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<p><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: purple; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="Template1.aspx?MenuID=127"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;">General Facts</span></a><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;"> | </span><a href="Template1.aspx?MenuID=123"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;">Geography</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;"> | </span><a href="Template1.aspx?MenuID=125"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;">Culture</span></span></a><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;"> | </span></span><a href="Template1.aspx?MenuID=124"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: #810081; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;">Syrian Food</span></span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #0364ab;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">|</span> </span><span style="color: #808080; font-size: xx-small;"><strong>Shopping</strong></span></span><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong><br /><br /></strong><br />The magnificent old city of Damascus inhabits a wide range of souks that cater to different needs. <br /><br />Your first stop must be at the all famous Hamadiyeh souk. You will follow a straight line of 500 meters from the west of the old city to the Omayyad Mosque. The souk dates back to the Ottoman Rule under Sultan Abdul-Hamid, after whom the souk "hamidiyeh" was named. The souk is covered with high iron vaulting and the hot sun's rays are filtered through its shields, with holes that emerged from gun fire attacks in the mid 20th century under the French mandate. A major commercial center up until this day, the shops in Hamadiyeh sell almost everything with a wide array of products displayed at the main street. Exquisite handmade brocades, mosaic, and copper inlaid with silver were superbly displayed, perplexing to the shopper's initiative due to their abundance.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Enjoy your vacation in Syria</strong></span></p>