Syrian authorities have kicked off a campaign to revitalize the historic city center of Damascus, the ancient population center whose modern history dates back to the third millennium BC (and which has shown signs of human habitation as far back as 10,000 BC).
The campaign, dubbed “Restoring the Shine of the Old City,” is reportedly aimed at restoring and repairing the Old City’s world-famous markets, painting and restoring the walls and facades of the Midhat Pasha Souq marketplace, nearby streets and alleys, planting jasmine trees in neighborhoods, repairing floors, and installing new solar lighting systems.
In addition to revitalizing the city for future generations of Syrians, the campaign is aimed at encouraging tourists to visit the country. A resumption of tourist flows would provide a crucial revenue stream for a nation which remains under crushing American and European sanctions, and depends on the economic support of its Russian and Iranian allies for food and energy while the US continues its illegal occupation of the northeastern third of the country and its oil and food-rich areas.
The campaign to restore ancient Damascus is one of several ambitious initiatives Syrian authorities have undertaken to revitalize its ancient areas, many of which are recognized as UN World Heritage sites. Last week, the world-famous Aleppo Citadel reopened its doors to visitors after the completion of painstaking restoration works to its main entrance following heavy damage caused by last year’s devastating earthquakes. The citadel became a symbol of defiance against foreign-backed jihadists in the early-to-mid 2010s, with Syrian soldiers surviving a years-long siege by rebels in neighboring neighborhoods before Aleppo’s liberation in late 2016.
General Directorate for Antiquities and Museums chief Mohammed Nazeer Awad announced on Saturday that an agreement had been signed with the Oman National Museum for the second phase of the restoration of cultural artifacts affected by the terrorist war on Syria. The Sultanate of Oman has given generously to support Syria’s museums, historical buildings and artifacts, including the Aleppo Citadel, with Russian experts from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg also heavily involved in the national effort to save and restore the Middle Eastern nation’s ancient cultural heritage.