and safe sections would open to the public - here all of it accessible.



Views from the castle.








VP

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Photo tour of Aleppo Citadel - Syria

The Aleppo Citadel lies in the heart of Aleppo. You can see it from almost anywhere in the city.



I came here once before, almost 15 years ago and at that time they had a road that wrapped around it. This has since been moved and now in front is a paved pedestrian area with cafes and the like to cater for tourists. Aside from that i think it was a wise decision, the area is a lot more clean and less congested than it was.



My favorite place has to be the throne room. Though most of it is roped off it is worth a visit. The light filters in through the various windows and glimmers across the intricate inlaid woodwork which is stunning. It is really is much more beautiful than it appears in the photos. Oh and there is a little water fountain in the middle, just for good measure.



Below are some photos from around the Citadel. In one you can see the amphitheater with white plastic chairs lined up. They still use it on occasions for concerts or special events. As the castle is located on elevated ground, you can view Aleppo city sprawled out before you from any lookout or vantage point. Unfortunately i just noticed that i dont have a suitable photo as an example to post up for you. If you want to find out more about the history of this place i suggest Googling Aleppo Citadel rather than Aleppo Castle as it will give you better results. Alternatively you can click here for Wikipedia or here for another site.





Below ive added some other random photos from around Aleppo. The 1st is of the main train station. I recommend traveling by train from Damascus to Aleppo if your schedule allows it. They have express trains which are quite nice and fast. The others include a main plaza with the statue of the late President Hafez Al Assad, the entrance to their Central Park and Saadallah al-Jabiri Square which serves as a monument to those who gave their lives in the struggle to be independent from France.




Always, VP

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