Al-Hamidiyah Souq

Al-Hamidiyah Souq is the largest and most famous covered market in Damascus, running through the walled old city toward the Umayyad Mosque. Built in the late Ottoman period, it stretches beneath a long vaulted iron roof pierced by small holes that scatter beams of light across the crowds. Stalls sell textiles, sweets, spices, and crafts, and the souk ends near the ruined Roman gateway of the Temple of Jupiter. It remains one of the great traditional bazaars of the Middle East and a lively artery of the ancient capital.