In southern Syria, Roman theatre survives civil war

BOSRA, Syria — Mobile phone in hand, student Abdelaziz Al Aswad bounds up the steps of an UNESCO-listed Roman theatre in southern Syria, elated that the heritage site has survived seven years of civil war.

The second-century theatre stands tall in the ancient city of Bosra, which the United Nations cultural body designated as under threat after Syria's conflict broke out.

Aswad was among dozens to visit and take pictures of the theatre under grey skies on Friday, as part of an organised trip to the area sanctioned by the tourism ministry.

"I travelled 700 kilometres from northern Syria to see the theatre after hearing so much about it," said the 23-year-old, who hails from the northern city of Aleppo.

Regime forces retook full control of the surrounding province of Daraa in July, for the first time in six years.

Rebels had overrun parts of Bosra in 2012, and then took it over completely in 2015.

"I thought I'd find it destroyed, but it seems to have survived this vicious war," said Aswad, dressed in a red hoody and matching headband, both bearing the words "I am Syrian".

Dozens of visitors, including some armed with umbrellas to fend off drizzle, hiked up the dark stone steps of the semi-circular theatre for a better view of the stage below.

Around them the ancient auditorium appeared largely unscathed, except for a hole blown into the steps, a small pit on the stage, and shell pockmarks on columns.

In ancient times, Bosra was the capital of the Roman province of Arabia, and an important stopover on the ancient caravan route to Mecca, UNESCO says.

The archeological site — which was once a bustling city of some 80,000 people — also contains early Christian ruins and several mosques.

So many beautiful places

Khaled Nawaylati, one of the trip's organisers, said he was overjoyed to find Bosra's theatre in one piece on his first visit in ten years.

"You can't imagine my happiness after I saw the site was safe and sound," he said.

According to Wafi Al Dous, head of the local civil council, no more than 5 per cent of the theatre has been damaged.

Hundreds of archeological sites have been destroyed, damaged or looted in Syria's conflict, with all sides blamed for the pillaging.

Before the war, tourism was an essential source of foreign currency for Syria's economy, second only to oil exports.

But after the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011 spiralled into civil war, the fighting kept foreign visitors at bay.

With clashes and bombardment raging across the country, internal tourism also plummeted.

"Internal tourism completely stopped in 2011, and visitors have since stayed away," said Dous, who fled Bosra when the rebels fully overran it three years ago.

He has only recently returned, but with the government back in control, he is optimistic.

Restoration will soon get under way, Dous said, and a festival that once saw Lebanese singer Fairuz perform in the ancient city will be revived.

Syrians on the organised tour on Friday were delighted just to be able to visit a landmark of their country's history.

In the middle of the Roman stage, 30-year-old Manal posed for a photo with her seven-month-old daughter after making the day trip with her husband from Damascus.

"We can't travel outside Syria, so we're starting to visit our own country again," she said.

"There are so many beautiful places to see, she added.