Beit Nizam

Lonely Planet review

Unseen behind the high walls within the Old City are hundreds of delightful houses built around courtyards and featuring their own elaborate decoration. Unfortunately, many of these treasures are in a sad state of disrepair, but a loop off Straight St takes in several examples, all of which have benefited from renovation.

Walk on past Beit as-Sibai and turn right at the T-junction for Beit Nizam, another breathtakingly beautiful 18th-century house, although in this case executed on a far grander scale. It has been organised around two large courtyards, the one to the rear coloured by orange trees and rose bushes. In the mid-19th century it served as the French consulate. Like Beit as-Sibai, it's often used as a set for film and TV productions.