About Damascus:
Damascus, with a population of approximately 2.5 million, is known colloquially in Syria as aš-Šām and dubbed, poetically, the “City of Jasmine”.
Damascus is a major cultural center of the Arab world….. it has been a crossroads of civilization for thousands of years, featuring Roman city walls, temples, and Ottoman architecture. It hosts the Arabic Language Academy of Damascus (1919) and the University of Damascus (1923), which are vital to preserving and advancing Arab literature and language.
The city is a hub for traditional arts, music, and crafts, with the National Museum preserving its extensive history. It is considered one of the holiest cities in Islam, containing the tomb of Saladin, and serves as a significant, diverse religious center.
Damascus has seven gates to the Old City, one of which is Bab Touma (meaning ‘Gate of Thomas’), which is the entrance to the Christian quarter…… a vibrant area renowned for its narrow, winding streets, traditional Damascene houses, and numerous churches.
Catholic places of interest in Damascus, Syria:
As you might expect,there are only a few Catholic places of interest in this predominantly Muslim city.
The Chapel of Saint Paul: Where Saul (later Paul) was hidden in Damascus and escaped by being lowered in a basket through an opening in the city wall to avoid a plot by the Jews to kill him (Douay Rheims Bible, Acts 9:25).
The Franciscan Church: Contains the relics of the martyrs of Damascus
The House of Saint Ananias (Hanania Church): an ancient underground structure that is said to be the remains of the home of Ananias of Damascus, where Ananias baptized Saul.
Traveling to Damascus, Syria:
Damascus International Airport (code DAM) is served by the state airline, Syrian Air, plus several other regional carriers such as Flydubai, Emirates, Qatar Airways, AJet, and Jazeera Airways, with services primarily connecting through hubs like Dubai, Doha, and Istanbul.
Etihad Airways will resume flights to Damascus, Syria, in June 2026, marking its first service to the country in nearly 14 years. The service will feature four weekly flights from Abu Dhabi (AUH) in the United Arab Emirates to Damascus.
Flights from the U.S. to Damascus are available but always involve at least one stop, either in Europe or the Middle East, with airlines like Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and regional carriers connecting through hubs like Istanbul or Dubai; expect longer travel times, potential layovers, and variable pricing.