Four Seasons Hotel Damascus

If an ancient Oriental poem were transformed into a city, it would resemble Damascus. Intricate beauty, enhanced by the ravages of time; covered souks filled with every treasure imaginable; sweet shops unparalleled in the Middle East, filled with pastries and candy made from apricot and pistachio; elegant old villas transformed into hotels, where fountains sparkle and flowers bloom in courtyard restaurants. The past is everywhere, reminding visitors of time gone by. The Mamluk minaret, dating back some 14 centuries, symbolizes multicultural influences that have shaped what was once the centre of early Islam. Salah el Din, Islam’s shining light, is buried there, and not far away, St Paul was converted to Christianity. Few Middle Eastern cities are so pleasant to explore on foot. Exploring the old walled city, with its warren of narrow streets, you can see the ancient Roman columns that serve as a portal to the spice-scented souk Al Hamidiyya in the Christian quarter, where excellent local wine flows freely. When the sun goes down, the sounds of laughter and music fill the night air.