From the Apostles to the Crusades

This is a journey through the biblical, medieval and Roman worlds. Damascus is the oldest living city in the world and an Islamic capital under the Omayyads. Navigating the tortuous alleys of the old city on foot is a wonderful experience as this ‘oldest living city’ reveals its secret places. Stories of the Bible come magically to life at the chapel of Ananias, the 5th-century Church of St. Simeon the Stylite who positioned himself atop a 16-metre pillar for 40 years, and Christian Maaloula which still speaks Aramaic, the language of Christ.

Crac des Chevaliers, the residence of the military order Knights of St. John, described by T. E. Lawrence as “perhaps the best preserved and most wholly admirable castle in the world”. Old Aleppo has the largest medieval Citadel in the world and a well-preserved old town with extensive covered souks.

The ancient oasis of Palmyra is a very special place with its colonnaded streets, monumental arches, Temple of Baal and Valley of the Tombs. Less well known Apamea, a fascinating counterpoint to Palmyra, is set in lush countryside rather than desert landscape. Bosra has a well-preserved theatre, colonnaded streets and Nabataean and Roman Gates.

VJV Special Event - Dining in the Old Town
In both Damascus and Aleppo we have arranged special dinners with music in traditional houses which are now restaurants (with one ‘Whirling Dervish’ performance).