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Al-Nawfara cafe
Al-Nawfara cafe

Damascus : a city tired from outside, alive from within

    By Zeina Yagan After landing at Damascus International Airport, and while being transferred to the airport building, I could not hold back my tears. Am I really in Damascus? From the very first glance, I felt a deep sadness. The airport simply does not suit you, Damascus. You deserve a better one. And yet, amid this feeling of heaviness, there was warmth. The people working inside the airport were highly professional, generous, and smiling. They were doing their best to leave a warm first impression on Syrians coming back home. In that moment, longing prevailed over everything else. Read More …

    Set atop Idlib’s highlands, the Qalb Lozeh Church, with its sweeping arches and finely carved stonework, reflects the skill and imagination of Syria’s early Byzantine builders. (SANA)
    Set atop Idlib’s highlands, the Qalb Lozeh Church, with its sweeping arches and finely carved stonework, reflects the skill and imagination of Syria’s early Byzantine builders. (SANA)

    Byzantine church reflects Syria’s lasting imprint on Christian architectural traditions

      18 June 2026.  Qalb Lozeh Church, a major landmark within the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), was once a significant center of worship and pilgrimage. Built in the late fifth century, its design influenced the construction of medieval churches across the Mediterranean world.Read more at: SANA

      The colonnaded avenue of Apamea, a landmark of the ancient Syrian city. (Gianfranco Gazzetti, Heritage Daily)
      The colonnaded avenue of Apamea, a landmark of the ancient Syrian city. (Gianfranco Gazzetti, Heritage Daily)

      Apamea, ancient Syrian city founded c. 300 BC, gains renewed international recognition

        10 June 2026.  Apamea, one of the region’s most important archaeological sites, dating back to the time of Alexander the Great, has been added to the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) heritage lists. The inclusion will help to promote and preserve Syria’s cultural heritage.Read more at: SANA

        Visitors explore Ma’arat al-Numan Museum in Idlib, second largest mosaic museum in the Middle East. (SANA)
        Visitors explore Ma’arat al-Numan Museum in Idlib, second largest mosaic museum in the Middle East. (SANA)

        Ancient site of prized mosaics from Roman and Byzantine eras now under restoration

          26 May 2026.  Conservation teams are working to preserve Syria’s archaeological heritage of mosaic floors and wall panels dating from the 2nd-6th centuries AD. Despite severe damage from bombings during the civil war, streams of visitors from Syria and abroad affirm the site’s cultural importance.Read more at: SANA

          Weaving the Past into the Present through Syria’s Textiles

            The urgency of restoring Syria’s textile industry goes beyond economic revival; it is about preserving irreplaceable connections to the nation’s cultural soul and ensuring that the knowledge, stories, and social practices embedded in textile creation continue to exist for future generations.

            Visitors gather at the gateway of the National Museum of Damascus on World Heritage Day, April 18, 2026. (SANA)
            Visitors gather at the gateway of the National Museum of Damascus on World Heritage Day, April 18, 2026. (SANA)

            Cultural ‘marathon’ held in Old City of Damascus on World Heritage Day

              18 April 2026.  Students at Damascus University staged a ‘heritage marathon,’ serving as guides to many ancient sites in the Old City, which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The event was designed to highlight Syria’s cultural richness and strengthen its appeal as a center of tourism.Read more at:  SANA

              Dr Zaher Sahloul

              About the Kurds by Dr Zaher Sahloul

                The decree issued by President Ahmed al-Sharaa is a historic decree, similar in importance to the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The Proclamation has the potential to end discrimination against the brave and dignified Kurdish people, who represent an essential component of the Syrian fabric. Read More at: Dr Zaher Sahloul…

                Line Khatib

                The New Syrian Model

                  It is tempting to read what is emerging in Damascus as a straightforward turn toward religious governance; as if Syria is finally resolving a long tension between secularism and Islam in favor of the latter. But this reading misses the deep entanglement between the secular and the religious in Syria, not over the past 50 years, but for too many centuries. What the new Syrian government is constructing is not the defeat of the secular by the religious. It is, rather, the latest iteration of that entanglement — and perhaps the first authentic one in decades. Read More at: Line (Lyn) Khatib, Radio Free Syria…

                  Ibrahim al-Youssef showing seeds grown at his Aleppo farm

                  Seeds Against Bombs: scenes from Syria’s agricultural resilience and revival

                    Once scattered and safeguarded abroad, Syria’s native seeds are taking root once more, part of an organic revival aimed at restoring the country’s agricultural heritage. “A hundred years ago, our grandparents used to save seeds from their own crops and replant them the next season, generation after generation. This concept has always existed—we’re just reviving it. It’s our way of responding to crisis and heading towards food sovereignty,” seed farmer, Ibrahim al-Youssef, explained.Read More at: Philippe Pernot, Syria Direct…

                    Celebrating Easter in Homs

                    Easter Greetings

                      In his Easter greetings, Dr Sahloul describes how the Christian and Muslim faiths have been integrated harmoniously for centuries in Syrian life. He explains that in his native city of Homs, “the sound of Muslim call for prayer intertwines with the sound of church bells. Local TV and radio stations air Christian songs. Muslim and Christian youth perform the local folkloric Aradha, chanting mythical songs about Homs, the city of peace and den of lions.”Read more at: Dr Zaher Sahloul…

                      Visitors view artworks in the “Syria, Cradle of Civilizations” retrospective held in Istanbul. (SANA)
                      Visitors view artworks in the “Syria, Cradle of Civilizations” retrospective held in Istanbul. (SANA)

                      “Syria: Cradle of Civilizations” artistic exhibition opens in Istanbul

                        11 April 2026.  The unique exhibition celebrates thousands of years of Syria’s rich cultural legacy. Organized by Syrian students in Istanbul, along with artists and local community groups, the retrospective highlights the enduring creativity and resilience of one of humanity’s oldest civilizations.Read more at:  SANA

                        Sweida officials commemorate Sultan Pasha al-Atrash (1891-1982), a patriot who fought for Syria’s freedom, dignity and unity. (SANA)
                        Sweida officials commemorate Sultan Pasha al-Atrash (1891-1982), a patriot who fought for Syria’s freedom, dignity and unity. (SANA)

                        Sweida celebrates legacy of Druze leader who sacrificed for Syria’s freedom and national unity

                          26 March 2026.  Officials and community leaders in Sweida held a national event on the anniversary of the passing of Sultan Pasha al-Atrash, leader of the Great Syrian Revolt (against French colonialism), to honor his enduring legacy. Sweida’s Governor stated that its people historically supported a strong national identity and remain committed to Syria’s unity.Read more at:  SANA

                          Officials laid the cornerstone for rehabilitating Barada Spring in Zabadani, northwest of Damascus, an historic site once prized by tourists. (SANA)
                          Officials laid the cornerstone for rehabilitating Barada Spring in Zabadani, northwest of Damascus, an historic site once prized by tourists. (SANA)

                          Rehabilitation of Barada Spring revives a once prized tourist destination in beautiful mountain town

                            6 March 2026.  Work has begun to rehabilitate the historic Barada Spring, a key source of drinking water for Damascus and an historic natural landmark from Roman times. Once a key point for Hajj pilgrims, destroyed under the Assad regime, its restoration aims to revive tourism and support employment.Read more at:  LEVANT24

                            Syrian army engineering unit sweeps the Ruiha archaeological site in southern Idlib for landmines as part of a wider heritage protection effort. (SANA)
                            Syrian army engineering unit sweeps the Ruiha archaeological site in southern Idlib for landmines as part of a wider heritage protection effort. (SANA)

                            Clearing landmines at archaeological site connects Syria’s past to its present and future

                              25 February 2026.  The Ruiha archaeological site, dating from Byzantine times, is being cleared of landmines to restore safe access, develop tourism, and revive local agriculture. Part of a UNESCO-heritage plan, the site contains remains of luxurious homes, churches, olive presses, and funerary monuments.Read more at:  SANA

                              The first post-liberation Damascus International Book Fair highlighted Syria’s literary legacy and renewed the nation’s cultural energy. (SANA)
                              The first post-liberation Damascus International Book Fair highlighted Syria’s literary legacy and renewed the nation’s cultural energy. (SANA)

                              Syria’s cultural resurgence was mirrored in 1.29 million visitors attending the Damascus book fair

                                20 February 2026.  “The fair reflects Syrians’ love for books and thirst for knowledge,” said the director. 500,000 books were sold and over 1,000 cultural events were held during the 10-day fair. The attendance reminded some of Syria’s traditional role in the Arab world as the “country of the alphabet.”Read more at:  SANA

                                Left: Rubble surrounds Aleppo Citadel, a landmark in a major city scarred by war. (Mahmoud Hassano:Reuters) Right: Businesses in Aleppo rebuild from scrap. (Al Jazeera)
                                Left: Rubble surrounds Aleppo Citadel, a landmark in a major city scarred by war. (Mahmoud Hassano:Reuters) Right: Businesses in Aleppo rebuild from scrap. (Al Jazeera)

                                “I was happy… truly happy to be in Aleppo, not as a guest, but as someone who is home.”

                                  10 February 2026.  After living in exile for a decade, Alhakam Shaar returned briefly to Aleppo filled with joy, working in sub-zero temperatures to restore his family’s home. Thousands returning to rebuild homes and businesses face severe infrastructure damages, which the government has begun to repair.Read more at: AL JAZEERA

                                  “Ishraqat” (Radiance) Cultural and Arts Festival opens at Damascus Opera House. (SANA)
                                  “Ishraqat” (Radiance) Cultural and Arts Festival opens at Damascus Opera House. (SANA)

                                  Arts and culture festival opens under theme: “Guided by light, united by culture”

                                    9 February 2026.  The “Ishraqat” (Radiance) Festival brings together artists and audiences in a program of art exhibitions, performances, and seminars, supporting the recovery of Syria’s richly diverse heritage and fostering shared national identity. The program was sponsored by government ministries in coordination with UNDP and with funding from Japan. Read more at:  SANA

                                    Bana Omar Abdullah introduces her book, “I Am Syrian,” at the Damascus Book Fair, February 8, 2026
                                    Bana Omar Abdullah introduces her book, “I Am Syrian,” at the Damascus Book Fair, February 8, 2026

                                    Eleven-year-old author publishes loving portrait of her country’s heritage: “I Am Syrian”

                                      8 February 2026.  Bana Omar Abdullah authored a heartfelt tribute to Syria’s heritage, combining photographs and text. “My book is a tourism guide and a message of love for Syria,” she said. “I wanted to show its landmarks and tell its story through images that speak to the heart.”Read more at:  SANA

                                      Visitors swarm the Damascus International Book Fair, reflecting Syria’s cultural resurgence. (L24)
                                      Visitors swarm the Damascus International Book Fair, reflecting Syria’s cultural resurgence. (L24)

                                      Damascus International Book fair revives intellectual life and world of culture

                                        5 February 2026.  In his opening address to government ministers, prominent Syrian writers and intellectuals, and Arab political and intellectual figures, President al-Sharaa observed that humanity has long strived for truth, knowledge and the secrets of the world. The international cultural event offered knowledge on innumerable topics, including once-secret knowledge about Syria.Read more at: SANA

                                        Syrian-American cantor, Henry Hamra, at the Central Synagogue of Aleppo, December 2025. (Jane Arraf:NPR)
                                        Syrian-American cantor, Henry Hamra, at the Central Synagogue of Aleppo, December 2025. (Jane Arraf:NPR)

                                        Syrian government restores Aleppo’s ancient Jewish sites to group led by Syrian-American Jews

                                          3 February 2026.  The Syrian government transferred control of religious sites in Aleppo, once a thriving center of Jewish life, to the Jewish Heritage in Syria Foundation. The group is “committed to helping build a pluralistic, prosperous and democratic Syria.” Henry Hamra, one of the founders, observed: “Syrian people are very loving people and they’re very welcoming.”Read more at: NPR.ORG