{"id":257095,"date":"2019-09-14T07:00:31","date_gmt":"2019-09-14T10:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/?p=257095"},"modified":"2019-09-16T13:06:40","modified_gmt":"2019-09-16T16:06:40","slug":"through-a-part-of-syria-that-saw-no-war-but-many-losses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/through-a-part-of-syria-that-saw-no-war-but-many-losses\/","title":{"rendered":"Through a part of Syria that saw no war, but many losses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Latakia, Syria \u2013 On the morning of September 1st, foreign journalists invited to visit Syria by the local Ministry of Tourism left Al-Nasrah, close to the Lebanese border, to Latakia, a port city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and the country\u2019s fifth largest city, around 140 kilometer northwest. Part of the Argentinian delegation returned to Damascus, while this ANBA reporter went on with a group of Czech media professionals.<\/p>\n

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On the road to Latakia. On the background, Qal’at Al-Marqab outpost<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With the war and international sanctions, Syria has rationed fuels, since it doesn\u2019t produce enough to supply its demand and struggle to import. Each driver is entitled to a limited monthly ratio, and lwhile eaving Al-Nasrah, we could already see long lines forming near gas station, as it was the beginning of the month.<\/p>\n

Talking to Czechs, another tale of encounters arose, like the one of the Argentinian journalist who found his cousin in Maaloula, published last Wednesday<\/a>. A Syrian older man from Aleppo that accompanied the group was a friend from college of one of the European journalist\u2019s father in the 1970s in Czechoslovak .<\/p>\n

On a previous trip, the guy searched for his father\u2019s friend in Aleppo, but he only knew his name and profession and didn\u2019t have the right address. While asking around Syria\u2019s largest city if anyone knew him, he was surprised by the locals\u2019 solidarity. A great network was formed, a person calling another for information, until the man was found. A very friendly man, he accompanied the team and helped with explanations ant translations. He speaks Slovak, a language very similar to Czech.<\/p>\n

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Qal’at Al-Marqab, outside Baniy\u00e1s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the way to Latakia on the coast, the group stopped by the road to behold from afar Qal\u2019at Al-Marqab, a Crusaders\u2019 castle on top of a hill in Baniy\u00e1s, between Tartus and Latakia. The fortress has an outpost close to the beach where occupiers could watch the comings and goings in the sea. The Arabic name means \u201cWatch Castle,\u201d referring to the tower.<\/p>\n

The medieval crown jewel around there, however, is Qal\u2019at Salah El-Din (Saladin Castle). A Byzantine castle from the 10th century, it was expanded by the Francs in the 12nd century and later by the Ayyubid dynasty, founded by Saladin, a hero that conquered it in 1188. Before that, it was called Sahyun Castle. The site is recognized as a World Heritage Site by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO<\/a>), as well as Crac des Chevaliers, also in Syria, which is on the list of World Heritage in Danger since 2013.<\/p>\n

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Kherbek tells the story of the Saladin Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The remarkable monument is 30 kilometers east from Latakia on an area of mountains and green valleys. The castle is on top of a rock, which was split by the human hand, creating an underpass. Up above, both parts were linked by a bridge in the Middle Ages, sustained by a pinnacle in the middle of the rift.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the largest castle in Syria, and maybe the whole Arab region,\u201d said Latakia\u2019s Antiquities and Museums Department director Ibrahim Kherbek, who was there. The castle itself has an area of 6.5 hectares, while the overall site has 129.5 hectares.<\/p>\n

To maintain the monument, he said, \u201cSyrian government pays what it can,\u201d and there are also funds from institutions such as UNESCO for \u201cdocumentation and some restoration.\u201d Unlike Crac des Chevaliers<\/a>, Saladin Castle didn\u2019t see any of the fights in the war started in 2011.<\/p>\n

Inside, the fortress is a maze of keeps, walls, stables, cisterns and other buildings raised over centuries. The view to valleys and mountains around is spectacular.<\/p>\n

(Story continues after photo gallery)<\/em><\/p>\n

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