Madrassa az-Zahariyya

Two fine old madrassas (schools where Islamic law is taught) face each other across a narrow alley less than 100m northwest of the Umayyad Mosque. Both of these schools were erected in the 13th century during the ascendancy of the Ayyubids. Madrassa az-Zahariyya, on the eastern side of the alley, was originally a private house belonging to the father of Saladin.

Following the death in 1277 of the great Mamluk sultan and nemesis of the Crusaders, Beybars, the building was converted into his mausoleum. Someone will usually be around to let you in for a look. Note the band of splendid mosaic decoration in a style similar to that in the Umayyad Mosque.