Damascus

The name alone evokes history. Under the shelter of Mount Qassioun there has been a city here for four thousand years, and one that became a huge hub when the Umayyads chose here as their capital in the early days of Islam in the seventh century. Today the old quarter of the city feels like a living museum, steeped in tradition and a way of life still consistent with that of its forebears from generations previous. The narrow streets and hectic markets proceed at the same pace they always have within the old city walls, with the delightful surprises of beautifully decorated houses, magisterial mosques and charming coffee shops seemingly at every corner.