Syria adds 9 heritage sites to ISESCO heritage list for first time in 14 years
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Syria’s General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums on Sunday announced the registration of nine new heritage sites on the heritage list of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), marking the country’s first additions in 14 years.
In a statement cited by the Syrian state-run news agency SANA, the directorate said the newly listed sites include Saladin Castle in Latakia, the Umayyad Mosque, Azm Palace, Maktab Anbar, and the Citadel of Damascus in the capital Damascus.
The list also includes the Al-Omari Mosque in Daraa, the ancient site of Apamea in Hama Governorate, the Endowment Library in Aleppo, and the archaeological site of Al-Lajat in Daraa Governorate.
According to the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, the sites represent some of the country’s most significant architectural and archaeological landmarks, preserving successive layers of Syrian history and reflecting civilizations and cultures that flourished on Syrian soil over centuries, from the classical era through the Islamic and Ottoman periods.
The directorate said the achievement forms part of ongoing efforts to preserve and protect Syrian heritage while strengthening cultural and technical cooperation with ISESCO, contributing to broader international recognition of Syrian heritage sites and opening the door for future restoration and support projects.
The ISESCO was founded in 1982 under the umbrella of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and is headquartered in Rabat, Morocco. The organization operates in the fields of culture, education, and science.