At 120 km south of Damascus lies Bosra, the capital of the Roman province of Arabia, almost entirely built from black basalt. The main attraction of the city is one of the well-preserved Roman theaters, designed for 15 thousand seats.

How to get to Bosra

Bosra can be reached from the new bus station of Damascus by buses of the companies Damas Tours or Al-Muhib ( 60 SYP, on the way two hours). Back buses depart every two hours, from 6:00 to 18:00.

Entertainment, excursions and attractions Bosra

Impressive well preserved nymphaeum, the Nabatean gates, the triumphal arch, many medieval buildings and one of the oldest mosques in the world. Needless to say, Bosra is also included in the UNESCO list.

From the Roman theater there is a narrow road, laid out by an ancient cobblestone, which passes by the southern baths directly to the decumanus. It is located near the triple arch, known as Bab al-Kandil (Gate of the Lanterns). West entrance to the city is Bab al-Khava ("Gateway to the Wind").

The mosque of Omar, located in the center of the city (called the local Jami-al-Aruss, "wedding mosque"), was originally a pagan temple. This is the only mosque of the early Islamic period, which preserved the original facade. Also interesting is the Khidr Mosque - one of the oldest Muslim buildings of Bosra. Built from black basalt in 1134 on the site of an earlier mosque, it has a length of seven meters.

Bani Mandjak is a fine example of Mameluke architecture and the last Muslim construction of Bosra. Another remarkable mosque - al-Mabrak - is located outside the city. At its walls lie thousands of graves, covered with plates of black basalt.