Northwest of Damascus, this is an arid mountain massif where rocky landscapes predominate. Remote hamlets cling to mountainsides, their siting always dictated by availability of water. Mainly Christian, it has many churches and religious communities...

This Greek Catholic monastery has an interesting church, the oldest in the world of this denomination. It has a fine collection of icons, some painted in 1813 by Michael of Crete . The priest on duty in the shop, who is liable to encourage visitors ..