Russia travel agency offers vacations to Syria conflict

By Maureen O'Hare, CNN

Updated 0158 GMT (0958 HKT) December 18, 2015

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Once the largest mosques in the world, built in the 9th century on the Tigris River north of Baghdad. The mosque is famous for the Malwiya Tower, a 52-meter minaret with spiraling ramps for worshipers to climb. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4401577.stm" target="_blank">The site was bombed in 2005</a>, in an insurgent attack on a NATO position, destroying the top of the minaret and surrounding walls.<br /><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/10/23/pkg-wedeman-iraq-historical-artifacts-threat-isis.cnn.html"><strong>Video:</strong> ISIS targets historical artifacts</a>
Photos: Precious monuments lost in Middle East
Great Mosque of Samarra – Once the largest mosques in the world, built in the 9th century on the Tigris River north of Baghdad. The mosque is famous for the Malwiya Tower, a 52-meter minaret with spiraling ramps for worshipers to climb. The site was bombed in 2005, in an insurgent attack on a NATO position, destroying the top of the minaret and surrounding walls.
Video: ISIS targets historical artifacts
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An "oasis in the Syrian desert"<strong> </strong>according to UNESCO, this Aramaic city has stood since the second millennium BC and featured some of the most advanced architecture of the period. The site subsequently evolved through Greco-Roman and Persian periods, providing unique historic insight into those cultures. ISIS now controls the ancient city and has <a href="/2015/11/08/architecture/palmyra-around-the-world/index.html" target="_blank">destroyed shrines, temples and monuments</a>.
Photos: Precious monuments lost in Middle East
Palmyra, Syria – An "oasis in the Syrian desert" according to UNESCO, this Aramaic city has stood since the second millennium BC and featured some of the most advanced architecture of the period. The site subsequently evolved through Greco-Roman and Persian periods, providing unique historic insight into those cultures. ISIS now controls the ancient city and has destroyed shrines, temples and monuments.
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The most spectacular legacy of Buddhism in the war-torn country, among the tallest standing Buddhas in the world -- the larger at 53 meters, the other 35 -- had survived over 1,500 years since being carved out of sandstone. The Taliban considered the monuments idolatrous and <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/718" target="_blank">destroyed them with dynamite</a>.
Photos: Precious monuments lost in Middle East
The Buddhas of Bamiyan, Afghanistan – The most spectacular legacy of Buddhism in the war-torn country, among the tallest standing Buddhas in the world -- the larger at 53 meters, the other 35 -- had survived over 1,500 years since being carved out of sandstone. The Taliban considered the monuments idolatrous and destroyed them with dynamite.
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Yemen's capital city of Sanaa has seen several <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/20/middleeast/yemen-violence/">suicide bombings</a> for which ISIS claimed responsibility, and air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition -- although it is unclear who is responsible to the latest damage. These have affected both the old fortified city -- inscribed on UNESCO's <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/385" target="_blank">World Heritage List</a> since 1986 -- and the archaeological site of the pre-Islamic walled city of Baraqish, causing "severe damage," <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/unesco-condemns-severe-bombing-damage-sanaa-old-town-163427150.html" target="_blank">according to UNESCO</a> itself.
Photos: Precious monuments lost in Middle East
Sanaa old city, Yemen – Yemen's capital city of Sanaa has seen several suicide bombings for which ISIS claimed responsibility, and air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition -- although it is unclear who is responsible to the latest damage. These have affected both the old fortified city -- inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1986 -- and the archaeological site of the pre-Islamic walled city of Baraqish, causing "severe damage," according to UNESCO itself.
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Continually inhabited for 2,500 years, and became the capital of the Romans' Arabian empire. The centerpiece is a magnificent Roman theater dating back to the second century that survived intact until the current conflict. Archaeologists have revealed the site is now severely <a href="http://ghn.globalheritagefund.com/uploads/documents/document_2107.pdf" target="_blank">damaged from mortar shelling</a>.
Photos: Precious monuments lost in Middle East
The ancient city of Bosra, Syria – Continually inhabited for 2,500 years, and became the capital of the Romans' Arabian empire. The centerpiece is a magnificent Roman theater dating back to the second century that survived intact until the current conflict. Archaeologists have revealed the site is now severely damaged from mortar shelling.
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