Damascus, Capital city in southwestern Syria.
Damascus is the national capital in southwestern Syria and spreads across several low hills and flat valleys along a river. Residential buildings with enclosed courtyards and high walls shape the cityscape next to markets and small public squares.
A settlement existed here over 8000 years ago, making it among the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth. From 661 to 750, it served as the center of the Umayyad Caliphate before power shifted to Baghdad.
Local families gather in the evening at small tea houses in the old quarters, continuing centuries-old routines of conversation and hospitality. The narrow streets host craftspeople who still work copper, wood, and glass using methods learned from their ancestors.
The international airport connects travelers to destinations across the Middle East, while local buses and shared taxis move through the narrow stone lanes. When walking in the old quarters, it helps to ask shopkeepers for directions, as many alleys lack clear signage.
Medieval metalworkers here developed steel with wavy patterns and exceptional hardness for sword blades. The exact production technique was lost centuries ago and has never been fully recreated.
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