Aleppo region, Syria

The Syrian Arab Republic (185 000km2), is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest. The population of Syria (21 million) is 74% Sunni Muslim, 16% Alawites, Ismailis & Twelvers, 10% Christian & Druze. Syria attained independence in April 1946, as a parliamentary republic. 2010-At 60 km from Aleppo, the Basilica of Saint Simeon (Qala'at Semaan) dating from the late fifth century. It is named after a hermit who lived for 40 years in renunciation and prayer seated on top of a column, after his death in 459 AD, the Emperor Zenon built in his memory this basilica. (Photo by Eric-Paul-Pierre PASQUIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)