News / More / Reports
Palmyra at 23th Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism
Saturday, 27 November 2021 8:14 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 27 November 2021 8:14 AM ]
Max Civili
Press TV, Paestum
The 23th Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism has wrapped up in Paestum, a site in central-southern Italy recognized by UNESCO as part of the World Cultural Heritage.
The three-day initiative aimed to promote sites and destinations of great archaeological value and increase business opportunities. Some 100 conferences and meetings took place during the international event that has seen the participation of more than 150 exhibitors from 15 countries.
Syria was among them, with a stand presenting the current state of the Palmyra World Heritage Site, in the Homs province, after the destruction by Daesh.
In 2015, Daesh militants seized the modern town of Palmyra first and then ancient ruins nearby. The militants initially promised to leave the site's columns and temples untouched. However, those promises went on to be unfulfilled.
Daesh attacked Palmyra's archaeological sites with bulldozers and explosives until 2016. The region of Palmyra was then freed from Daesh by a coalition of Syrian, Russian, and Iranian military forces.
During the Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism, an International Archaeological Discovery Award for the most valuable discovery of the year was assigned. The award is named after Khaled al-Asaad, the archaeologist of the site of Palmyra who was brutally murdered by Daesh for trying to protect the cultural heritage.
Italy UNESCO Archaeology Palmyra tourism
MORE FROM More
US confirms giving $200mn in military aid to Ukraine amid Russia row
Britain records highest COVID deaths in months as virus surges across Europe
CIA chief secretly visited Ukraine amid rising tensions with Russia: Report