Damascus Attractions
Umayyad Mosque interior
Umayyad Mosque
The Umayyad Mosque, or Grand Mosque of Damascus is one of the
largest, oldest and most impressive
mosques in the world. It
was constructed in 705 AD on a site that has been a place of
worship for thousands of years, from temple to Christian church to
mosque, and took 10 years to complete. The mosque has three
minarets, an enormous courtyard and a large prayer hall, consisting
of three isles, which has wall to wall thick carpets and mosaic
panels on the interior walls. Inside the hall is a domed shrine
housing the tomb of St John the Baptists, revered by Christians and
Muslims alike.
Address: The mosque stands at the end of Souq al-Hamidiyeh in the old city;
Opening time: Daily from dawn to dusk
