In Pictures

In pictures: Syria’s landmarks erased by war

Two years after the start of the uprising, much of the country is unrecognisable.

The Grand Mosque in Douma is one of the largest mosques in the suburbs of Damascus. It was first built in 1136 but later demolished and rebuilt in 1983.

15 Mar 2013

Since the spring of 2011, many provinces of this country have been turned into war zones, destroyed both by government shelling and fighting between the army and rebels. Al Jazeera has gathered pictures of some of the nation’s landmarks – before the uprising, and as they are today.

Many anti-government protests emerged from this mosque after the uprising began two years ago. The establishment was later hit by mortars on several occasions.

Dablan street was Homs(***) equivalent of the Champs Elysee in Paris. It was the city(***)s most vibrant district, packed with both high-end clothes shops and cheap restaurants.

Most of the shops have now been robbed and burned. Regime snipers located at the entrance of Dablan have prevented residents from passing through the street.

Homs city centre mall, located in the commercial district, has been heavily damaged by the fighting between regime forces and rebels.

The once-bustling district became a scene for large anti-government protests and was later the frontline separating rebel-held areas and government-controlled neighbourhoods.

Al-Mahatta in Deraa was a shopping street where people went to buy vegetables, meat, and other basic supplies.

A car bomb exploded here in January, turning the area into a ghost town.

Aleppo(***)s ancient market, recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage site...

... was badly damaged by a blaze that started on September 28, 2012, destroying much of the souq as rebel forces clashed with Syrian government troops.

Dar Zamaria was a four-star boutique hotel in Aleppo that had been restored from an Ottoman home traced back to the 17th century.

The historic establishment has been damaged by the fighting in Aleppo(***)s old district.