Syria · Damascus Governorate · Damascus
Al Qusa', Damascus — Area Guide & Where to Stay
Al Qusa' is a Christian-rooted neighbourhood on the eastern edge of Damascus, dense with churches and cathedrals.
About Al Qusa'
Where to stay in Al Qusa'
The right area depends on your trip — here's what each neighbourhood is best for.
Stay here for the churches. Base yourself in Al Qusa' to reach both its parish streets and the older core of Damascus on foot. The quarter suits travellers who want a quieter Christian neighbourhood a short walk from the eastern gates of the Old City, rather than the tourist crush around the Umayyad Mosque itself.
About Al Qusa'
What are the main landmarks in Al Qusa'?
Churches define the skyline of Al Qusa'. Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral anchors the quarter, joined by the Holy Cross Church, Mar Elias Church, and St. Theresa church, while the National Evangelic church of Damascus and the Memorial of St. Paul Church mark its Protestant and Pauline strands. St. Lazarius monastery adds a monastic presence, and Saint Anania's House sits just beyond, at the eastern rim of the Old City.
What is the history of Al Qusa'?
Al Qusa' grew up as a Christian quarter outside the eastern wall of old Damascus, where congregations who traced their faith to the apostle Paul settled beyond the crowded lanes within. Its story is bound to Saint Anania's House, remembered as the place where Ananias baptised Paul, and to the later parishes that raised the Memorial of St. Paul Church nearby. Faith shaped the streets.
Over generations the neighbourhood filled with cathedrals, monasteries and church schools rather than souks.
Where is Al Qusa'?
Al Qusa' lies just east of the walled Old City of Damascus, on the subtropical plain below the slopes that frame the capital.
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More areas in Damascus
Updated July 2026