Syrian Air

  Ministry of Tourism

     Bosra

Bosra is an extremely ancient city mentioned in lists of Tutmose III and Akhenaton in the fourteenth century BC. The first Nabataean city in the 2nd century BC, it bore the name Buhora, and then Bustra during Hellenistic period. Later the Romans took an active interest in the city, and at time of Emperor Trojan it was made the capital of the Province of Arabia (in 106 BC) and was called Neatrajana Bustra. The major point of interest of Bosra Al-Cham, as the town is presently known, is an Arab fortress that encloses one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters. Built around the end of the 2nd century AD, it seats up to 15,000 spectators with perfect acoustics. Also dating from the late 2nd century are palatial Roman baths recently excavated, approximately 50 meters to the East.it is recommended to also visit the Nabatean and Roman gates, the cryptoportic, the Bahira's church and the Omari mosque. The most interesting part of the city today is the famous Roman theater built in the second century AD, which seats 15 thousand spectators, and is considered one of the most beautiful and well-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. The city itself contains a great number of Roman ruins, a part of the Byzantine Bahira Church, as well as Al-Mabrak Mosque, which is said to have been erected on site where the Prophet's camel stopped to rest. There is also Omar Mosque (also called Al-Arouss Mosque), which is the only one of its type remaining from the early days of Islam, and it retains its 7th century primitive form. An important Muslim citadel, dating back to Ayoubite and Mamluk period still stands, and one of its towers now houses a museum of Antiquities and Traditional Arts. Roman Amphitheatre: Built around the end of the 2nd century AD, and was later converted into a fortress by the Ayyubids. The original theatre, which has been miraculously preserved, seats up to 15 000 with perfect acoustics and its stage is 45 meters in length and 8 meters in depth. It has been designed so that all the audience can hear the actors without the use of any special equipment. The theatre has been renovated and restored, especially a lot of the columns. There is a large area in front of the stage that might've been used for circuses or gladiatorial matches. Most of the Ayyubid fortress that envelops the theatre remains. It was built by the Ayyubids except for a few towers built by the Seljuks. One of the Ayyubid towers on the outer arc has now been turned into a folkloric museum. The Citadel of Bosra: When past and present embrace. The citadel stands as a witness to relate stories about many civilization that Bosra hugs through its historic periods, culture put most of its art and creation in stones to create a marvelous art narrates the story of these culture, however Bosra counts one of the most important citadel that existing in the world. it is composed of three towers, the southern, the eastern and the western which border on the outer walls of the theater, moreover, these towers linked to all entrances and exits of the theater, as the citadels contains one of the most important theater that existing in the world. The citadel is surrounded with a trench that full of water used for military purposes. At last, the entry to citadel is done by a moving wooden bridge leans on five arches to move it at need.