Al-Qaymari Hospital

In the Al-Salihiyah district, north of the Damascus wall, stands the Qaymari Bimaristan, a testament to the evolution of Islamic medicine in the 7th century AH (13th century CE). Prince Saif al-Din al-Qaymari established it between 1248 and 1258 CE to provide free medical treatment to the residents of the burgeoning suburb. Visitors are captivated by its magnificent ablaq stone entrance, adorned with deep muqarnas, before the building opens onto a courtyard featuring a marble fountain where medicines were cooled and hydrotherapy was administered. The two main halls were designed with low domes to ensure continuous ventilation and balanced temperatures, while the upper floor was equipped for preserving medical manuscripts and for the instruction of students by surgeons. The substantial allocation of space for patients relative to teaching areas reveals an early awareness of the “teaching hospital” concept, predating European universities by centuries.