This remarkable 18C palace comprises two distinct parts. On one side is the private area (haremlik), a courtyard embellished by a fountain around which are arranged the family’s quarters; the other side is the public area (salemlik), complete with richly decorated reception hall. This traditional layout and the sumptuousness of its ornamentation make the palace, built by Assad Pasha, the ideal backdrop for the Damascus museum of popular arts and traditions.