A cultural heritage track among the ancient sites of Homs

With the participation of dozens of volunteers and interested people, “Turathuna Foundation,” in cooperation with the Directorate of Labor and Social Affairs   in Homs, implemented its first cultural heritage track in the city within the Masarat (Memory of a Place) project, in the presence of a group of researchers and experts in the old city.

Organizing such a track aims to introduce participants from different educational levels and ages to a number of heritage and ancient architectural edifices. The participants gathered at the northern wall square of the Great Al-Nuri Mosque in the old heritage market area and walked towards the Al-Arbaeen Mosque, Shakespeare’s heritage restaurant, Khan Al-Droubi, and the Arts Hall Garden in Al-Dablan neighborhood.

Concerning the benefit that they achieved from the march, the two middle school students, Anna Maria Traboulsi and Liana Khalif, explained that the march had introduced them to an important aspect of the history of Homs and its buildings, which they did not know their value. They hope that the schools would carry out periodic heritage trips in the city.

Raneem Wahoud, architecture student, mentioned that the history of architecture and visiting the heritage buildings in the city are among the dearest things to her mind and feelings. She stressed that her sentiments and memory are touched by the ancient buildings of a beautiful past from which architects can draw inspiration.

Engineer Naziha Al-Qabbani from the Turathuna Foundation team in Homs pointed out that this path aims to introduce the community to heritage and raise awareness to preserve it.

Lynn Shaheen, medical student, noted the importance of learning about her country’s heritage and history. As for Emile Al-Shamma, a civil engineering student, he believes that his participation is a good opportunity to know and explore the city of Homs, especially with the presence of experts and researchers in the field of heritage.

Engineer Suzy Al-Hossni, a volunteer from the organizing team, indicated that the institution has several tracks that it will carry out successively to introduce the heritage and history of Homs with the aim of raising awareness, especially among the young generation and children. It also aims to emphasize the importance of heritage and the need to preserve it, especially after the destruction that affected a large part of it due to the war.

 Marah Maree, an engineer  , from the Turathuna team, explained that the activity was announced on the team’s Facebook page, and it received a remarkable turnout, as various segments of different ages were attracted to participate.

The poet Nabil Bakhos considered the initiative an important step that increases our knowledge of the importance of our country’s heritage. While the plastic artist Samira Medawar considered that participating in the march is a very important matter, especially for parents to accompany their children to consolidate archaeological stories in their memory and urge them to preserve our immortal monuments and rebuild what was destroyed.

The two children Mahmoud and Alain Maree expressed their happiness to see some of Homs’ ancient buildings and to hear historical stories and novels about their city from researchers, which motivated them to visit more of its historical and archaeological buildings.

Amal Farhat