Top 5 Attractions in the Middle East

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A trip to the Middle East is in many cases like a journey to a parallel universe or a travel back in time. Delicious sweets, delicate minarets and lively bazaars are only a small part of what the Arabic world has to offer. People often tend to forget that the Arabian Peninsula is the real cradle of civilization: at the crossroads between Asia, Europe and Africa, once rose the greatest cities of the Antique World, long before the Greeks, the Romans and even the Egyptians.

Many Middle Eastern capitals are simply remarkable: they have temples, ruins and monuments that are older than everything else in Europe, plus that cosmopolitan touch that makes them so vivid and unique. Here come five of the Middle East’s best attractions:

Jerusalem Old City, Israel

For hundreds of years the Israeli city of Jerusalem has been a pilgrimage destination for Christians and Jews all over the world – Jerusalem’s historic and religious relevance have no equivalent. No one knows exactly when Jerusalem was founded: but the stony walls of its old city have witnessed centuries of  history, wars and tragedies.

Within a less than half a square mile surface, the city encompasses four ethnic quarters (Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian) and religious monuments of crucial importance (Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, Holy Sepulchre Church).

Petra, Jordan

Just to give you an idea of how old the stone city of Petra really is, let me just say that people started visiting it as a curiosity even from the 13th century. Carved in a strangely colored rock (whose nuances vary from read and pink to orange and yellow) the city of Petra was once a wonder of architecture and technique (a brilliant aqueduct system transformed Petra into a man-made oasis), where craftsmanship, arts and commerce flourished.

The Dead Sea

A sea whose salt concentration is so high that is makes people float, whose elevation (this might sound like a paradox) is under the sea level and whose mud can cure many skin conditions, The Dead Sea is by far a must on your list of Middle Eastern attractions. If not for its curative effects than at least for the sake of the unique landscape and numerous ruins, the Dead Sea deserves a top rank.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Mixing the opulence of an Arabian prince’s palace with the technology of tomorrow, Dubai rapidly imposed itself as a top tourist destination. Many of Dubai’s hotels, restaurants, entertainment facilities and constructions have managed to establish new standards of luxury, which makes Dubai less a budget-friendly destination and more like the ultimate shopping/relaxation/honeymoon vacation spot.

Aleppo, Syria

If you will ever travel to Aleppo, then get ready to see, smell and taste the best that the the Middle East has ever produced: home made cosmetics and fabrics, richly ornamented hammams, medieval forts, ancient temples and noisy suqs (indoor markets) are only some of the attractions offered by this marvelous city.

Exotic and cosmopolitan, Aleppo is simply overwhelming under any aspect, from its prolific academic activity and work-famous cuisine to the religious tolerance and superb nature.

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