Sightseeing in Bosra - what to see. Complete travel guide

If you head to the south from Damascus, you will find a miraculous city 120 kilometers from the capital. This is Busra or Bosra, a settlement that played an important role during the Roman Empire period. What is so unusual about the city and why should tourists visit it? Famous as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient city of Bosra mostly has black buildings. This is very rare for Roman ruins.

Having arrived in Bosra and walked on its streets a bit, you might feel like you are in a night kingdom. Despite the tragic shade of buildings, the settlement looks enchanting and is inviting visitors to learn more about its secrets and try to solve them. The unusually dark ruins create a fantastic atmosphere of mystery.

Bosra has always been famous as one of the earliest settlements in Syria. First people appeared here yet during the 14th century BC. At that time, Thutmose III was the ruler in this area. After the fall of Alexander the Great’s empire, the Seleucid Empire established its authority in the region. In 163 AD, Judah Maccabee attacked this area and conquered Bosra. The town changed rules several times over the next centuries. Many leaders tried to conquer Syrian land. In the end, Bosra became a part of the Roman Empire. Renamed as Nova Trajana Bostra, the town became the capital of the Arabia province. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

As the town was situated at the crossing of many important trading routes, it quickly became prosperous. It even started making its own silver coins. The region was actively developing in the 3rd century, but the Queen of Palmira and her troops invaded the region in 269. The Syrian land couldn’t resist the invaders, and the queen conquered Bosra. After a period of wars and unrest, Bosra started developing again only in the 6th century. This is the time when numerous palaces and churches appeared in the town. Many of these landmarks have survived until our days. Mongols destroyed the town’s fortifications in the 13th century, and Bosra lost its status as an important center of trade.

In modern time, Bosra gained recognition as a tourist destination. Tourists and guests of the town are usually impressed to see so many fabulous landmarks in one town. Travelers interested in religious landmarks might find it interesting to visit the nearby village of Ezra where they will find the Church of Saint George. This saint is popular with both Orthodox Christians and Muslims. The church was built in 515 on the site of a pagan shrine. There is a grave of the saint in the territory of the church. Saint George was very popular in the area because Bosra frequently suffered from enemies’ attacks, and local soldiers had to protect their homeland. Saint George is the patron saint of all soldiers. The tomb of the saint is located behind the altar.

When visiting Bosra, don’t forget to attend the main landmark of the region – a Roman amphitheater built in the 2nd century. Three centuries later, thick protective walls with square towers surrounded the historic landmark. Thanks to such protective measures, the amphitheater has survived until our days.

The amphitheater could provide space for up to fifteen thousand people. Each of the guests could perfectly hear what actors were saying because of the tremendous acoustic properties of the venue. Even people sitting at the top of the amphitheater didn’t need to worry because they could hear everything. Despite the fact that this is a Roman building, the amphitheater was built on a plain and not like it was typical for Rome where many similar venues were made among hills. Nowadays, one of the towers exhibits a collection of precious findings, and the amphitheater’s scene regularly hosts folklore festivals.

The Ancient City of Bosra is a miraculous place that tells us more about the life of people back in the past. There are still ruins that date back to different periods in the history of the town – the Roman and Byzantine buildings, as well as some landmarks built during the Arabian caliphate period. When walking among these ruins, you can return to the time when the town was only starting its existence or when it had to cope with difficulties and invasions of alien forces. Feel the atmosphere of the old city and see the materials used to make buildings in the past.

The easiest way to get to Bosra is to fly to Damascus first. The city’s bus station has regular buses to this part of the country, and many of them make a stop in Bosra. The bus station is located outside the city, and any taxi driver will gladly take you to it in minutes. The journey time to Bosra is roughly two hours. It is better to buy bus tickets in Damascus in advance because the bus only makes a stop in Bosra and goes further. It is better to take care of the tickets in advance because they might be sold out. Besides the bus, tourists can always get a taxi that will take them to the town.