Jisr ash-Shughur, the ruins of Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle

Jisr ash-Shughur, the ruins of Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a general view of bridge between the two castles

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a general view of bridge between the two castles

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, Arabic inscription

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, Arabic inscription

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, stone arches

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, stone arches

General view of al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya (the coastal mountains) covered by forests

General view of al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya (the coastal mountains) covered by forests

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, general view of the site

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, general view of the site

A small river in the Syrian coastal mountains (al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

A small river in the Syrian coastal mountains (al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

A distant view of the coastal mountains (al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

A distant view of the coastal mountains (al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

Several peaks in the Costal mountains (Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

Several peaks in the Costal mountains (Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, Arabic inscription

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, Arabic inscription

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, cave

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, cave

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, stone arch

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, stone arch

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, caves

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas, a twin crusader castle, caves

‘ataba ceiling in the main courtyard, north wing of the Qasr al-‘Azm in Damascus, today known as the "Bride´s Room"

‘ataba ceiling in the main courtyard, north wing of the Qasr al-‘Azm in Damascus, today known as the “Bride´s Room”

Jamiʿ (mosque) ash-Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Ibn ʿArabi, seen from Friday's suq

Jamiʿ (mosque) ash-Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Ibn ʿArabi, seen from Friday’s suq

Mausoleum of ash-Shaykh Khalid an-Naqishbandi

Mausoleum of ash-Shaykh Khalid an-Naqishbandi

Al-Madrasa ash-Sharafiyya, prayer niche decorated with geometric patterns

Al-Madrasa ash-Sharafiyya, prayer niche decorated with geometric patterns

Al-Madrasa ash-Sharafiyya, prayer niche decorated with geometric patterns

Al-Madrasa ash-Sharafiyya, prayer niche decorated with geometric patterns

The minaret of Jamiʿ (Mosque) ash-Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Ibn ʿArabi

The minaret of Jamiʿ (Mosque) ash-Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Ibn ʿArabi

Natural view near the village of ʿArna on Jabal ash-Shaykh

Natural view near the village of ʿArna on Jabal ash-Shaykh

Ash-Shaykh mountain, distant view of 'Arna village

Ash-Shaykh mountain, distant view of ‘Arna village

Terraced grain fields on the western slope of the coastal mountain range (Jabal Ansariyya)

Terraced grain fields on the western slope of the coastal mountain range (Jabal Ansariyya)

Tughra of sultan over the entrance of ash-Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Ibn ʿArabi Mosque

Tughra of sultan over the entrance of ash-Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Ibn ʿArabi Mosque

Al-Madrasa ash-Sharafiyya, interior view of lobed dome carried by muqarnas

Al-Madrasa ash-Sharafiyya, interior view of lobed dome carried by muqarnas

Al-Madrasa ash-Sharafiyya, the entrance from the interior

Al-Madrasa ash-Sharafiyya, the entrance from the interior

Al-Madrasa ash-Sharafiyya, entrance with half-dome and muqarnas

Al-Madrasa ash-Sharafiyya, entrance with half-dome and muqarnas

Khusrawiyya, view of complex from the citadel, Khan ash-Shuna in foreground, in 2000

Khusrawiyya, view of complex from the citadel, Khan ash-Shuna in foreground, in 2000

Jabal ʿAruda, Maqam (shrine) ash-Shaykh 'Aruda

Jabal ʿAruda, Maqam (shrine) ash-Shaykh ‘Aruda

Damascus, An old wooden door

Damascus, An old wooden door

Vegetation with rocks in the coastal mountains

Vegetation with rocks in the coastal mountains