Experts call for restoration of Syria’s heritage sites, including the Roman ruins at Palmyra

Syria’s renowned landmarks, such as the ancient city of Palmyra and the medieval castle of Crac des Chevaliers, still bear the scars of nearly 14 years of war.

Conservationists, however, are optimistic that their historical and cultural significance will eventually draw international visitors back, helping to revitalise the country’s economy. Local tourists are already returning, they say.

Palmyra, one of Syria’s six UNESCO World Heritage sites, once thrived as a key hub on the ancient Silk Road, linking the Roman and Parthian empires to Asia.

Situated in the Syrian desert, the site is home to remarkable 2,000-year-old Roman-era ruins. These historic structures now bear the marks of destruction, with shattered columns and damaged temples.

Before the Syrian uprising in 2011, which spiralled into a bloody civil war, Palmyra was Syria’s top tourist destination, drawing around 150,000 visitors each month. 

“Palmyra revitalised the steppe and used to be a global tourist magnet,” Ayman Nabu, a researcher and expert in ancient ruins told The Associated Press, explaining that the site was known as the “Bride of the Desert”.

The capital of an Arab client state under the Roman Empire, Palmyra holds particular significance as the site where Queen Zenobia famously led a brief rebellion in the third century, carving out her own kingdom. However, in more recent history, the site has gained more sinister associations.

Notably, the city was home to Tadmur prison, a notorious detention centre where thousands of political prisoners, including opponents of the Assad regime, were reportedly tortured. When the Islamic State (IS) captured the town, they demolished the prison and later set about destroying Palmyra’s iconic monuments, including the