Qasr al-Azem (قصر العظم) is the most impressive and well-known of the historic residences in Damascus (دمشق). The palace was constructed in 1750 as the residence of Assad Basha al-Azem (أسعد باشا العظم), who served as the Ottoman governor of the city from 1743 until 1757. It was built upon the foundation of an earlier palace that was constructed under the Mamluk governor Tankiz (تنكيز), …
The largest and most important museum in the country, the National Museum (المتحف الوطني) in Damascus (دمشق) is a must on the itinerary of any visitor to Syria. To truly appreciate the incredible collection here, a visit of several hours and a knowledgable guide (or quality guidebook) is recommended. The museum includes collections from prehistoric sites such as Tel Abu Hureyra (تل أبو هريرة), ancient …
Beit Khalid al-Azem (بيت خالد العظم) is an impressive Ottoman-era house that once belonged to the prominent al-Azem (العظم) family. This luxurious residence was constructed in the 18th century in the historic Sarouja (ساروجة) neighborhood, a short distance northwest of the old city of Damascus (دمشق). It covers 3,136 square meters, making it one of the largest historic residences in the city. The enormous central …
al-Bimaristan al-Nuri (البيمارستان النوري) was originally a hospital and medical teaching center, established by Nur al-Din Mahmoud Zenki (نور الدين محمود زنكي) in 1154. The building served this role until the construction of the National Hospital in the 19th century. Today, it houses an interesting museum dedicated to the history of Arab science and medicine. The building is remarkable for its architecture, with an elaborately …
al-Madrasa al-Jaqmaqiyeh (المدرسة الجقمقية) is a beautiful Mamluk-era religious school that now houses the Museum of Arabic Calligraphy (متحف الخط العربي). The building was constructed between 1419 and 1421 under the rule of Seif al-Din Jaqmaq al-Arghunshawi (سيف الدين جقمق الأرغونشاوي), then governor of Damascus (دمشق). He would later become the eleventh Mamluk Sultan of Cairo (Egypt), where he ruled from 1438 until 1453. He …
Located in the historic Jdeideh (جديدة) neighborhood of Aleppo (حلب), Beit Ajqabash (بيت أجقباش) is a magnificent old home dating back to 1757. Constructed for a wealthy Christian trading family of the same name, it was restored in the 1980s and today houses the Museum of Popular Traditions (متحف التقاليد الشعبية). The home has a beautiful courtyard with a central fountain, and is richly decorated …
One of the most attractive residential buildings in Syria is Qasr al-Azem (قصر العظم) of Hama (حماة). It was constructed in 1740 as the residence of Assad Basha al-Azem (أسعد باشا العظم), an Ottoman governor of the city. Only three years later he was promoted to governor of Damascus (دمشق), where he built the more well-known palace of the same name. While the building was …
The modern town of Palmyra (تدمر), northeast of the ancient city, was first settled in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Prior to that, around 6,000 villagers lived among the ancient ruins. French administrators encouraged the local inhabitants to resettle to the modern town, and most had done so by 1932. The modern town’s museum (متحف) was founded in 1961, and contains a collection of …
Qalaat Jaabar (قلعة جعبر) is an Ayyubid-era castle located on what was formally a hilltop position overlooking the Euphrates. Now, due to the dam built just downstream, the castle is on a small island on the northeast bank of Lake Assad, connected to the land by an artificial causeway. One of the most impressive castles in the east of Syria, it is well worth a …
The city of al-Raqqa (الرقة) is one of Syria’s smaller provincial capitals and is seldom visited by tourists, but nonetheless has a rich history and some interesting archaeological sites. Most impressive of these is the Abbasid-era mosque, although only the minaret and some arches survive. Nearby are the remains of a small Abbasid-era palace. The old city was once fully enclosed by fortification walls, some of …
