Damascus, the capital of Syria, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It has occupied a position of importance in the fields of science, culture, politics, art commerce, and industry from the earliest times. It has been called Al-Fayha'a (the fragrant city), Al-Sham, Jollaq, and Pearl of Orient as Emperor Julian named it. It was mentioned in the Holy Qur'an as the many-columns city of Aram, "...whose like has never been built in the land.

For more information there are some important links:

http://www.discover-syria.com/photos

http://www.syriatourism.org/index.php?module=subjects&func=listpages&subid=134&newlang=eng

http://www.atlastours.net/syria/damascus.html

http://www.damascus-online.com/index.htm

 http://www.oldamascus.com/home.htm

http://www.syriatourism.org/index.php?newlang=eng

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus