For the last few years, Syria has been the site of a cruel war that every day forces thousands of people to flee and abandon their homes in order to save their lives. The most recognizable photos of the country today depict bombed buildings, debris, dead bodies and displaced citizens.
Here is a collection of 20 beautiful photographs taken in Damascus over 50 years ago by photographer Charles W. Cushman, a painful contrast to today’s reality. Have a look: