Inside the Damascene house: wood, stone and bitter orange

From the lane you see nothing but a wooden door in a wall. Inside: a courtyard with a fountain, bitter orange and citron trees, and an iwan open to the sky.

The inner facades tell the story: black-and-white ablaq stone, carved panels painted blue and red, arches over wrought-iron windows.

In the halls: hand-painted wooden ceilings, mother-of-pearl furniture and brass lanterns hanging from the dome.