Visiting Damascus   The Old City The Bazaars The Mosque The Museum Excursions Restaurants By Night One day in Damascus would be too short for a visit. But if this is the case you should restrict yourself to a walk through the old city, along Souk Hamidiyeh up to the Omayyad Mosque, passing some monuments on the way towards the Azem Palace and the street called Straight. Such a program would take a morning. It will be a pity to miss the interesting Christian quarter of Bab-Touma and the places reminding us of Saint Paul (Ananias House and the window in the ancient rampart where the saint escaped hidden in a basket). There would be no time either for a short walk in the Midan area, with its wooden houses and enameled tiles in the Ottoman tradition covering the walls of religious buildings (Sinan Mosque, Derwish Pasha Mosque, etc...). The afternoon of such a short stay would be devoted to a visit to the Syrian National Museum which would carry you through Syrian time and space. You will thus understand how fascinating the history and geography of Syria are. Its prestigious collections are unrivalled throughout with the exception of those of Aleppo! A quick visit to the handicraft souk would give you some leisure in this real oasis of quiet and coolness away from the turmoil of the city, in an old convent of Derwishes established in the 16th century, at the time of Soliman the Magnificent.   Previous - Next
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