Friday, September 25, 2026

History Highlights

The Bardo, a Palace of the Beys Filled With Roman Mosaics

Once the palace of the beys of Tunis, the Bardo is now a national museum holding the world’s greatest collection of Roman mosaics.

The Bahia, Marrakech’s Palace of Brilliance

Built for Morocco’s grand viziers, the sprawling Bahia Palace in Marrakech dazzles with zellij tilework, carved stucco, and painted cedar ceilings.

Qasr Al Watan, the Abu Dhabi Palace That Opened Its Doors

A working presidential palace in Abu Dhabi opened to the public, Qasr Al Watan celebrates Arab governance, knowledge, and craftsmanship under a vast white dome.

Inside the Azm Palace, a Hidden Paradise of Old Damascus

Built by an Ottoman governor, the Azm Palace is the finest surviving Damascene courtyard house, famed for its banded stone, painted ceilings, and cool gardens.

Beiteddine, the Mountain Palace of a Lebanese Emir

Built over decades by a powerful emir in Lebanon’s Chouf Mountains, Beiteddine blends Arab and Italian styles and guards a famed Byzantine mosaic collection.