Idlib University Students Explore Syria’s Ancient Heritage on New Educational Tourism Route

A group of 100 students visited Serjilla, Maarrat al-Numan and the archaeological legacy of Ebla as regional tourism officials seek to revive heritage-focused travel.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• A Ministry of Tourism initiative introduced 100 university students to Idlib’s archaeological and natural attractions.
• The route featured Mount al-Arbaeen, Serjilla, Maarrat al-Numan and the heritage of ancient Ebla.
• History students connected classroom study with on-site visits to archaeological landmarks and mosaic collections.
• The trip forms part of local efforts to revive domestic and educational tourism after prolonged disruption.

A journey through archaeological settlements, museum collections and the landscapes of northwestern Syria brought 100 university students into direct contact with Idlib’s cultural heritage on Sunday, 18 October 2026. The educational excursion was part of a local initiative to bring attention back to historical sites and build interest in domestic travel.

Organized by Syria’s Ministry of Tourism with Idlib Governorate, its Tourism Directorate and Idlib University, the trip formed part of the “Idlib: A Promising Destination” programme. The itinerary linked Mount al-Arbaeen, the ancient village of Serjilla, Maarrat al-Numan and its museum, Al-Shallal Restaurant, and the ruins associated with the Kingdom of Ebla.

A heritage itinerary connecting landscape and history

According to a 19 October report from the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the programme was the second tourism activity held under the “Idlib: A Promising Destination” banner. Idlib Tourism Director Nayef al-Qaddour said cooperation with the university gave 100 male and female students an opportunity to learn more about archaeological and visitor attractions after over 14 years of interruption to such activities.

The excursion began at Mount al-Arbaeen before visiting Serjilla and Maarrat al-Numan, with a stop at the Mosaic Museum. The group subsequently returned to Idlib city. The wider announced itinerary also included the ancient Ebla site, highlighting the variety of places through which a heritage-oriented route can introduce visitors to the region.

Serjilla is particularly significant for its surviving stone buildings, which offer insight into rural life during the Byzantine period. The area’s archaeological landscape includes the ancient settlements often collectively referred to as the Dead Cities, while Ebla offers a different window into the region’s much earlier history.

Bringing classroom history into the field

Amal Hussein, who works on World Heritage Site Management at the Idlib Antiquities Department and teaches in Idlib University’s History Department, described the visit as an effort to connect tourism routes with archaeological knowledge, particularly for history students. She pointed to Serjilla and Ebla as examples of the successive periods that have shaped the region.

Hussein also described a stop at Khan Murad Pasha, where participants examined mosaic panels reflecting the artistic traditions of ancient Syria. The visits gave students an opportunity to consider archaeological sites as places of learning as well as potential visitor destinations.

Two second-year history students interviewed by SANA, Sarah Yassin and Aya al-Sheikh, emphasized the value of seeing locations previously studied in university courses. Yassin called for broader awareness of Idlib’s heritage, while al-Sheikh said the excursion allowed students to experience important sites firsthand.

Domestic tourism and heritage revival

Idlib has hundreds of archaeological and visitor sites representing different historical eras, from ancient Ebla to Byzantine settlements and later museum collections. The Ministry of Tourism and local partners are presenting educational trips as one means of renewing public engagement with that heritage after prolonged disruption.

For the travel sector, the initiative illustrates an early focus on domestic and educational tourism rather than evidence of a broader recovery in visitor numbers. The supplied announcement did not set out commercial tour availability, future departure dates, booking information or access and safety arrangements for independent visitors. Travellers considering the region should verify current official guidance and site access before making plans.

Further information about the initiative is available from SANA’s English-language news service.