Palmyra is a city in central Syria, located in an oasis in the middle of the Syrian Desert. It lies about 215 kilometers (134 miles) northeast of Damascus, the Syrian capital. The modern city of Palmyra is part of the Homs Governorate. The ruins of ancient Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are situated very close to the modern city center. Palmyra historically served as an important caravan oasis city lying roughly halfway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River, making it a significant cultural and trading crossroads in the ancient world.