Palmyra Arch and Castle

Through the monumental arch of Palmyra, the Qala’at Ibn Maan Castle rises above the desert. Built by the Mamluks in the 13th c. and later linked to emir Fakhr-al-Din II, it overlooks colonnades that once defined this Silk Road hub. Damaged in recent conflicts, the UNESCO World Heritage site endures as a powerful symbol of Syria’s layered past.