Touring Details for the Ancient City of Damascus
Sources:
1. "Damascus, Syria - Lonely Planet." Lonely Planet. Web. 11 Sept. 2015. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/syria/damascus
2. Ghazal, Wahlid. "Ghazal Tours." ((961) 1365976). Web. 11 Sept. 2015. http://syr.bizdirlib.com/node/80196
3. Ghazal, Wahlid. "Local Partner". Local Partner. WHL Travel. Web. 11 Sept. 2015. http://www.whl.travel/destination/damascus-partner?type=tour
1. "Damascus, Syria - Lonely Planet." Lonely Planet. Web. 11 Sept. 2015. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/syria/damascus
2. Ghazal, Wahlid. "Ghazal Tours." ((961) 1365976). Web. 11 Sept. 2015. http://syr.bizdirlib.com/node/80196
3. Ghazal, Wahlid. "Local Partner". Local Partner. WHL Travel. Web. 11 Sept. 2015. http://www.whl.travel/destination/damascus-partner?type=tour
Sights
1. Umayyad Mosque
Welcome to the most beautiful mosque in Syria and one of the holiest in the world for Muslims. Converted from a Byzantine cathedral (which in turn had occupied the site of the Temple of Jupiter), Damascus’ crowning glory was built in AD 705. At the time, under Umayyad rule, Damascus had become the capital of the Islamic world and the caliph, Khaled ibn al-Walid, built what he called ‘a mosque the equal of which was never designed by anyone before me or anyone after me’. It is Islam’s first truly imperial building.
The mosque’s outstanding feature is its golden mosaics , which adorn the facade of the prayer hall on the southern side of the courtyard, and a 37m stretch along the western arcade wall, which Damascenes believe represents the Barada Valley and the paradise that the Prophet Mohammed saw in Damascus. Traces remain elsewhere around the courtyard, leaving you to imagine the sublime aspect of the mosque in its heyday.
The expansive courtyard is flanked on three sides by a two-storey arched arcade and is occupied by an unusual ablutions fountain topped by a wooden canopy, and, on the western side, a small octagonal structure, the Dome of the Treasury , adorned with exquisite 14th-century mosaics and perched atop eight recycled Roman columns. The three minarets all date from different periods: the one on the northern side, the Minaret of the Bride , is the oldest; the one in the southwestern corner, the Mamluk-styled Al-Gharbiyya minaret , is the most beautiful; while the one on the southeastern corner, the Minaret of Jesus , is the tallest, and so named because local tradition has it that this is where Christ will appear on earth on Judgment Day.
The cavernous, rectangular prayer hall on the southern side of the courtyard is an Ottoman reconstruction that took place after a devastating fire in 1893. At the centre of the hall, resting on four great pillars above the transept, is the Dome of the Eagle , while looking somewhat out of place in the sanctuary is the green-domed, marble-clad shrine of John the Baptist (Prophet Yehia to Muslims), which supposedly holds the head of the man himself; other places around the Middle East make a similar claim. On the eastern side of the courtyard is the entrance to the shrine of Hussein , son of Ali and grandson of the Prophet. The shrine attracts large numbers of Shiite (mostly Iranian) pilgrims.
Such are the major landmarks of the Umayyad Mosque, but our favourite experience of a visit here is to find a quiet corner under the arches and watch as the devout explore one of Islam’s foremost places of worship, mullahs rub shoulders with curious Western tourists and children gambol around the courtyard oblivious to the need for reverence. Mosques in the Islamic world are centres of community life and nowhere is this more true than here, especially close to sunset.
The tourist entrance to the Umayyad mosque is on the north side, but first you’ll need to buy a ticket outside the northwestern corner of the mosque; look for the ‘Putting on Special Clothes Room’ sign. Women are required to don the grey robes supplied, which will cover the head (obligatory).
Next to the ticket office in the small garden north of the mosque’s walls is the modest, red-domed Mausoleum of Saladin , the resting place of one of the great heroes of Arab history. The mausoleum was originally built in 1193, and admission is included in the price of the Umayyad Mosque ticket.
2. Sayyida Zeinab Mosque
The splendid Iranian-built Sayyida Zeinab Mosque on the site of the burial place of Sayyida Zeinab, granddaughter of Mohammed, is about 10km south of the city centre, in a neighbourhood that is popular with Iranian pilgrims and is now home to most of the city's Iraqi refugees. Stylistically, the mosque is similar to that of Sayyida Ruqqaya in the Old City, with a glistening gold onion-shaped dome, intricately decorated blue tiles covering its façade and two freestanding minarets.Women will have to don a cloak, available at the entrance, before entering, and men should wear trousers and a long-sleeved shirt. The main entrances to the sanctuary are on the northern and southern sides, and non-Muslims may stroll the courtyard that surrounds the central mausoleum as well as take a peek at the glittering interior, lined with mirrored tiles and dripping with chandeliers, although they can not actually enter the mausoleum. Their eyes brimming with tears, the Muslim faithful kiss and stroke the silver grate surrounding the tomb of Zeinab, a much-venerated descendant of the Prophet.
To get here, take a microbus for Karajat as-Sitt from Sharia Fahkri al-Baroudi in the city centre; at Karajat as-Sitt change to a different microbus for the mosque.
3. Souq al-Hamidiyya
Just to the south of the citadel, Souq al-Hamidiyya is the long, covered market that leads into the heart of the Old City. A cross between a Parisian passage, a department store and a Middle Eastern bazaar, its main thoroughfare is lined with clothes emporiums and handicrafts shops, while its narrow side streets are crowded with stalls selling everything from cheap shoes to kids' toys.
A vault of corrugated-iron roofing blocks all but a few torch-beam-like shafts of sunlight, admitted through bullet holes punctured by the machine-gun fire of French planes during the nationalist rebellion of 1925.
Although the street dates back to Roman times, its present form is a product of the late 19th century: the two-storey shops, the roof and the generously wide street are all due to a bit of civic smartening up that was carried out in honour of the visiting Ottoman sultan, Hamid II (hence the name, Al-Hamidiyya). In 2002 the street was extensively renovated, stripping away decades of messy signage and random shop-front accretions, to restore the souq to something like its original 19th-century appearance.
4. Souq Saroujah
A charming, laid-back neighbourhood of narrow alleys lined with small shops and punctuated by medieval tombs and mosques, Souq Saroujah is a fascinating place for a stroll.
In medieval times the areas immediately outside of the city walls were developed as burial places for the dead; you can still see this today, with large areas of cemeteries lying to the south of the old cities of both Damascus and Aleppo. Occasionally, however, the needs of the living would overwhelm those of the dead. Such was the case with the area now known as Souq Saroujah. During the Ayyubid era the fields just north of the Barada River became a favoured location for the tombs and mausoleums of nobles, and for several hundred years this site served as an exclusive burial ground. As the city expanded under the Ottomans, and space within the city walls was at a premium, the cemeteries became built over with the houses of well-off Turkish civil servants and military officers.
Unfortunately, the needs of the living are pressing once again, and many of the fine old houses have been demolished in the name of redevelopment.
5. National Museum
Located off Sharia Shoukri al-Quwatli, this is Syria’s most important museum and well worth a visit. After passing the shady garden strewn with unlabelled antiquities, for which no room could be found within the museum’s walls, you enter the museum proper through the imposing facade (the relocated entrance of Qasr al-Heir al-Gharbi, a desert fortress near Palmyra that dates to AD 688).
The exhibits are presented thematically and grouped into preclassical, classical and Islamic sections; labelling (in Arabic and English) is improving thanks to a joint Syrian-Italian overhaul. Highlights include the finely wrought stone friezes from the qasr, which you’ll see immediately upon entering; tablets from the ruins of Ugarit showing one of the world’s first alphabets; the downstairs Hypogeum of Yarhai, an extraordinary reconstruction of an underground burial chamber from Palmyra’s Valley of the Tombs; and the astonishing frescoed, 2nd-century synagogue from Dura Europos in eastern Syria, our favourite room in the whole museum.
6. Mausoleum of Saladin
In the small archaeological garden that lies along the north wall of the Umayyad Mosque are a few columns dating back to the original Roman Temple of Jupiter, and a small white building topped by a rust-red dome, which is the Mausoleum of Saladin. The famed, chivalrous adversary of the Western Crusaders died in Damascus in 1193, and the original mausoleum was erected on this site that same year.
It was restored with funds made available by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany during his visit to Damascus in 1898.
For a man who was famed for his austerity, the mausoleum is a fittingly modest affair. Inside are two cenotaphs - the walnut-wood one on the right, richly decorated with motifs of the Ayyubid period, contains Saladin's body, while the modern tomb in marble on the left was donated by Kaiser Wilhelm.
Admission is included in the ticket for Umayyad Mosque.
7. Khan As’ad Pasha
Just beyond the hammam is the towering entrance to Khan As’ad Pasha, arguably the finest and most ambitious piece of civic architecture in the Old City – a cathedral among khans. Built in 1752 under the patronage of As’ad Pasha al-Azem, it’s a supremely elegant arrangement of eight small domes around a larger circular aperture, allowing light to stream in above a circular pool. The domes are supported on four colossal grey-and-white piers that splay into graceful arches, with a backdrop of more horizontal grey-and-white magnificence. Don’t fail to climb up to the 1st floor, where the cell-like rooms of the old khan surround the balconies that look down into the main courtyard with some marvellous interplays of light and shadow. It’s a special place.
8. Dahdah Palace
Unseen behind the high walls within the Old City are hundreds of delightful houses built around courtyards and featuring their own elaborate decoration. Unfortunately, many of these treasures are in a sad state of disrepair, but a loop off Straight St takes in several examples, all of which have benefited from renovation.
A five-minute walk east through the back alleys brings you to Dahdah Palace, an 18th-century residence owned by the Dahdah family. Ring the bell for an informal guided tour by the charming Mrs Dahdah and her daughter (both of whom speak excellent English) of the graceful courtyard, fragrant with jasmine and lemon trees, the liwan (summer room), and the reception room with its exquisite niche. They also sell antiques.
9. Citadel
The Citadel anchors the northwest corner of the Old City, its imposing stone walls confronting the six lanes of traffic on Sharia ath-Thawra. Built by the Seljuks between 1076 and 1193, the citadel was further fortified by the Zangid ruler Sultan Nur al-Din and by the Ayyubid Sultan Saladin in the 12th century to resist Crusader attacks. Modifications were added by the Mamluks and Ottomans, and during the French mandate it became a prison, which it remained until 1985.
Concerts are held frequently in the citadel grounds, especially during the summer evenings, when you might see anything from a symphony orchestra to jazz bands. The Jazz Festival is held here in July.
Welcome to the most beautiful mosque in Syria and one of the holiest in the world for Muslims. Converted from a Byzantine cathedral (which in turn had occupied the site of the Temple of Jupiter), Damascus’ crowning glory was built in AD 705. At the time, under Umayyad rule, Damascus had become the capital of the Islamic world and the caliph, Khaled ibn al-Walid, built what he called ‘a mosque the equal of which was never designed by anyone before me or anyone after me’. It is Islam’s first truly imperial building.
The mosque’s outstanding feature is its golden mosaics , which adorn the facade of the prayer hall on the southern side of the courtyard, and a 37m stretch along the western arcade wall, which Damascenes believe represents the Barada Valley and the paradise that the Prophet Mohammed saw in Damascus. Traces remain elsewhere around the courtyard, leaving you to imagine the sublime aspect of the mosque in its heyday.
The expansive courtyard is flanked on three sides by a two-storey arched arcade and is occupied by an unusual ablutions fountain topped by a wooden canopy, and, on the western side, a small octagonal structure, the Dome of the Treasury , adorned with exquisite 14th-century mosaics and perched atop eight recycled Roman columns. The three minarets all date from different periods: the one on the northern side, the Minaret of the Bride , is the oldest; the one in the southwestern corner, the Mamluk-styled Al-Gharbiyya minaret , is the most beautiful; while the one on the southeastern corner, the Minaret of Jesus , is the tallest, and so named because local tradition has it that this is where Christ will appear on earth on Judgment Day.
The cavernous, rectangular prayer hall on the southern side of the courtyard is an Ottoman reconstruction that took place after a devastating fire in 1893. At the centre of the hall, resting on four great pillars above the transept, is the Dome of the Eagle , while looking somewhat out of place in the sanctuary is the green-domed, marble-clad shrine of John the Baptist (Prophet Yehia to Muslims), which supposedly holds the head of the man himself; other places around the Middle East make a similar claim. On the eastern side of the courtyard is the entrance to the shrine of Hussein , son of Ali and grandson of the Prophet. The shrine attracts large numbers of Shiite (mostly Iranian) pilgrims.
Such are the major landmarks of the Umayyad Mosque, but our favourite experience of a visit here is to find a quiet corner under the arches and watch as the devout explore one of Islam’s foremost places of worship, mullahs rub shoulders with curious Western tourists and children gambol around the courtyard oblivious to the need for reverence. Mosques in the Islamic world are centres of community life and nowhere is this more true than here, especially close to sunset.
The tourist entrance to the Umayyad mosque is on the north side, but first you’ll need to buy a ticket outside the northwestern corner of the mosque; look for the ‘Putting on Special Clothes Room’ sign. Women are required to don the grey robes supplied, which will cover the head (obligatory).
Next to the ticket office in the small garden north of the mosque’s walls is the modest, red-domed Mausoleum of Saladin , the resting place of one of the great heroes of Arab history. The mausoleum was originally built in 1193, and admission is included in the price of the Umayyad Mosque ticket.
2. Sayyida Zeinab Mosque
The splendid Iranian-built Sayyida Zeinab Mosque on the site of the burial place of Sayyida Zeinab, granddaughter of Mohammed, is about 10km south of the city centre, in a neighbourhood that is popular with Iranian pilgrims and is now home to most of the city's Iraqi refugees. Stylistically, the mosque is similar to that of Sayyida Ruqqaya in the Old City, with a glistening gold onion-shaped dome, intricately decorated blue tiles covering its façade and two freestanding minarets.Women will have to don a cloak, available at the entrance, before entering, and men should wear trousers and a long-sleeved shirt. The main entrances to the sanctuary are on the northern and southern sides, and non-Muslims may stroll the courtyard that surrounds the central mausoleum as well as take a peek at the glittering interior, lined with mirrored tiles and dripping with chandeliers, although they can not actually enter the mausoleum. Their eyes brimming with tears, the Muslim faithful kiss and stroke the silver grate surrounding the tomb of Zeinab, a much-venerated descendant of the Prophet.
To get here, take a microbus for Karajat as-Sitt from Sharia Fahkri al-Baroudi in the city centre; at Karajat as-Sitt change to a different microbus for the mosque.
3. Souq al-Hamidiyya
Just to the south of the citadel, Souq al-Hamidiyya is the long, covered market that leads into the heart of the Old City. A cross between a Parisian passage, a department store and a Middle Eastern bazaar, its main thoroughfare is lined with clothes emporiums and handicrafts shops, while its narrow side streets are crowded with stalls selling everything from cheap shoes to kids' toys.
A vault of corrugated-iron roofing blocks all but a few torch-beam-like shafts of sunlight, admitted through bullet holes punctured by the machine-gun fire of French planes during the nationalist rebellion of 1925.
Although the street dates back to Roman times, its present form is a product of the late 19th century: the two-storey shops, the roof and the generously wide street are all due to a bit of civic smartening up that was carried out in honour of the visiting Ottoman sultan, Hamid II (hence the name, Al-Hamidiyya). In 2002 the street was extensively renovated, stripping away decades of messy signage and random shop-front accretions, to restore the souq to something like its original 19th-century appearance.
4. Souq Saroujah
A charming, laid-back neighbourhood of narrow alleys lined with small shops and punctuated by medieval tombs and mosques, Souq Saroujah is a fascinating place for a stroll.
In medieval times the areas immediately outside of the city walls were developed as burial places for the dead; you can still see this today, with large areas of cemeteries lying to the south of the old cities of both Damascus and Aleppo. Occasionally, however, the needs of the living would overwhelm those of the dead. Such was the case with the area now known as Souq Saroujah. During the Ayyubid era the fields just north of the Barada River became a favoured location for the tombs and mausoleums of nobles, and for several hundred years this site served as an exclusive burial ground. As the city expanded under the Ottomans, and space within the city walls was at a premium, the cemeteries became built over with the houses of well-off Turkish civil servants and military officers.
Unfortunately, the needs of the living are pressing once again, and many of the fine old houses have been demolished in the name of redevelopment.
5. National Museum
Located off Sharia Shoukri al-Quwatli, this is Syria’s most important museum and well worth a visit. After passing the shady garden strewn with unlabelled antiquities, for which no room could be found within the museum’s walls, you enter the museum proper through the imposing facade (the relocated entrance of Qasr al-Heir al-Gharbi, a desert fortress near Palmyra that dates to AD 688).
The exhibits are presented thematically and grouped into preclassical, classical and Islamic sections; labelling (in Arabic and English) is improving thanks to a joint Syrian-Italian overhaul. Highlights include the finely wrought stone friezes from the qasr, which you’ll see immediately upon entering; tablets from the ruins of Ugarit showing one of the world’s first alphabets; the downstairs Hypogeum of Yarhai, an extraordinary reconstruction of an underground burial chamber from Palmyra’s Valley of the Tombs; and the astonishing frescoed, 2nd-century synagogue from Dura Europos in eastern Syria, our favourite room in the whole museum.
6. Mausoleum of Saladin
In the small archaeological garden that lies along the north wall of the Umayyad Mosque are a few columns dating back to the original Roman Temple of Jupiter, and a small white building topped by a rust-red dome, which is the Mausoleum of Saladin. The famed, chivalrous adversary of the Western Crusaders died in Damascus in 1193, and the original mausoleum was erected on this site that same year.
It was restored with funds made available by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany during his visit to Damascus in 1898.
For a man who was famed for his austerity, the mausoleum is a fittingly modest affair. Inside are two cenotaphs - the walnut-wood one on the right, richly decorated with motifs of the Ayyubid period, contains Saladin's body, while the modern tomb in marble on the left was donated by Kaiser Wilhelm.
Admission is included in the ticket for Umayyad Mosque.
7. Khan As’ad Pasha
Just beyond the hammam is the towering entrance to Khan As’ad Pasha, arguably the finest and most ambitious piece of civic architecture in the Old City – a cathedral among khans. Built in 1752 under the patronage of As’ad Pasha al-Azem, it’s a supremely elegant arrangement of eight small domes around a larger circular aperture, allowing light to stream in above a circular pool. The domes are supported on four colossal grey-and-white piers that splay into graceful arches, with a backdrop of more horizontal grey-and-white magnificence. Don’t fail to climb up to the 1st floor, where the cell-like rooms of the old khan surround the balconies that look down into the main courtyard with some marvellous interplays of light and shadow. It’s a special place.
8. Dahdah Palace
Unseen behind the high walls within the Old City are hundreds of delightful houses built around courtyards and featuring their own elaborate decoration. Unfortunately, many of these treasures are in a sad state of disrepair, but a loop off Straight St takes in several examples, all of which have benefited from renovation.
A five-minute walk east through the back alleys brings you to Dahdah Palace, an 18th-century residence owned by the Dahdah family. Ring the bell for an informal guided tour by the charming Mrs Dahdah and her daughter (both of whom speak excellent English) of the graceful courtyard, fragrant with jasmine and lemon trees, the liwan (summer room), and the reception room with its exquisite niche. They also sell antiques.
9. Citadel
The Citadel anchors the northwest corner of the Old City, its imposing stone walls confronting the six lanes of traffic on Sharia ath-Thawra. Built by the Seljuks between 1076 and 1193, the citadel was further fortified by the Zangid ruler Sultan Nur al-Din and by the Ayyubid Sultan Saladin in the 12th century to resist Crusader attacks. Modifications were added by the Mamluks and Ottomans, and during the French mandate it became a prison, which it remained until 1985.
Concerts are held frequently in the citadel grounds, especially during the summer evenings, when you might see anything from a symphony orchestra to jazz bands. The Jazz Festival is held here in July.
Restaurants
1. Leila’s Restaurant & Terrace
In the shadow of the Umayyad Mosque, opposite the Minaret of Jesus, this stylish place occupies, just for something different, a beautifully restored courtyard house with a glass ceiling. It’s quieter than the more popular Beit Jabri, and we reckon the food is better as well. Vegetarians will love the lentil kibbeh and carnivores will be just as pleased with the delicious mixed grill. The fresh mint lemonade (S£75) hits the spot on a hot day, while the cheese mamoul (a shortbread-like pastry or cookie lightly filled with cheese) for dessert is exquisite. The roof terrace is a great place to enjoy the Damascus night.
2. Naranj
By the Roman arch on Straight St, this is the finest restaurant in the Old City and one of the best in the country. The huge dining room is separated from the kitchen by a glass screen. Food is delicious, whether the specials such as kebab with cherry sauce, or the standard mezze, bread is fresh baked and everything served with style. The roof terrace is perfect for dining on a warm evening. Book ahead.
3. Bab al-Hara
West of the Umayyad Mosque, Bab al-Hara is one of our favourite Old City restaurants. The grills have that reassuring taste of charcoal, the kibbeh is some of the tastiest we’ve tried and the fatta is hearty and very good. The service is casual and obliging. Highly recommended.
4. Abu al-Azz
This place is popular with locals as much as tourists – Arab families pack the place over summer. Look for the sign ‘Rest. Al Ezz Al Shamieh Hall’, then pass through the bustling ground-floor bakery and up a narrow staircase to two floors of dining; the upper level is the most atmospheric. Expect mezze, salads and kebabs, live oriental music all day and whirling dervishes in the evening from around 10.30pm. No alcohol served.
5. Al-Khawali
A touch of class pervades this place, off Straight St, unlike the more casual atmosphere that you find elsewhere, and the food is first rate. Try the aubergine and see what great mezze is all about, or the jedy bzeit (lamb with lemon sauce), but everything on the menu is subtly flavoured and delicious. Best of all, bread baked on the premises arrives on your table still warm from the oven. No alcohol or credit cards.
In the shadow of the Umayyad Mosque, opposite the Minaret of Jesus, this stylish place occupies, just for something different, a beautifully restored courtyard house with a glass ceiling. It’s quieter than the more popular Beit Jabri, and we reckon the food is better as well. Vegetarians will love the lentil kibbeh and carnivores will be just as pleased with the delicious mixed grill. The fresh mint lemonade (S£75) hits the spot on a hot day, while the cheese mamoul (a shortbread-like pastry or cookie lightly filled with cheese) for dessert is exquisite. The roof terrace is a great place to enjoy the Damascus night.
2. Naranj
By the Roman arch on Straight St, this is the finest restaurant in the Old City and one of the best in the country. The huge dining room is separated from the kitchen by a glass screen. Food is delicious, whether the specials such as kebab with cherry sauce, or the standard mezze, bread is fresh baked and everything served with style. The roof terrace is perfect for dining on a warm evening. Book ahead.
3. Bab al-Hara
West of the Umayyad Mosque, Bab al-Hara is one of our favourite Old City restaurants. The grills have that reassuring taste of charcoal, the kibbeh is some of the tastiest we’ve tried and the fatta is hearty and very good. The service is casual and obliging. Highly recommended.
4. Abu al-Azz
This place is popular with locals as much as tourists – Arab families pack the place over summer. Look for the sign ‘Rest. Al Ezz Al Shamieh Hall’, then pass through the bustling ground-floor bakery and up a narrow staircase to two floors of dining; the upper level is the most atmospheric. Expect mezze, salads and kebabs, live oriental music all day and whirling dervishes in the evening from around 10.30pm. No alcohol served.
5. Al-Khawali
A touch of class pervades this place, off Straight St, unlike the more casual atmosphere that you find elsewhere, and the food is first rate. Try the aubergine and see what great mezze is all about, or the jedy bzeit (lamb with lemon sauce), but everything on the menu is subtly flavoured and delicious. Best of all, bread baked on the premises arrives on your table still warm from the oven. No alcohol or credit cards.
Shopping
1. Handicrafts Lane
In the new part of town, the place to head for all manner of locally crafted souvenirs is this small shaded alleyway adjoining the Takiyya as-Süleimaniyya Mosque, just south of Sharia Shoukri al-Quwatli. Traders have now also filled some of the student cells of the attached madrassa.
2. Ghraoui
Sells the finest candied fruits and chocolates – the apricot half-coated with chocolate is a classic, as are the fresh cocoa truffles. There’s a second branch in the departures lounge at Damascus International Airport.
3. Bookshop
A small bookshop selling a handful of four-day-old international newspapers and an excellent selection of novels and some books about Syria. You can also leave your books here.
4. Dahdah Palace
One excellent place for antiques, with a range of artefacts recovered from demolished Damascene houses.
In the new part of town, the place to head for all manner of locally crafted souvenirs is this small shaded alleyway adjoining the Takiyya as-Süleimaniyya Mosque, just south of Sharia Shoukri al-Quwatli. Traders have now also filled some of the student cells of the attached madrassa.
2. Ghraoui
Sells the finest candied fruits and chocolates – the apricot half-coated with chocolate is a classic, as are the fresh cocoa truffles. There’s a second branch in the departures lounge at Damascus International Airport.
3. Bookshop
A small bookshop selling a handful of four-day-old international newspapers and an excellent selection of novels and some books about Syria. You can also leave your books here.
4. Dahdah Palace
One excellent place for antiques, with a range of artefacts recovered from demolished Damascene houses.
Entertainment
1. Al-Nawfara Coffee Shop
Not only is this lovely old cafe an institution for imbibing tea and a nargileh, it’s the home of Syria’s last professional hakawati (storyteller). Every night after sunset prayers, Abu Shady takes to the stage to tell an epic tale of glorious days long past. Depending on the crowd, it can either be filled with banter or a little quiet as people come and go, often talking over the top of him. Either way, this is a Damascus must-see, not least because this is a dying art form. A collection is taken near the end of the show.
2. Narcissus Palace
Packed to its very attractive rafters with young people catching up over a nargileh and tea, Narcissus Palace features music clips blaring from the satellite TV, backgammon pieces clinking, the fountain gently playing and extremely friendly staff to make sure everyone is happy. Great stuff.
3. Marmar
The most popular nightclub in town, a bar/restaurant at Bab Touma that morphs into a club on Thursday and Friday nights and occasionally hosts live gigs on Sundays.
4. Hammam Bakri
A local Turkish-style bathhouse in the Christian quarter, near Bab Touma.
5. Silk Road Festival
Celebrates Syria’s long cultural history with events in Damascus, Aleppo, Palmyra and Bosra. It is held throughout the city in the month of September.
Not only is this lovely old cafe an institution for imbibing tea and a nargileh, it’s the home of Syria’s last professional hakawati (storyteller). Every night after sunset prayers, Abu Shady takes to the stage to tell an epic tale of glorious days long past. Depending on the crowd, it can either be filled with banter or a little quiet as people come and go, often talking over the top of him. Either way, this is a Damascus must-see, not least because this is a dying art form. A collection is taken near the end of the show.
2. Narcissus Palace
Packed to its very attractive rafters with young people catching up over a nargileh and tea, Narcissus Palace features music clips blaring from the satellite TV, backgammon pieces clinking, the fountain gently playing and extremely friendly staff to make sure everyone is happy. Great stuff.
3. Marmar
The most popular nightclub in town, a bar/restaurant at Bab Touma that morphs into a club on Thursday and Friday nights and occasionally hosts live gigs on Sundays.
4. Hammam Bakri
A local Turkish-style bathhouse in the Christian quarter, near Bab Touma.
5. Silk Road Festival
Celebrates Syria’s long cultural history with events in Damascus, Aleppo, Palmyra and Bosra. It is held throughout the city in the month of September.
Ghazal Tours
Established in 1970. We, Ghazal Travel & Tourism have been Syria's travel and tour expert, excelling at what we do locally and globally for over 40 years and counting. The secret to our success has always been our unsurpassed ability to offer our clients with comprehensive services to cover all their business needs
With two offices strategically located in Damascus and Aleppo, our organization is ideally suited to plan and coordinate with travel professionals around the world.
We are leaders in finding and creating new tour products throughout Syria. Over the last decade, we have introduced more new products and services into the market than any other operator, ranging from offbeat cultural tours, to off-the-beaten track eco-adventures.
Our expert staff knows where and how to provide the best services and facilities in Syria, at its best rate. This expertise is further enhanced by a unique in-house Travel Management System that coordinates and keeps track of all the details associated.
International Area Code: 963 Phone: (961) 1365976 (+963-(961) 1365976) Fax: 961) 1365976 (+963-961) 1365976) Contact: El-Zein, Rami Email: [email protected] Website: www.ghazal-tours.com Area: Damascus
With two offices strategically located in Damascus and Aleppo, our organization is ideally suited to plan and coordinate with travel professionals around the world.
We are leaders in finding and creating new tour products throughout Syria. Over the last decade, we have introduced more new products and services into the market than any other operator, ranging from offbeat cultural tours, to off-the-beaten track eco-adventures.
Our expert staff knows where and how to provide the best services and facilities in Syria, at its best rate. This expertise is further enhanced by a unique in-house Travel Management System that coordinates and keeps track of all the details associated.