Madrasat al-Firdaws, inner courtyard with eastern arcade

Madrasat al-Firdaws, inner courtyard with eastern arcade

Al-Madrasa as-Sultaniyya, exterior view of northern facade - entrance, minaret and garden

Al-Madrasa as-Sultaniyya, exterior view of northern facade – entrance, minaret and garden

General view of Safita city

General view of Safita city

Safita, General view of the city showing the Donjon of the Templars

Safita, General view of the city showing the Donjon of the Templars

Exterior view of Krak des chevaliers (Qalʿat al-Husn)

Exterior view of Krak des chevaliers (Qalʿat al-Husn)

New buildings still empty for agricultural purposes in the Ghab-plain

New buildings still empty for agricultural purposes in the Ghab-plain

Mountains around Palmyra (parts of Palmyra Chains)

Mountains around Palmyra (parts of Palmyra Chains)

Monumental Arch and Colonnaded Street in Palmyra

Monumental Arch and Colonnaded Street in Palmyra

General view of Palmyra city, Diocletian's Camp in foreground

General view of Palmyra city, Diocletian’s Camp in foreground

Palmyra, arch of Triumph (Qaws Hadrian), entrance to the Great Colonnade

Palmyra, arch of Triumph (Qaws Hadrian), entrance to the Great Colonnade

View from Jabal Husainiyya towards Diocletian's camp and Allat-temple

View from Jabal Husainiyya towards Diocletian’s camp and Allat-temple

The Great Colonnade towards the Monumental Arch

The Great Colonnade towards the Monumental Arch

The Great Colonnade in Palmyra, View to the south east

The Great Colonnade in Palmyra, View to the south east

Hama, The historic alley leading to al-ʿAzm Palace

Hama, The historic alley leading to al-ʿAzm Palace

Children from the region, Krak des Chevaliers in the background

Children from the region, Krak des Chevaliers in the background

View of a road in al-Ghab Plain

View of a road in al-Ghab Plain

A Bedouin family in one of the villages of the Euphrates Valley

A Bedouin family in one of the villages of the Euphrates Valley

View of the Euphrates river with very shallow banks

View of the Euphrates river with very shallow banks

Grazing sheep on the Euphrates

Grazing sheep on the Euphrates

Artificial field irrigation and drinking water supplies, al-Ghab Plain

Artificial field irrigation and drinking water supplies, al-Ghab Plain

Artificial field irrigation and drinking water supplies, al-Ghab Plain

Artificial field irrigation and drinking water supplies, al-Ghab Plain

View from Qalat al-Mudhiq to the lower village and the Ottoman Khan in the Orontes plain

View from Qalat al-Mudhiq to the lower village and the Ottoman Khan in the Orontes plain

VW-"beatle" in the center of the Ghab Plain

VW-“beatle” in the center of the Ghab Plain

An entrance, Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi

An entrance, Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi

Northwest corner of Mushannaf Temple with the artificial pool in the foreground

Northwest corner of Mushannaf Temple with the artificial pool in the foreground

Busra, the western wall and the apse are the remains of the Byzantine Cathedral built in the 6th century

Busra, the western wall and the apse are the remains of the Byzantine Cathedral built in the 6th century

Monastery of St Simeon Stylites, the baptistery

Monastery of St Simeon Stylites, the baptistery

Propylaea of Jupiter Temple, Damascus

Propylaea of Jupiter Temple, Damascus

Remains of the Jupiter temple in Damascus

Remains of the Jupiter temple in Damascus

Jamiʿ al-Qayqan, southern facade with spolia stones and hieroglyphic writing

Jamiʿ al-Qayqan, southern facade with spolia stones and hieroglyphic writing