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450-year-old home restored in traditional style in Gaza

A Gaza resident has turned his centuries-old house into a Damascene-type home with an inner courtyard, using old cut stones, stained glass and iron.

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The inner courtyard of Atef Salameh's home has a small well, like those found in traditional Damascene houses, July 11, 2017. — Amjad Arafat

In the old town of the Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, a 450-year-old house stands out with its unique archaeological design.

Built during Ottoman rule in Palestine, the house belongs today to Atef Salameh. Salameh has turned it into a shami, a typical Syrian house like the ones in popular TV series, such as “Bab al-Hara” ("The Neighborhood's Gate") and “Layali al-Salihia” ("Salihia Nights").

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