About Latakia
Latakia is one of the most important port cities of Syria. The city, which hosted the Mediterranean Games in 1987, is located about 50 kilometers from the Turkish border. Latakia, which is the 5th largest city in terms of the population of the country, constitutes a Turkish and Turkish originated population of about 100 thousand. The city, which has many historical monuments and structures dating from ancient Roman, Umayyad, Eyyübi, Mamluk and Ottoman periods, is also the most important tourism city in the country. Latakia, which is the entry point for the goods coming from the Mediterranean, is also an important point in transporting these goods to the Middle East.
The city is also one of the most important olive, olive oil, sponge and fishing cities in the Middle East. Even famous tobaccos are produced in the city. Tourist and cultural attractions of the city include the Grand Mosque, the New Mosque, the Al Moghrebi Mosque, the Roman ruins, the Latin Church and Saladin Castle built by Selahaddin Eyyübi and the long sandy beaches. There is also an airport in the city besides the harbor and large roads. Bassel Al Assad International Airport, which was open to international flights until the turn of the civil war, located 20 kilometers south of the city center, only serves domestic flights today.
