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Current
location : Damascus
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Name: |
Damascus
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Type |
Capital |
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Location |
South of Syria |
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Date Builder |
The Third Millennium B.C. |
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Description |
Damascus
is the oldest continuously inhabited capital in the world. It has
occupied a position of importance in the fields of science, culture,
politics and art during the third millennium B.C. It became the
capital of the first Arab State at the Umayyad period in 661 A.D. At
the end of the second millennium B.C, the Aramean leader Rezone
established his kingdom in Damascus. |
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more photos here |
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| Name: |
Ajami Mosque
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| Type |
Mosque |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
After 1348 A.D. |
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Description |
Ajami Mosque intended both as a tomb and Koranic school was built after 1348 A.D. The facade is in the familiar Mamluk striped masonry with door and windows. Frankish capitals are employed in the (Mihrab) of the prayer hall.
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| Name: |
Anouri
Bimaristan
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| Type |
Construction |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
Nur Ad-Din The Twelfth Century A.D. |
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Description |
It's now the Museum of Arab Medicine and Science. It contains the most exquisite examples of decorative inscriptions used for the first time during Nur Ad-Din's reign to replace the traditional Kufi inscriptions.
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| Name: |
Azem Palace
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| Type |
Museum |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Eighteenth Century A.D. |
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Description |
Azem Palace is an astonishing example of Damascus house. Here one finds a sense of
Space, a wealth of polychrome stone, splendid marble, cascading fountains and fragrant flowers. The Palace now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions. |
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| Name: |
Bzuriyeh
Market
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| Type |
Construction |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Ottoman Period |
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Description |
It's famous for its quaint little fruit, medicinal herbs, and confectionery. In the middle of the Market stands a bath, which has been in continuous use from the twelfth century A.D. It has the celebrated Khan of As'ad Pasha the owner of Al-Azem Palace in the mid-nineteenth century A.D, which is now a hotel. |
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| Name: |
Damascus
Citadel
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| Type |
Citadel |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Seljuk Period 1078 A.D. |
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Description |
Walls and towers surround the Citadel. It has houses, baths, mosques and schools. It was a city within a city. It had imposing walls and a dozen colossal turrets surrounding it. The Citadel was demolished and the western walls of the fortress came into full view. The government has done extensive repair and restoration work.
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| Name: |
Gates
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| Type |
Construction |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Roman Period |
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Description |
Ancient Damascus was surrounded by the City Wall, which had many gates. Most of the gates are still there, although much altered by additions and engraving done over the years. Other gates were made during the Islamic era, such as Bab As-Salam and Bab Al-Faraj, which were built by Nur Ad-Din. Bab Keissan and Bab Al-Jeniq were blocked up; and Bab An-Nasr, which had stood next to the castle, was removed when Souk Al-Hamidiyeh was built in 1863. Another important gate is Bab Tuma.
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Name: |
Hamidiyeh Market
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Type |
Construction |
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Location |
In Damascus city |
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Date Builder |
The Ottman Sultan Abdul Hamid 1863 A.D. |
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Description |
The Arabic name is (Souq Al-Hamidiyeh). It's covered with high iron vaulting so old that sunrays filter through it into the darkness of the Market. The shops here sell everything; tissues, leatherwork, sweets, ice cream and mosaic and copper inlaid with silver hand works.
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| Name: |
Historical Museum
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| Type |
Museum |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Ottoman Period |
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Description |
Like Al-Azem Palace, the Historical Museum is considered as a fine example of old Damascus houses. It contains historical documents relating to the inhabitants of Damascus.
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| Name: |
Khans
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| Type |
Construction |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Seventeenth , Eighteenth and Nineteenth
Centuries A.D. |
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Description |
Al-Haramein Khan, or Al-Juwar Khan dates back to 1630 A.D. It was substantively reconstructed in 1900 when the area was reorganized. Al-Saih Qatana Khan was built between the 18th and 19th centuries. Al-Gomork Khan, shaped gallery, which was constructed in 1608\9 under Murad Pasha, covered with six large domes.
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| Name: |
Maryamiyeh Cathedral
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| Type |
Church |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
No Data |
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Description |
Maryamiyeh Cathedral, or the Cathedral of Virgin Mary, is one of the most beautiful and ancient churches of Damascus. Many people enjoy listening to its lovely hymns and taking a quiet time for prayer.
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| Name: |
Midhat Pasha Market
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| Type |
Construction |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Ottoman Midhat Pasha 1878 A.D. |
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Description |
It's also called the Long Market. On both sides of the Market, the shops are filled with local textiles, silk cloth, woolen cloaks, headbands and skullcaps. There are also ancient khans (inns) whose entrances and archways house an endless number of other smaller shops. At the end of this Market, there are several beautiful churches such as the Hananiya Church, which dates back to the Byzantine era and the N'assan House, which represents a typical old Damascus house.
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| Name: |
Mosques
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| Type |
Mosque |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Ottoman and Ayyoubid Periods |
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Description |
Damascus has many old Mosques;
1) Ad-Darwishiyeh Mosque , Darwish Pasha , 1574 A.D.
2) As-Sinaniyeh Mosque , Sinan Pasha , 1586 A.D.
3) At-Tourizi Mosque , 1421 A.D.
4) As-Sayedah Ruqayah Mosque , the Ayyoubid Period .
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| Name: |
The National Museum
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| Type |
Museum |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
No Data |
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Description |
The National Museum of Damascus is generally recognized as one of the finest of its
Kind in the world. There are thousands of statues, stamps, and pieces of jewelers, weapons, precious stones, sculptures, masks, tablets, textiles, mosaics, glasswork and coins. Sections of the Museum are; Oriental Antiquities, such as; the Ugarit Alphabet, gold, silver, and ivory statues. The Arab-Islamic Section contains the facade of Qasr Al-Hir Al-Gharbi, glasswork, weapons, coins, and earthenware. Modern Arts Section contains contemporary Syrian art works.
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| Name: |
Nofarah Cafe
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| Type |
Construction |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Ottoman Period |
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Description |
It's the oldest public cafe in Damascus. It's still working due to the old traditions until now. Many visitors go there to enjoy its Oriental coffee and Water pipes.
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| Name: |
Public
Baths
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| Type |
Construction |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Twelfth Century A.D. |
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Description |
The Arabic name is (Hammam). Nur Ad-Din Bath, or Al-Bazuriye Bath, which still functions as a public bath, is the most famous and oldest in Damascus. It's a good example of the classic Arab public bath.
Al-Qishani Bath is domed with modern painted decoration in the pendentives tiled panel above inside doorway. Many other baths are scattered in different areas; Al-Ward Bath, Al-Malik Ad-Daher Bath etc.
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| Name: |
Salahdin
Tomb
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| Type |
Ruins |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
Othman Ibn Salah Ad-Din The Twelfth Century A.D. |
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Description |
This Tomb was originally a part of Al-Aziziyeh school built by Othman, Salah Ad-Din's son in the twelfth century A.D. The whole interior part is decorated with polychrome marble mosaics.
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| Name: |
Silk Market
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| Type |
Construction |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Ottoman Darwish Pasha 1574 A.D. |
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Description |
The Arabic name is (Souq Al-Harir). Its shops are filled with local embroidered cloths, perfume essence and tailoring and sewing requisites. It has a number of old Khans (inns) have been converted into shops, best known for their cloaks, capes, menthes, shawls, but the most interesting of these little shops is an old bath called Al-Qishani Bath.
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| Name: |
St. Pauls Church
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| Type |
Church |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Roman Period |
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Description |
It commemorates the memory of St. Paul, whose name was Saul of Tarsus, charged by the Romans to persecute the Christians. As he approached, a burst of blinding light took his sight away, and he heard Jesus Christ ask him, "Saul, why do you persecute me? " This was a vision of faith. He was taken unconscious to Damascus. His enemies decided to kill him. The church is located at the site of his escape.
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| Name: |
Tailors market
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| Type |
Construction |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Ottoman Shamsi Pasha 1553 A.D. |
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Description |
The Arabic name is (Souq Al-Khayatin). It has shops here sell woolens and material for men's clothing. Hundreds of celebrated tailors of traditional wear used to work here in the past.
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| Name: |
Tekiyeh
Mosque
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| Type |
Mosque |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Ottoman Period 1554 A.D. |
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Description |
It's a remarkable example of the Ottoman architecture. It was built by order of the Sultan Suleiman Al-Amount. It was erected on the site of the famous palace of Daher Bybars. Most striking are its two elegant minarets. It is divided into two parts; the Great Tekiyeh, which consists of a mosque and a school, and the Minor Tekiyeh with a prayer hall and a large patio surrounded by archways, arcades and rooms, which is now a handicraft market.
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| Name: |
Tengez
Mosque
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| Type |
Mosque |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
A Mameluk Governor of Damascus 1312 A.D. |
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Description |
The present appearance of the mosque owes much to its conversion under Ibrahim Pasha (1832-40) to a military school, and its restoration after 1932. The Mosque is rich in historical associations having been built in 1317 on the site of a former church of St. Nicholas.
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| Name: |
The East
Gate
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| Type |
Ruins |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Roman Period |
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Description |
The Arabic name is (Bab Sharqi). It's the Gate of the Sun to the Romans. This is the oldest extant monument in Damascus, and the only one of the seven or eight Romans gates of the city to preserve its original form. The Gate comprises a triple passage way.
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| Name: |
Omayyad
Mosque
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| Type |
Mosque |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
The Omayyad Caliph Al-Walid Ibn Abdul Malik 705
A.D. |
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Description |
It has three minarets. One dominating the yard at the left and called the Bride Minaret dates back to the Umayyad period. The minaret of Jesus at the south of the prayer hall. The upper parts of the Mosque were renovated during the Ayubid, Mamulk and Ottoman eras. The Mosque has a large prayer hall and an enormous courtyard. The interior walls are covered with mosaic panels. The dome is grayish blue. The prayer hall contains a domed shrine venerated by both Christians and Muslims. The Mosque has the tomb of St. John the Baptist.
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| Name: |
Zahiriyeh School |
| Type |
Ruins |
| Location |
In Damascus city |
| Date
Builder |
No Data |
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Description |
Zahiriyeh School contains the tomb of the Mamluk Sultan. The entrance is a singular masterpiece executed in contrasting black and yellow stone with marble insets, which carry three bands of finely, executed inscriptions. The oriental work, which supports the shell half dome over the entrance, is particularly impressive. The school is a library now.
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