Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chain Street
6
Map
4 D4.
The Arabic name for this
street is Tariq Bab el-Silsila,
which means “Street of the
Gate of the Chain”. The name
refers to the magnificent
entrance gate to the Haram
esh-Sharif
(see pp68-73)
f
situated at its eastern end.
The street is a continuation of
David Street, and together the
two streets run the width of
the Old City from Jaffa Gate
to the Haram esh-Sharif.
Chain Street has several
noteworthy buildings commis-
sioned by Mameluke emirs in
the 14th century. Heading
eastwards from David Street,
the first is the Khan el-Sultan
caravanserai, a restored trav-
ellers' inn. Further along on
the right is Tashtamuriyya
Madrasa, with its
elegant balcony. It
houses the tomb of
the emir Tashtamur,
and is one of many
final resting places
built here in the 14th
and 15th centuries in
order to be close to
the Haram esh-
Sharif. On the same
side of the street is
the tomb of the
brutal Tartar emir
Barka Khan, father-in-law of
the Mameluke ruler Baybars,
who drove the Crusaders out
of the Holy Land
(see pp48-9)
.
This building, with its intri-
guing façade decoration, now
houses the Khalidi Library.
Opposite the Khalidi Library
are two small mausoleums.
Of the two, that of emir Kilan
stands out for its austere, well-
proportioned façade. Further
Some of the many and varied spices on sale at the Central Souk
along on the same side is the
tomb of Tartar pilgrim Turkan
Khatun, easily recognizable by
the splendid arabesques on
its façade. Opposite the Gate
of the Chain is the impressive
entrance to the 14th-century
Tankiziyya Madrasa. In the
inscription, three sym-
bols in the shape of a
cup show that emir
Tankiz, who built
the college, held the
important office of
cupbearer. Nearby is
a drinking fountain,
or
sabil
, from the
reign of Suleyman the
Magnificent, which
combines Roman
and Crusader motifs.
clothes and souvenirs,
although the section called
the Butchers' Market (Souk
el-Lakhamin in Arabic),
restored in the 1970s, still
offers all the excitement of
an eastern bazaar. It is not
for the faint-hearted, however,
as the pungent aromas of
spices and freshly slaughtered
meat can be overwhelming.
Damascus Gate
8
Map
3 C1.
@
1, 2, 23.
Roman
Square Excavations
#
9am-5pm
Sat-Thu, 9am-3pm Fri.
&
Spotting this gate is easy,
not only because it is the most
monumental in the Old City,
but also because of the
perpetual bustle of activity in
the area outside the gate.
Arabs call it Bab el-Amud,
the Gate of the Column. This
could refer to a large column
topped with a statue of the
emperor Hadrian
(see p43)
which, in Roman times, stood
just inside the gate. For Jews
it is Shaar Shkhem, the gate
which leads to the biblical
city of Shechem, better known
by its Arabic name - Nablus.
The present-day gate was
built over the remains of the
original Roman gate and parts
of the Roman city. Outside the
gate and to the west of the
raised walkway, steps lead
down to the excavation area.
In the first section are remains
of a Crusader chapel with
frescoes, part of a medieval
roadway and an ancient sign
marking the presence of the
Roman 10th Legion. Further
in, metal steps lead down to
the single surviving arch of
Window on
Khalidi Library
Central Souk
7
David St/Chain St.
Map
3 C4.
#
8am-7pm Sat-Thu.
The Central Souk consists of
three parallel covered streets
at the intersection of David
Street and Chain Street. They
once formed part of the
Roman Cardo
(see p80)
.
Today's markets sell mostly
Crowds of visitors and market traders outside Damascus Gate
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p256 and p272
