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Palmyra is a site of immense size, beauty and historical intrest. It was formerly a Roman city of some importance, due to its location on major trade routes and close proximity to an oasis. It's most famous citizen was a woman of local stock by the name of Zenobia. Married to a Roman govenor, when he was killed she took control of her city and rebelled against Rome itself, handing some embarassing military defeats to the occupiers. At the same time she showed the high degree of tolerance and humanity typical of her people in her liberal domestic policies. When the Romans finally returned in force and captured her, she was respected enough to be granted a peaceful exile in Rome. For a far better short history of Zenobia, see here. Sadly, the city rebelled a number of times after Zenobia, and Rome, losing its patience, massacred Palmyra's inhabitants.
The site also features a castle built much later to ward off crusaders and mongols, which is in stunningly good condition and provides some excellent views. The necropolis outside the city is at least as interesting as the city itself, some tombs still littered with human bones!
The locals here today are exceedingly friendly and generous. I had the oppourtunity to go hunting with a bedouin man, who turned out to be a terrible shot. It was a good thing, since we ended up having some unusually juicy peaches which were probably far better tasting than the ratty little birds he was after.
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