Economy & Aftermath

110 terrorism-affected schools in the ci…
Concerned committees in Aleppo Governorate and Aleppo Education Directorate are cooperating in rehabilitating and restoring 110 schools in the city and the countryside of...
On January 18th, the people of Hasaka, with the...
On January 18th, participants in the virtual...
On January 18th, Russian Foreign Minister...
With the participation of Syria, the works of...
Lebanon on Sunday signed a final contract to...
The First round of the final qualifiers tests...
The director of the Iranian president’s office,...
Citizens in the Syrian city of Hasaka on...
With the aim of reinvesting terrorist groups...
Coronavirus has killed more than two million...
With the participation of 34 beekeepers from...
From different governorates, talents of...
Today, the Israeli occupation forces arrested...
In recognition of her national career and great...
On January 17th, the total number of the new...
In the context of its continuous inhuman...
On January 17th, the Palestinian Ministry of...
On January 17th, the American occupation forces...
On January 17th, the US-backed SDF militia...
On January 17th, a member of the Turkish...
Concerned committees in Aleppo Governorate and Aleppo Education Directorate are cooperating in rehabilitating and restoring 110 schools in the city and the countryside of...
The Arab Cultural center in Abou Rummaneh is currently hosting a sculpture exhibition entitled “Wood and Light Dialogue” for artist Shafiq Al Ghabra . This exhibition sh...
Muqlus is situated like a glowing green jewel at the foot of Al Helou Mountain attracting visitors all over the world for its unique beautiful nature and distinctive climate. It is located about 40 km to the west of the city of Homs, at the top of the Wadi Al-Nadara Mountains about 800 m above the sea level.
Read moreWith the participation of more than 252 cartoonists from 52 countries around the world, the Arab Writers Union held its first international cartoons exhibition in a new way which dealt with the role of international figures who influenced the literary and cultural movement. The visions of the participating cartoonists' paintings differed in the technique of drawing, but what they all had in common was that they they revealed the impact ...
Read moreIn implementation of the Ministry of Education's plan to support the quality of the educational process, Lattakia Education Directorate is conducting a training course targeting / 120 / trainees in two phases: the first starts on 16/01/2021 until 21/01/2021, and the second for a period of three weeks, starts from 1/29/2021, with the aim of enabling teachers and teaching assistants to apply effective learning strategies, and to intensify content a...
Read moreSyria has renewed its call on the Security Council to act immediately as to enforce the implementation of the Resolution No. 497 of 1981 and force the Israeli occupation entity to stop its illegal settlement activities and repressive procedures against the people in the occupied Syrian Golan and to withdraw from the entire Golan to the June 4th 1967 line. Resolution 497 (1981) reaffirms that the acquisition of ter...
Read more“Get up and go to Damascus and there you would be told what you have to do” is another proof of the holiness of this city. The Arab Nabateans made it their capital in the year 87 B.C. Later it returned to the Roman rule until its liberation by the Arabs in the year 635 A.D. The Umayyads made it the capital of the Arab empire, when its borders reached the shores of the Atlantic ocean in the west and China in the east .During its historical epochs Damascus was famous for trading in fruit and vegetables , silk fabric , especially Damask ( a kind of embroidery cloth ) ,and for manufacturing glass , bronze and swords, which were, and are still, famous for their hardness, sharpness and elegance , not to mention Damascus achievements in medical science , architecture and arts , and its advanced role in conveying knowledge and sciences to the world outside The souks ( markets ) of old Damascus, which still exist today, testify to its distinguished role in internal and external trade .The number of such souks exceded 150 souks at that time. Similar crafts were centralised in one market .The most famous of these souks now are:
The Long Souk “ Madhat Pasha ” : it is the same souk which was mentioned in the Holy Bible , and which crosses the city from “Bab Al-Jabia ” to“ Bab Sharki ” ( the Eastern Gate ). This souk was famous for the Damask fabric, silk fabric, rugs, cloaks, koufiah and others .
Souk al- Hamidiya : situated at the entrance of the Umayyad Mosque and deals with all kinds of commodities : clothes fabrics , traditional industries (brocade , mozaic , engraved brass enlaid with silver) and other materials .
Souk al- Buzourieh : connecting the long street with al- Azm Palace. It is known for its distinct aromatic smell .It comprises hundreds of small shops that sell spices , perfumes , nuts , dried fruit , medical herbs and wedding sweets... etc . There are also many other specialised souks like Souk al- Harir ( silk market ), Souk of tailors and Souk of saddles .Beside these markets many mosques and churches were built ; the most famous of which is the Umayyad Mosque, and the churches of Saint Paul , Hanania and Maryamia . In the North West corner of the city, the Castle of Damascus was built inside the wall, on the remains of an old roman fortress. It used to be surrounded by a 20 m wide moat and has four doors and twelve towers distributed at its four sides. It was decided to be rehabilitated touristically , and work is still going on in it since 1983 . Neighboring to these souks, public baths were built.Some of these baths are still open today: Bath of Noureddin , al- Ward bath , King al- Dhaher and other baths . In addition to all these establishments, some popular cafés were set up , especially in al Nofara quarter where friends meet together to chat, sip tea or coffee and smoke the huble buble . If we move to the old quarters of Damascus, we can realise how much beautiful they are. Tourists can visit the old Damascene houses usually built in two stories from wood and mud .Inside each house there is an open courtyard planted with trees and roses in addition to a fountain in the middle , where members of the family sit around as if they are in the small Ghouta of Damascus .
In Damascus you find tens of houses which were built as palaces such as: al- Azm Palace, al- Sabbagh House , A’anbar House,al-Shami House , Nizam House and others.
The old city is surrounded by a wall having nine Gates built during the Roman era .They had been renovated during the Mamlouk rule in order to repel the dangers of foreign invasions.
These gates are known as: Bab Sharki (the eastern Gate), Bab al- Faraj , Bab al- Salam, Bab al-Nasr, Bab al- Faradeese,Bab-al Sagheer, Bab al- Jabie and Bab Kisan.All of them are preserved in good shape.
Around old Damascus there is a number of graves of “ Al al-Beit” ,( members of the Prophet Mohammad’s family ) and his companions , caliphs , theologists and moslem kings.In the Umayyad Mosque itself, one can see the tomb of the prophet Yahia ( Saint John the Baptist ) .Just a few steps of the mosque, lies the tomb of Salaheddin al- Ayoubi, (Saladin ) .
Thus,in old Damascus, the tourist can see a number of historical eras represented in buildings , personalities ,religious events and practices , things that satisfy his curiosity and knowledge and arouse in his soul the happiness and serenity , especially when he discovers the distinguished role of old Damascus in the interaction of cultures and civilizations on its ground , and its prominent role in exporting knowledge and sciences to the world, and character of coexistence and fraternity which distinguish its inhabitants . The visitor should feel easy when he sees a number of oriental restaurants in old Damascus occupying some old buildings and presenting delicious typical Damascene food, with some music and popular songs and Arabic coffee. We were very happy when the head of “Old Damascus Protection Committee” showed us the broad lines of a rehabilitation plan prepared by the governorate of Damascus and said : “ This program should be completed in ten years time at a cost of 400 million US dollar.It includes repairing and developing the infrastructure of the old city , repairing its remains , rehabilitating its old buildings and houses , providing public utilities and services, arranging and beautifying River Barada , developing networks of electricity and water, and improving communications and sewage , developing the trade markets and encouraging the popular handcraft professions” .
The governorate of Damascus expects the feasibility study of this project to be fruitful, not only in the sphere of developing commerce and industry, but also in the scope of investment in one of the most important riches: tourism.
Haifaa Mafalani