Tartus
The partially preserved huge citadel of Tartus (Tortosa, 10th century) was at one time the last stronghold of the Knights Templar in the Holy Land. The remains of the city of the Crusaders and the Cathedral of the Mother of God of Tartu are preserved here – a unique example of a fortified church (one of the first structures of this type in the Gothic style). After the recapture of the city by Muslims, the church was used as a mosque, during the Ottoman period – as a barracks. Under French rule, the building was restored and now houses a museum. According to populationmonster, Aleppo is one of the largest cities in Syria.
The historical center of Tartus consists of modern buildings built on the walls and inside the walls of the Crusader fortress.
The historical center of Tartus consists of modern buildings built on the walls and inside the walls of the fortress from the time of the Crusaders, the moat from which still separates the old city from the new one.
Tartus itself is the second largest port city in Syria after Latakia, where the Russian naval base is located.
How to get there
The bus company Kadmous has an office in the city center, near the park. Buses from here leave for Damascus (every hour, 5 hours on the way), Aleppo (5 hours), Hama (1.5 hours) and Homs (1 hour on the way). In addition, minibuses run to Latakia (on the way 1 hour) and Banias (30 minutes) – departure every 15-20 minutes.
Al-Ahliah, headquartered in the south of the city, operates the same flights at the same cost, with the only difference being that Al-Ahliah has slightly fewer flights per day than competitor Kadmous.
What to watch
In the museum of the Tartu Mother of God Cathedral, you can see an exposition of various archaeological finds made in Tartus and its environs, as well as exhibits brought from Rakka and other regions of the country. Opening hours: 9:00-16:00 in winter, 9:00-18:00 in summer. Day off – Tuesday.
In the museum of the Tartu Mother of God Cathedral, you can see an exposition of various archaeological finds made in Tartus and the surrounding area.
3 km from Tartus is the picturesque islet of Arvad (the only one in Syria), where the Crusaders held out the longest. This glorious past is reminiscent of the fortress towering over the island, now a museum. Opening hours: 9:00-16:00 in winter and 9:00-17:00 in summer. Day off – Tuesday.
Another fortress, Arab, is located to the right of the Arvad pier (tourists are not allowed inside the building). You can get to Arvad by water taxi in 20 minutes.
Aleppo
Aleppo (Aleppo) is the second largest city in Syria, one of the oldest settlements on the planet and the center of the Great Silk Road. The Old City of Aleppo is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
How to get to Aleppo
Aleppo International Airport receives flights from Turkey, Europe and some cities in the Middle East. SyrianAir (tel.: 224-12-32, 222-05-01) flies once a week to Istanbul and Cairo, as well as to Damascus. The airport can be reached by taxi in 20 minutes.
On June 14, 2010, the country’s national air carrier Syrianair opened flights from Moscow (Vnukovo) to Aleppo. Flights operate on Mondays. The return route, Aleppo – Moscow, does not yet exist, you must use Damascus airport.
The main railway station of Aleppo – Baghdad Station – is located about 1.5 km from the center of Al-Aziziah. Trains to Latakia leave from here four times a day (1st express / 2nd / 3rd class, 2.5-3.5 hours on the way). Also, four times a day, new high-speed trains to Damascus (1st / 2nd / sleeping, 4.5 hours on the way) depart through Homs and Hama – two in the morning, one in the evening and one at night.
In addition, three times a week there are simple trains between Aleppo and Istanbul and once a week a night train that leaves Aleppo on Tuesday morning and arrives in Istanbul on Wednesday night. From Aleppo, you can also get to the capital of Iran, Tehran, through Turkey.
You can rent a car at the Europcar office (tel.: 222-48-54, fax: 223-23-02; working hours: 8:00-19:00), which is located at Baghdad Station.
Entertainment and attractions of Aleppo
Of interest are the colorful old districts of Jayda and Taib, caravanserais (Jumruk, Vazir, Sabun), churches, mosques, baths “hamam” and old covered markets, which stretch for 12 kilometers in a continuous series. The local citadel of Aleppo is a vivid example of medieval Arab fortification art. In her throne room, inquisitive tourists will be willingly shown a hole in the floor, where traitors, criminals and unfaithful wives were thrown from a 20-meter height.
40 km from Aleppo is the monastery of Qalaat-Samaan (St. Simeon). Saint Simeon was a shepherd who decided to devote his life to the service of Christ. He approached the matter creatively: he went to the mountains and built a three-meter pillar there, on top of which he began to live. For 36 years, he made his pillar higher and higher until it reached a height of 15 meters. In 459 St. Simeon died, and a church was built on the site where the pillar stood. It has been excellently preserved to this day, but the pillar itself is almost destroyed. You can get to the monastery by taxi.
