Damascus, May 21 (SANA) The historic Sarouja district in Damascus continues to reflect the character of old Syrian urban life despite urban expansion and architectural change that have altered parts of the neighborhood.
Located outside the walls of Damascus’ Old City, Sarouja was one of the capital’s earliest urban expansions and became a center of commercial, cultural and social life during the Mamluk and Ottoman eras.
Today, the district’s narrow alleys, traditional courtyard houses, old markets and historic cafés remain among the few surviving examples of traditional Damascene architecture.
Heritage researcher Muhi al-Din Qronfleh told SANA that Sarouja Market was once known as “Little Istanbul” because of its economic importance and the presence of wealthy Damascene families during the Ottoman period.
He said the district, named after Mamluk prince Sarem al-Din Sarouja, represented one of the first major residential expansions beyond the northern walls of Damascus and included mosques, bathhouses, schools, khans and Sufi lodges.
Among its best-known landmarks are al-Ward Mosque, Hammam al-Ward, Beit al-Abed and the former homes of Syrian statesmen Khaled al-Azm and Mohammad Ali al-Abed, Syria’s first president.
Qronfleh said the district suffered major urban deterioration in recent decades, particularly following the construction of al-Thawra Street, which cut through parts of the historic neighborhood and contributed to the loss of many traditional homes.
He also pointed to repeated fires and restrictions that prevented some residents from restoring damaged heritage buildings.
Residents say Sarouja still preserves part of Damascus’ social memory despite the changes.
Mohammad Kizbari, who lives in the district, said generations of families had maintained Damascene customs and traditions in the neighborhood’s old alleyways and markets.
Another resident, Adnan Kajak, said Sarouja had long been home to merchants, intellectuals and prominent Damascene families, adding that residents hoped restoration efforts would help revive the district’s architectural identity.
Qronfleh said preserving Sarouja and other historic districts in Damascus was essential to protecting the city’s cultural and architectural heritage amid growing urban development pressures.
The neighborhoods of Old Damascus remain an essential part of the city’s social and cultural memory, reflecting centuries of urban life in the Levant amidst growing modern urban challenges.
R.H/Abd
