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 wallsand temples as well as Ottoman (Turkish) 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 officially resumed direct flights between Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and Damascus International Airport on June 14, 2026, marking the first time the route has operated since 2012, part of a broader reopening of Syrian airports to international carriers aiming to restore a key Gulf–Middle East link. The service features four weekly flights from Abu Dhabi (AUH) 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.