Damascus Summer Resorts (2)

Maaloula: A historical and religious site in the Qalamoun region and a county in the district of Qutaifeh. It is 1400m ASL and 60km north of Damascus. Maaloula is one of the most ancient sites in the ME, where man inhabited its caves and natural gorge. It witnessed the Aramaic, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab Islamic civilizations. Its people, and the people of 5 villages near it still speak Aramaic, the language Jesus Christ used.

Maaloula features a unique system of construction, Most of its house climb the steep slopes of the mountain as if riding over each other to make natural terraces. It has also hundreds of caves which were occupied by some families until the 19th.century.

Maaloula, like Saidnaya, is distinguished for its several convents and churches and its gorge that divides the town into two halves.The most modern edifice in Maaloula is the 4 star Safir hotel, built in adjacent to Mar Sarkis ( St. Sergius) Convent. Thousands of people visit Maaloula to celebrate religious feasts and occasions in the 14th and 22nd of September (Day of the Cross and St.Thecla anniversary) and in the 6th of October, Mar Sarkis Day.

Bloudan:

An important suburb of Zabadani and one of the most renowned summer places in Syria, 1400m ASL,4km east of Zabadani and 55 km from Damascus. Because of its wonderful site and magic views it is frequented in winter for its snows and in summer for its fresh air. Bloudan, with Zabadani are the most preferable summer places for Arab tourists who used to spend all their vacations in it to enjoy its unique weather. Damascenes usually spend their winter holidays in Bloudan to enjoy the view of the whole Zabadani plane covered with snows. Bloudan, now, has hundreds of villas and palaces in addition to thousands of rent apartments owned by Syrian and Arab tourists who prefer to spend their summer vacations in it. Bloudan has several water sources that form small cataracts most important of these is Abou Zad, which has several restaurants around it. There are tens of large restaurants, some of them built at the top of the mountain about 1800 ASL, so they look over vast areas of the Zabadani plain. In addition to the modern restaurants Bloudan has tens of 5,4 and 3 star hotels. Grand Hotel of Bloudan is the oldest, built in the twenties of the 20th.century and witnessed a lot of political and social events of the ME. Lately it was renovated to match the most luxurious hotels.

Sarghaya:

A village 1362m ASL, built on the eastern slopes of the Ante Lebanon mountains and 12km from Zabadani and 2km from the Lebanese borders, and 56km from Damascus. It was a connecting point between Damascus and Riaq in Lebanon by a railway built in the 19th century which is still used by a traditional steam driven train to transport tourists from Damascus to Ein al khadra, Ein alFijeh, Zabadani and Sarghaya every Friday. Sarghaya is located in a high plain famous for its fresh air and cool in summer and for its snowy weather in winter which enabled it to produce the best cherry, peach and apple in the region. Saidnaya: A famous historical and religious site and summer resort 30km north east of Damascus. It is 1350m ASL, Normally it has several snowy days in winter but it has a moderate weather in summer. It is first class summer resort and a distinguished pilgrimage site of the Virgin Mary with tens of convents, churches and shrines. Its renowned for the Monastery of the Lady of Saidnaya.(see the article of Religious Tourist Sites ). Saidnaya, today, is witnessing a modern construction boom that began to eat most of its traditional homes. A cluster of modern restaurants nad night clubs line on both sides on the main road to the city.

Ma’aret Saidanaya: A modern suburb and summer resort 2km south of Saidnaya with many luxurious villas and a 5 star Sheraton hotel.

Arneh:

At 52 km south of Damascus and at 1400m ASL stands Arneh proudly at the slope of Mt Hermon. It has more than 300 water springs that form al A’awaj river which irrigates south of Damascus countryside and its orchards that produce the most delicious apple, cherry, rasp berry and peach. Arneh has a modern hotel and several restaurants.

Haifaa Mafalani