Palmyra, Hadrian’s Arch, , 3rd century A.D., view from south at the entrance to colonnaded street

Palmyra, Hadrian’s Arch, , 3rd century A.D., view from south at the entrance to colonnaded street

Madrasat al-Firdaws, the marble prayer niche (mihrab) decorated with floral and geometric motifs

Madrasat al-Firdaws, the marble prayer niche (mihrab) decorated with floral and geometric motifs

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat Shugr wa Bekas from the inside.

Jisr ash-Shughur, Qalʿat Shugr wa Bekas from the inside.

Vaulted hall in the old city of Tartus

Vaulted hall in the old city of Tartus

Main fassade of Jamiʿ at-Tawashi mosque (video)

Hiraqla victory monument

Hiraqla victory monument

View, from south, at northern overbuilt part of Suq (bazaar) of Khan al-Harir (Picciotto house)

View, from south, at northern overbuilt part of Suq (bazaar) of Khan al-Harir (Picciotto house)

View, from south, at northern overbuilt part of Suq (bazaar) of Khan al-Harir (Picciotto house)

View, from south, at northern overbuilt part of Suq (bazaar) of Khan al-Harir (Picciotto house)

Jamiʿ al-Utrush, western facade - decorated window

Jamiʿ al-Utrush, western facade – decorated window

Drawings at the entrance Qasr al-Hayr ash-Sharqi

Drawings at the entrance Qasr al-Hayr ash-Sharqi

Remains of a building from the extensions of Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi

Remains of a building from the extensions of Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi

View into a vaulted room of Najm Castle (Qalʿat Najm)

View into a vaulted room of Najm Castle (Qalʿat Najm)

The historical watermill of ʿAyn al-ʿArus

The historical watermill of ʿAyn al-ʿArus

Raqqa, Qasr al-Banat, clay decorations

Raqqa, Qasr al-Banat, clay decorations

Raqqa, Qasr al-Banat, clay decorations

Raqqa, Qasr al-Banat, clay decorations

Raqqa - Remains of the southern arcade of al-Jamiʿ al-ʿAtiq (Great Mosque)

Raqqa – Remains of the southern arcade of al-Jamiʿ al-ʿAtiq (Great Mosque)

Raqqa - remains of the southern arcade of al-Jamiʿ al-ʿAtiq (Great Mosque)

Raqqa – remains of the southern arcade of al-Jamiʿ al-ʿAtiq (Great Mosque)

Dar'a, al-Jamiʿ (mosque) al-ʿUmari - The prayer hall

Dar’a, al-Jamiʿ (mosque) al-ʿUmari – The prayer hall

Part of Qalʿat al-Qadmus

Part of Qalʿat al-Qadmus

The dome house in Taanayel: final touches

The dome house in Taanayel: final touches

View from the north to the middle overbuilt part of the suq (bazaar) of Khan al-Harir (right)

View from the north to the middle overbuilt part of the suq (bazaar) of Khan al-Harir (right)

Tartus, Qalʿat al-Marqab, Crusader castle, a courtyard in the castle.

Tartus, Qalʿat al-Marqab, Crusader castle, a courtyard in the castle.

Qalʿat Jaʿbar, vaulted loophole

Qalʿat Jaʿbar, vaulted loophole

ʿAyn Diwar, The Zengid bridge on the Tigris

ʿAyn Diwar, The Zengid bridge on the Tigris

The entrance into the castle of al-Marqab is framed by a stepped portal

The entrance into the castle of al-Marqab is framed by a stepped portal

Tartus, museum in the former cathedral, view at western facade

Tartus, museum in the former cathedral, view at western facade

Busra - Hammam Manjak - the fountain of the cold section (barrani)

Busra – Hammam Manjak – the fountain of the cold section (barrani)

Busra, Hammam Manjak, iwan in the cold section (barrani)

Busra, Hammam Manjak, iwan in the cold section (barrani)

Busra - Hammam Manjak - Restoration works

Busra – Hammam Manjak – Restoration works

An alley in one of Damascus's old neighborhoods

An alley in one of Damascus’s old neighborhoods