Azm Palace of Hama

As'ad Pasha al-Azm built this palace in the 1740s while governor of Hama, before moving to Damascus to build his grander namesake there, and the Hama palace keeps the same pleasures at a friendlier scale: courtyards with fountains and citrus, an upper floor of painted and panelled reception rooms, and windows angled to catch the river air. It houses Hama's museum, and stands close to the norias whose groan carries across the old town.

What you actually see

• The courtyards - fountains and planting within the walls.
• The painted rooms - the panelled upper reception floor.
• The museum displays - finds from Hama and its region.
• The river quarter - the norias and old town close by.

When to go

March to May and October to November are mild. The norias turn (and groan) when the river runs, mainly outside late summer. Mornings are quietest.

Honest expectations

Opening hours are irregular and parts have been under repair for years. Labelling is thin. Combine it with the norias rather than treating it as a full visit.

Nearby

The norias are minutes away, and Shaizar is northwest.