Damascus Countryside
Seydnaya:
This Some 30 kilometers from Damascus, the village is spread out over a hilltop, and is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. It has a famous monastery founded in 547, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. The name of the village itself, "Seyda Naya" in Syriac means "Our Lady". The monastery contains a portrait of the Virgin believed to have been painted by St. Luke.
The Mosque of Saida Zeinab:
Located some 10 kilometres to the south of Damascus.The interior is covered with decorations in silver and gold, ornate windows and lavish chandeliers. The shrine attracts hundreds of pilgrims daily from various countries, who come to pay tribute to the Prophet's grand-daughter, the daughter of the Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb.
Maloula:
This famous village is some 56 kilometers from Damascus, and is situated at an altitude of more than 1500 meters. Its little houses cling to the face of an enormous rock; they look suspended in mid-air. There are two monasteries here: Saint Sergius and Saint Taqla's. The inhabitants still speak Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ. two villages they are neighbors, it's Jaba'din and Naj'a also speak the same language. The word Ma'lula means "entrance" in Aramaic.
