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Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.Step into one of the world's most historic urban landscapes. Test your knowledge on the rich culture, ancient landmarks, and famous flavors of the Syrian capital.
Wandering Curious 0–4 · Jasmine Stroller 5–8 · Damascene Heart 9–10
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Damascus steel was renowned throughout Europe and the Middle East for its distinctive wavy patterns and incredible sharpness and durability. Ironically, the raw material (wootz steel) was imported from India, but Damascus was the famous trading and forging hub.
Photo: Rahil Alipour Ata Abadi, Wikimedia Commons, GFDL.
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Straight Street (known in Arabic as Shari' al-Mustaqim) is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as the place where Paul stayed after losing his sight. Today, it remains a bustling thoroughfare in the Old City of Damascus, cutting directly from east to west.
Photo: Detroit Photographic Company, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
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The Barada River is the lifeblood of Damascus, creating the fertile Ghouta oasis that allowed the city to thrive in an otherwise arid region. Today, the river suffers from severe drought and pollution, but historically it split into several branches to supply the entire ancient city.
Photo: Shadi Hijazi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
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Mount Qasioun rises directly above Damascus and is deeply woven into local folklore, including legends that it was the site where Cain slew Abel. It is a popular spot for locals to gather in the evenings to enjoy the city lights and cooler air.
Photo: Munfarid1, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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The tomb of the famous Sultan Saladin is located in a small garden adjacent to the northern wall of the Umayyad Mosque. Interestingly, the German Emperor Wilhelm II visited the tomb in 1898 and paid for a brand-new marble sarcophagus, though Saladin's body remains in the original wooden one.
Photo: Jan Smith, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
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Nizar Qabbani is one of the most revered Arab poets of the 20th century. His romantic and political verses are celebrated across the Middle East, and his childhood home in the Old City of Damascus is still visited by admirers today.
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Bakdash, located in the historic Al-Hamidiyah Souq, has been serving its famous "booza" since 1895. The ice cream is pounded with wooden mallets to give it a unique, stretchy texture, and it is generously coated with crushed pistachios.
Photo: Bakdash.JPG: Ankara derivative work: Ankara (talk), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
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The Old City of Damascus was historically defended by a wall featuring seven classic Roman-era gates. Each gate was dedicated to a different celestial body, such as the Sun, Moon, or planets, though they have been rebuilt and renamed several times over the centuries.
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Built in 1749 for the Ottoman governor of Damascus, As'ad Pasha al-Azm, the Azm Palace is a stunning example of traditional Damascene architecture. It features beautiful courtyards, fountain pools, and intricate ablaq stonework of alternating black and white bands.
Photo: krebsmaus07, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
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Al-Hamidiyah Souq is a massive vaulted marketplace dating back to the Ottoman era. Its high metal roof is famously dotted with tiny holes from bullet fire during the Syrian Revolt of 1925, which let in beautiful beams of sunlight.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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