Introduction to the ancient city of Damascus: The ancient city of Damascus is surrounded by a defensive wall with gates. Its layout maintains the style formed during the caliphate period of the Umayyad Dynasty. The urban design retains some planning structures from the Roman and Byzantine periods (such as streets oriented according to the four cardinal points). Among its many ancient buildings, such as covered markets, caravan enclosures, palaces, minarets and minarets, the Great Mosque, which records the development of the ancient city in different periods, is the first choice for pilgrims; it is also the holiest place in Islam.