The Damascus and Rural Damascus Directorate of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Qatifa Municipality and the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, opened today, Tuesday, an exhibition titled "The Castle: Roots That Grow and Hands That Create" at the historic Qatifa Castle in the Damascus countryside. The exhibition features 35 rural women, with activities continuing until the 22nd of this month, under the supervision of the Karim Foundation for Human Development.
The exhibition includes food products, handicrafts, and heritage items, aiming to economically support rural women and showcase their skills. Minister of Culture Mohammad Yassin al-Saleh emphasized that returning archaeological sites to their community context is an important step for preserving heritage, noting the Directorate's interest in restoring Qatifa Castle, the Khan, and the mosque to their cultural stature.
For his part, Zaid Abu Asaf, Director of the Damascus and Rural Damascus Directorate of Agriculture, stated that the exhibition offers an opportunity to market rural products and enhance the exchange of expertise among participants. He pointed out that the women displayed diverse products reflecting the region's uniqueness, stressing the importance of supporting rural women who play a fundamental role in preserving social and craft heritage.
Iman al-Sheikh, Head of the Rural Guidance and Development Section at the Qatifa Agriculture Directorate, clarified that the exhibition celebrates the castle's return to its people after it served as a military barracks for the former regime. She noted that this is the first event held inside the castle since its return to its community context about a year ago, emphasizing that supporting small projects improves living conditions.
Samar Hamidi, Director of the Sin Samar Foundation, highlighted the diversity of products, including Qalamoun embroidery, Syrian brocade, and Agabani embroidery, demonstrating efforts to train women in reviving and documenting this heritage art. Among the visitors, Hana Jidour expressed her admiration for the quality of the handmade works and their reflection of Syrian identity.
The historic Qatifa Castle is located northeast of Qatifa city, within a historical structure built during the reign of the Ottoman Wali of Damascus, Sinan Pasha, between 1585 and 1588 AD. Designed in the shape of a rectangle made of white ashlar stone, it was visited by many travelers who documented their visits in their books.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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