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Sultan’s Hammam (Hama)
The Sultan’s Bathhouse stands as one of Hama’s oldest Ottoman hammams, constructed in the 16th century. It was intentionally named in homage to Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, as indicated by a commemorative inscription at its entrance. The bathhouse adheres to the classic Ottoman tripartite layout, comprising the Bayt al-Nar (heating section), the Bayt al-Wastani (warm room), and finally the Bayt al-Barrani (cold room). All sections are covered by domes perforated with hexagonal stars, allowing for the ingress of filtered light. A particularly striking feature is a marble plaque bearing a “sunburst” motif (lines radiating from a circle), symbolizing the “honor of bathing.” This decorative element is notably rare among bathhouses in inland Syria. The hammam remained operational until 2010 when it was closed due to economic considerations.
Al-Ja’bariya Norias
This complex comprises three adjacent Norias of varying diameters (14–18 m), constructed in the 15th century for the influential Ja’abari family, known for their commercial prominence. A distinguishing feature is a basalt foundation plaque, adorned with Mamluk foliate designs, which dates the construction to 861 AH. The Norias are interconnected by a 90-meter-long arched stone aqueduct that irrigates the Al-Hailaniyah orchards.
Al-Jisriya Norias
This noria, located by the historic Orontes River bridge, stands as the oldest wooden wheel still operating with its original mechanism. Boasting a diameter of approximately 22 meters and featuring 120 compartments, it efficiently lifts 2,000 liters of water per minute to a double-arched stone aqueduct. The Orientalist Dickson documented this remarkable structure in 1890 through a watercolor painting, which is now on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Its wooden axles are replaced every seven years with mulberry wood, meticulously pre-soaked in tar oil for six months to ensure durability.
Resafa Castle
Perched atop a rocky outcrop enveloped by a pine forest southwest of Masyaf, lies the Ismaili Qalaat Rusafa, a fortress constructed in the late 12th century to safeguard the passages leading to the Ghab plain. The stronghold comprises an irregular wall that follows the contours of the cliff, surmounted by semi-cylindrical towers and preceded by a rock-cut ditch. A broken entrance leads into an inner courtyard paved with limestone, featuring centrally located rock-hewn cisterns that collect rainwater and exhibit inclined drainage holes designed to minimize sedimentation.
The Long Souk (or Al-Tawil Souk)
Dating back to the 14th century, the city’s oldest market stretches 180 meters south of the norias. Its arcade is covered by an arched wooden roof supported by semi-pointed basalt arches. Since 2019, the municipality has revitalized this heritage market, replacing metal sheets with Mamluk tiles and implementing uniform shopfront designs. Today, the souk is home to spice and Homsi soap merchants, serving as a vital hub that is breathing economic life back into the historic heart of the city.
Saint George Monastery
St. George’s Monastery is located in the city of Mhardeh, on the western slope of the Orontes Valley, approximately 25 km north of Hama. This region, historically known as “Little Qalamoun,” is characterized by its significant Orthodox Christian population. The monastery’s origins likely date back to the 7th-8th centuries CE. A Greek inscription carved on one of the lintels suggests the presence of an ancient basilica, whose structure served as the foundation for subsequent renovations. The current architectural appearance is attributed to a late Fatimid reconstruction, followed by an Ottoman expansion in the 19th century. During this latter period, the large stone structure with a vaulted roof was built, and the lead-covered wooden bell tower was added. The monastic complex comprises a main church, measuring 29 meters in length and 18 meters in width. A prominent icon of St. George, dating from 1870, dominates the nave, while an intricately carved wooden iconostasis separates the sanctuary from the rest of the church. Beneath the ground, vaulted crypts extend, which were historically used as grain storage during sieges. Commemorative inscriptions within the monastery indicate that it housed the oldest ecclesiastical school in the Ghab Plain during the 19th century. This is further substantiated by Arabic and Greek manuscripts, dated to the late 19th century, which are now preserved in the Patriarchal Library of Aleppo.
Al-Mohammadiyya Noria
This complex comprises three adjacent Norias of varying diameters (14–18 m), constructed in the 15th century under the patronage of the influential Al-Ja’bari merchant family. A distinguishing feature is a basalt foundation plaque, which displays Mamluk foliate ornamentation and dates the construction to 861 AH. The Norias are connected by a 90-meter-long arched stone aqueduct that irrigates the Al-Hailaniyah orchards.
Abu Al-Fida Mosque
Perched atop a conical hill, a diminutive Ismaili castle commands views over the central Ghab plain. Constructed in the 12th century, its fortifications were continuously reinforced until the Mamluk period. The castle comprises a circular curtain wall punctuated by five towers, encircling an inner rectangular donjon. Excavations have revealed a rock-cut grain silo, three meters deep, indicative of a strategic preparedness for prolonged sieges. The castle notably preserves an arched entrance featuring two courses of meticulously aligned stonework. Adorning its keystone is a hexagram, considered the earliest documented emblem of the Ismailis in the region.
The Great Mosque
Mirza Castle, a Crusader fortress, rises like the prow of a stone ship above a mountain ridge in the far northwest of Hama. Constructed by the Franks in the early 12th century, its strategic purpose was to control a vital military pass connecting the Ghāb plain to the coast. The castle later fell into Ismaili hands in the mid-13th century. The castle’s defenses consist of an oval wall punctuated by rectangular towers. A carved passage leads to a rock-cut cistern, designed to collect and store rainwater. Surrounded by oak trees, Mirza Castle offers commanding views over the expansive Ghāb plains.
Azm Palace (Hama)
This stone bridge, featuring three semi-circular arches constructed from dressed limestone, serves as the main eastern entrance to the citadel. Its foundations are notable for their squared stones secured with iron dowels, designed to prevent displacement during floods of the Orontes River.
