Syria

Damascus is Syria’s capital and political center, hosting the presidency, parliament, and most ministries. While Aleppo was long the country’s largest city, Homs an inland industrial hub, and Latakia the main Mediterranean port, none of them is the seat of government. One of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Damascus sat on key trade routes across the Levant and even served as the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate (7th–8th centuries). Landmarks like the Umayyad Mosque reflect its deep history. Memory tip: think “Damascus steel” — the famed Syrian blades — to remember that Damascus is the nation’s steel-strong capital.