Azm Palace (Hama)
قصر العظم في حماة
Ottoman palace on the Orontes built by As'ad Pasha al-Azm when governor of Hama, housing a museum of local history and traditions.
On the bank of the Orontes in old Hama stands the Azm Palace, built in the 18th century by As'ad Pasha al-Azm while governor of Hama, before he governed Damascus and built his more famous palace there.
It follows the great Levantine house plan with a reception wing and a family wing, each with courtyard and halls, in alternating black and white masonry, with painted wooden ceilings, a private bath, iwans, trees and fountains.
The palace was built in 1742 by the Ottoman governor As'ad Pasha al-Azm as his residence, on the bank of the Orontes about 400 metres south of the citadel. Unlike the Azm Palace in Damascus it has courtyards on each of its two floors, and it has been used as a regional archaeology museum since 1956.
It houses a museum of Hama's history and traditions, from costumes and household items to crafts and archaeological finds. A walk along the Orontes among the norias and the Great Mosque completes the visit.
Note: photos may not reflect the site's current condition.
For the visitor
Location: 35.1339, 36.7536 · Open on the map
Photos
Photos: TheRealHuldra — via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Dosseman — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
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