Although Apamea, Syria, was founded by the Seleucids at the beginning of the third century BC, most of what remains today is the Roman cardo maximus—the city's main thoroughfare. It's a stunning sight: Rows of columns line both sides of the paved street for more than 1 mi/1.5 km, surrounded by green fields.
To the west of the colonnaded street and housed in an Ottoman caravansary, a museum displays mosaics and statuary from Apamea and the surrounding area. Just north of the museum is a 13th-century hilltop fortress, Qalaat al Mudiq.
Located 165 mi/265 km north of Damascus, Apamea is best seen as a day trip from Hama.
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