Syria

(Syrian Arab Republic, الجمهورية العربية السورية, Al-Jumhūrīyah Al-ʻArabīyah As-Sūrīyah)

General Information:

Location: Western Asia
Capital: Damascus
Language(s): Arabic
Population: 17,500,657
Total Area: 185,180 sq km
Currency: Syrian Pound
Curious Alcohol Fact: Although a mainly Muslim nation, alcoholic drinks are available in Syria.
Annual Average Liquor Consumption Per Capita: 1.43 liters
Most Popular Drink(s): Tea, coffee

Syria Travel Video

Video Courtesy: LiveSyria

The Country

Syrians are also called the people of the Levant and share some attributes with the citizens of other Mediterranean region –especially Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon. Therefore, even though Syrians are Arabs, they cannot be said to be exactly the same as the Arabs found in the Persian Gulf states of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman. That said, around four-fifths of the citizens are Syrian Arabs and the non-Arabs are the Kurds, Turkmen, Assyrians, Armenians and Circassians. Islam is the predominant language and almost 90% of Syrians are Muslims while others are Christians or Druze. The official language in the country is Arabic and in some other regions, Kurdish, French, Armenian, Turkish and Aramaic (the language of Jesus Christ) are spoken.

Eating

Good food is an essential component of Syrian culture and guests are always served nice meals and tasty dishes. One of such delicacies is called kubbeh, and is prepared from wheat flour, beef and spices. Also, in line with the tradition of Mediterranean cuisine, olive oil and olives are generously used in cooking. If you want to have a taste of heaven, all you need is a plate of yabraq, which is a celestial blend of rice, chicken balls, vegetables and spices.

Drinking

I moved across the countries of the Middle East. My conclusion is that tea or coffee is part of the culture of Arabs and they are always ready to welcome you with a cup of steaming and spiced tea. If you prefer alcoholic beverages, you will also find Syria homely with its array of liquors. One of the most popular brands is Al Sharq and you how also find fine and exotic wines from Portugal and Spain, nations of the Mediterranean region known for producing some of the world’s finest wines.

Places to Visit

Syria is one of the most scenic countries I have visited. Blessed with a very old and scenic capital as Damascus, you will be awed with the historical sites. Most tourists make sure they visit famed places like the Umayyad Mosque built by the Caliphs, Great Mosque of Aleppo, the Khalid ibn Walid Mosque (named after one of the greatest generals in history) and the Citadel of Aleppo.

Sports

Many Syrians are lover of sports and if you are also keen about sporting activities, you will find the country interesting. The most popular sports in the country is football and other sports include tennis and water-based sports.

Interesting Facts

Syria is the only country in the world ruled by Alawite Muslims.
Syria is one of the oldest nations in the world with its history dating back to pre-Biblical times.
The legendary city of Palmyra is located in Syria.

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Special thanks to our contributors:
Adebayo Ahmed Adebola (Ilorin, Nigeria).