Mosque · Islamic
Umayyad Mosque, Damascus
Damascus, Syria
UNESCO World Heritage Site (as part of the Ancient City of Damascus, inscribed 1979)
Mosque · Islamic
Damascus, Syria
The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus is one of the oldest and largest mosques in the world, built on a site with a long, layered religious history spanning multiple faiths.
The mosque is said to house a shrine venerated as containing the head of John the Baptist, revered by both Muslims and Christians, reflecting the site's deep and shared religious significance.
The mosque was built in the early 8th century under the Umayyad Caliphate, on a site that had previously held a Roman temple and later a Byzantine church dedicated to John the Baptist.
Syria has experienced major political change and instability in recent periods, and the security situation has been described as fluid and evolving by multiple governments. Check your government's current, live travel advisory immediately before making any plans — do not rely on general information here for a decision about current safety.