Major Tourist Attractions In Damascus

Most of the sights of Damascus are in the old city surrounded by the remains of a Roman wall. This wall has been rebuilt several times over two thousand years. The best-preserved area is between Bab-as-Salamah (the Gate of Safety) and Bab-Tu-Mah (Thomas Gate).  

Nearby is Souq al-Hamadiyyeh, a covered market that has merchants from all over the world and most of its shops sell Syrian handicrafts. At the end of market, the vaulted roof gives way to two enormous Corinthian columns. These support the remains of the western gate of the old Roman Temple of Jupiter dated third century AD.

 Opposite the market is the Omayyad Mosque that was built in 705 AD, on the site of the ancient temples and the tomb of St John the Baptist. In spite of being gutted by fire, the mosque has been restored and is still a beautiful specimen of Islamic architecture. Its mosaics and the three minarets are said to belong to the original construction. 

The Turkish architect Sinan constructed Tikiyeh Mosque in 1554 AD. It is a graceful mosque built in contrasting layers of black and white stone and two slender minarets. Sayyida Ruqqaya Mosque is a beautiful monument covered in shades of gold and blue. Relatively new, it was built by the Shiite sect of the Muslims from Iran in honour of Ruqqaya, the daughter of the martyr Hussain. The Ottoman (Turkish) Governor of Damascus built its Azam Palace in 1749, which is an unusual monument built out of black basalt and limestone. The alternating layers of black and white provide an impressive contrasting effect.

There are remnants of a Roman Arch marking the boundary of the Christian quarter in Damascus. St. Paul’s Chapel marks the spot where one night the disciples lowered St. Paul out of a window in a basket to escape the Jews.

The National Museum has an imposing façade and is open daily from 9 AM to 6PM. In winter, however, the museum closes at 4pm. On Fridays, it is open half day, that is, up to 11:15 am. The museum has a remarkable array of exhibits such as written cylinders using the first known alphabet dating back to the 14 century BC. It has historical artifacts belonging to various periods. The museum is a must visit for all history buffs.