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), …
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 …
Maktab Anbar (مكتب عنبر) is one of the largest historic residences in the old city of Damascus (دمشق), covering an impressive 3,825 square meters. Construction of this palatial home began in the middle of the 19th century by Yousef Anbar (عنبر يوسف), a Jewish merchant. Work was halted by 1887 due to the tremendous costs associated with the project. After taxes went unpaid, the house …
Beit al-Aqad (بيت العقاد) is a beautifully restored Damascene house formerly owned by a wealthy family of textile merchants. It currently houses the Danish Institute, which opened in 2000 and focuses on the study of Arab and Islamic culture and on the strengthening cultural ties between Denmark and the Arab world. Elements of the residence date as far back as the Roman period, with the …
Beit al-Sebaai (بيت السباعي) is one of several charming houses in the old city of Damascus (دمشق) built during the Ottoman period (1769-1774). It is now publicly owned and maintained by the Syrian government, frequently used as an art exhibition space and entertainment venue, and occasionally a location for television shows that are set in the Ottoman and French Mandate periods. While relatively small compared …
One of the major attractions of Aleppo (حلب) is the city’s traditional residential architecture. Throughout the old city and the neighboring historic district of Jdeideh (جديدة) are beautiful residences dating back to the Mamluk and Ottoman periods, and in some instances even earlier. Dozens of these historic buildings had been converted into hotels, cafes, restaurants, and offices in recent decades, providing the opportunity for visitors …
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 …
Much of the historic center of Hama (حماة) was destroyed by armed conflict in 1982. The Syrian government launched a major offensive against the city, then a stronghold of the Muslim Brotherhood, in February of that year. Subsequent reconstruction of the city largely ignored its architectural heritage, much of which was replaced by modern development. Only a small area of the old city has survived, …
One of the most beautiful historic houses in Homs (حمص) is Qasr al-Zahrawi (قصر الزهراوي), located in the old city neighborhood of al-Hamidiyeh (الحميدية). This two story building features a delightful courtyard with a central fountain and a large iwan on the southern side. It was constructed primarily of black basaltic stone, with some limestone used around the windows and doorways for decoration. The upper …
