Homs is the third most important city in Syria. It lies 160km to the north of Damascus. Like Petra and Palmyra, Homs was an Arab emirate in the 2^nd century B.C. It was also the third station on the silk route after Doura Europos and Palmyra.

It still retains this position of importance today, as the oil pipelines pass through the city.

Unfortunately, many buildings and citadels in Homs were destroyed by ancient earthquakes. There remains only one citadel in the south of the city with its Damascus and Palmyra gates.

This historical city produced many impressive personalities, (an emir of Homs) through his daughters marriage to the Roman emperor, Septimium Severus, who ruled Rome from 193 to 211 sired three rulers, Caracalla, Heliogabalus and Alexander Severus; the famous Syrian Philosopher Longinus, counsellor to Queen Zenobia, and the physician, Marlian.

Among the most significant historic constructions remaining in Homs is the mosque of khaled ibn al-Walid, the great commander of the Muslim Arab armies. Two very tall white-stone minarets lend lightness to the imposing structure. The slender colonnade in black and white stone in horizontal rows is representative of traditional Syrian architecture.

Many churches still stand in Homs from the days of early Christianity in Syria. One of these churches is said to possess the girdle of the Blessed Virgin. The church of St. Elian is unique for its collection of fine frescoes discovered in 1970. These bear inscriptions in Greek and Arabic, and date back to the end of the 12^th century. The Nuri mosque also dates back to the 12^th century, distinguished for its beautiful entrance.

In the Homs museum, there are many archaeological artifacts dating back to the ancient Syrian Greek , Roman, Byzantine and Arab times .

The most famous medieval citadel in the world, Qal’at al-Hosn, is 65km west of Homs and 75 Km south-east of Tartus. It is 650m above sea-level. It was built in order to control the so-called Homs Gap, the gateway to Syria. It was through this passage that Syria communicated with the Mediterranean.

In ancient times the importance of this strategic corridor was immense. It was of crucial importance to the Crusaders and other foreign invaders in their conquest of the coast. Conflict over the Crac des Chevaliers continued through the ages. It was a fierce and bloody dispute, but in the end, Sultan Beybars managed to recover it in 1271 through a military trick and one month of fighting.