Damascus · 19th century
The Al-Hamidiyah Souq
French shelling in 1925 left the arched tin roof full of holes. In daylight those holes become points of light on the floor. Free, and open until 21:00.
- Opening hours
- 09:00–21:00, closed Friday afternoon
- Entry
- Free
- Duration
- 90 minutes
- Best time
- Afternoon, for the shafts of light
- Period
- Ottoman
French shelling in 1925 left the arched tin roof riddled with holes; in daylight those holes turn into points of light falling on the floor. The souq runs straight into the west gate of the Umayyad Mosque.
Tips
- Bakdash and its pounded ice cream are halfway along the souq
- Haggling is expected; the first price is a starting point