Azem School

The Azem School, or Maktab Anbar, is a grand 19th-century Damascene mansion near the Umayyad Mosque, celebrated for its lavishly decorated courtyards and reception rooms. Built by a wealthy Jewish merchant family, it later became one of the first modern secondary schools in the city. Its interiors display painted wooden panelling, fountains, and inlaid stonework typical of the finest old Damascus houses. Restored as a cultural centre, it showcases the domestic architecture and craftsmanship of the late Ottoman era.