These photos were taken in the old city of Damascus in September 2025. They follow a short route: a palace courtyard, a khan, a covered market and an alley in Al-Qaymariyya, the quarter where Abu Boutros has his workshop.
The courtyard of Azm Palace
Azm Palace opens onto a courtyard paved in stripes of light and dark stone. A twelve-sided fountain stands among the trees.
An arcade of pointed arches runs along one side of the courtyard.
Khan As'ad Pasha
Inside Khan As'ad Pasha, black and white striped stone rises around a round fountain. The roof is open at the top, and the sky shows above the dome.
Seen from below, the dome is painted and ringed with small windows.
The arches repeat the same black and white stripes.
Under the roof of Souq al-Hamidiyah
Souq al-Hamidiyah is a covered market. Its iron roof is lit by small points of light.
An alley in Al-Qaymariyya
Al-Qaymariyya is the quarter where Abu Boutros works. This is one of its narrow cobbled alleys, with a tree growing over it.
To meet some of the people who work in these streets, read The Makers Behind the Mosaic and the story of Gabriel Al-Dayeh (Abu Boutros).
Photographs: Yazan Krayem, September 2025.