Bab Tuma Building

Address: Bab Tuma (Saint Thomas Quarter), Old City of Damascus, Syria

Admission: Free (public quarter)

Bab Tuma is a historic quarter and gate area in the Old City of Damascus traditionally associated with the Christian community. The name means “Gate of Thomas” and the neighbourhood has been a centre for churches and Christian institutions for many centuries.

Within the quarter are narrow streets, religious buildings and community institutions tied to various Christian denominations. The area remains an active residential and religious district with churches that attract both worshippers and visitors interested in the city’s multi-confessional history.

Historically the quarter grew around one of the eastern gates of the ancient city and has been home to a continuous Christian presence since antiquity, serving as a centre for ecclesiastical administration and local Christian life. It retains a dense historic urban fabric with buildings of different periods.

Bab Tuma lies inside the Old City of Damascus in southwestern Syria, a short distance from the Umayyad Mosque and other principal historic monuments; Damascus itself is the nearest major city and administrative centre.

• Religious significance: The quarter contains multiple historic Christian churches and patriarchal seats, making it important for visitors interested in Christian heritage in Damascus.

• Bab Tuma is in Damascus's Old City - if you plan to go, check current travel advisories and local security information first, as conditions can change rapidly and parts of the city may be restricted.
• Enter the quarter through the historic Bab Tuma gate to orient yourself, then explore on foot with a local guide if possible: guides can point out hidden Christian sites, small chapels and historic houses that visitors often miss.
• Be mindful that Bab Tuma is a living neighbourhood with active churches and residents - visit outside of major religious services if you want to enter interior sites, and dress modestly and respectfully.