Is the oldest city in the world, and has been in existence for more than 5000 years. It was a funnel through, which trade between East and West had to go. In Aleppo is found the citadel, the museum and the old city with its original oriental atmosphere bazaars.

Nearby, is the Basilica of St. Simeon Stylists, which was built in honor of Monk Simeon, who spent 42 years on a column to devoting himself to worship.
To the east lie Resafa (Sergiopolis), Dura- Europos and Mari. To the west and south, lie Ugarit, Ebla, Apamea and the Dead cities of El Bara and Kalb Lozeh.

Dr. Paolo Matthiae had been director of the Italian Archeological Mission in Syria for 15 years when he (in 1975) unearthed the archives of the Royal palace at Ebla. In form of 15.000 cuneiform tablets, almost five thousand years old, which told the story of the greatest kingdom of the third millennium BC, and the early Bronze Age. Through Sumerians, these tablets were deciphered to give a vivid and stunning picture and disclosing the history of this center of civilization. Ebla had close ties with all the other city- states between the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia. The name of cities such as, Mari on the Euphrates, Assur on the Tigris, Kish and Khamazi farther to the east, as well as, Beirut, Byblos, Damascus and Iran occur frequently in these archives.
Ebla itself was, by the standards of that time, a megapolis of 260.000 inhabitants. Ebla subjected Mari in 2480 BC and king Ebrium had his son Shra-Damu as king over Mari, but Akkadian king Sargon and his grandson Naram - Sin, destroyed Ebla itself. By 1800 BC, the city declined and gradually fell into oblivion in the civilization of Ugarit.

The "Dead Cities":( Saint -Simeon, Qalb Lozeh, El Bara, Ain Dara)
An extraordinary site, where numerous towns spread over a perimeter of 2 000 km2. 

In Arabic, "Qalaat Seman". This site bears the name of the ascetic Saint- Simeon (4th century AD), who spent forty-two years of his life here, isolated on the top of a column that was several times made higher .The Byzantines occupied and fortified the site in the 10th century before it was once again abandoned.

In Arabic, Qalb Lozeh signifies "the heart of the almond". Behind this charming name lies a little village and a remarkable basilica having served as a model for the churches of the region. This church, built around 450 AD, is dedicated to Saint Michael and Saint Gabriel.

The Crusaders arrived here in 1023, but their presence would be short lived. Today, a cathedral, four churches (5th and 6th centuries), tombs with pyramidal roofing (5th century), winepresses, two store-houses, and a rich Roman villa (3rd century) transformed into a convent. Bear witness to the glory of town.

This town became a small Aramean kingdom by 1190 BC. Neo-Hittite civilization built the temple of Ishtar between the 10th and 9th century BC. Ain Dara, was destroyed in the 7th century BC. Then, it was rebuilt in the 4th century BC. Prospered during the Roman period.

According to legend, Alexander The Great found Raqqa. It was called Nicephorium during the Hellenic period. The Byzantines made a defensive fortress of it. Under Muslim rule, it gained much splendor: The Caliph Hisham had two palaces built there, Then the Abbassid Caliph, Al Mansour, restored the town in 754 AD before making it his second capital. Its strategic position allowed it to protect Byzance and Baghdad. More beautiful and prosperous than ever, the town attracted Caliph Haroun Al Rashid, who established his summer residence here and gave it a new name which is known today "Al Rafiqa".

Previously, a Roman garrison-town bearing the name of Birtha. It took the name of Zenobia (a tribute to the Queen of Palmyra) after the victory of Odenathus over the Persians in 270 AD. During the 3rd century Diocletian re-established and fortified the town. Justinian restored it in the 4th century and later; the Arabs constructed a fortress in it.

The town is a twin to Halabiye. Located on the other side of the Euphrates. In fact, these two towns are situated at the narrowest point of the Euphrates. The function of Zalabiye was to control the river and to assist the pilgrims visiting the tomb of Saint Sergius in Resafa. An earthquake destroyed Zalabiye.

Known at the time of the Assyrians and cited in the Bible, Resafa had its glory during the Byzantine period, when it became an important center of pilgrimage. Sergious, a Roman soldier, converted to Christianity, who according to the legend, was decapitated for refusing to make a sacrifice in honor of Jupiter.

He then, became a saint, as well as, a martyr. The town was named after his name "Sergiopolis" (5th century). Justinian improved the fortifications of this town in the 6th century, an act that did not stop the Persians from possessing it the following century. Hisham, an Umayyad Caliph from the 8th century, restored the town and adorned it with a palace. Later, the town suffered pillages, committed by the Abassids. An earthquake and the Mongols destroyed it completely.

Discovered in 1933 by Andre Parrot, flourished in 2700 - 2450 BC.
Contemporary with Ebla, which it had trade connections and treaties.
Underlying Mari there are 4th millennium BC settlements. Hammurabi in 1700 BC destroyed it.