Sayyida Zaynab Shrine

The shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, granddaughter of the Prophet and heroine of Karbala's aftermath, is one of the great Shia pilgrimage centres of the Levant: a gold dome and twin minarets over a courtyard sheathed in mirrorwork, Persian tile and calligraphy, thronged with pilgrims from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and the Gulf. The intensity of devotion - prayer, tears, the press around the silver-latticed tomb - is the experience; the suburb around it lives on the pilgrimage.

What you actually see

• The gold dome - the shrine's landmark over the courtyard.
• The mirrored halls - the glittering interior around the tomb.
• The tomb lattice - the silver enclosure at the shrine's heart.
• The pilgrim crowds - devotion from across the Shia world.

When to go

March to May and September to November are mild. Religious anniversaries bring the largest crowds - powerful, but dense. Ordinary weekdays are calmer.

Honest expectations

This is a place of intense worship with strict dress and conduct expectations - women will need full covering, and photography is restricted. Crowds can be overwhelming. Non-Muslim visitors should be discreet and follow custodians.

Nearby

Damascus is north, and the airport road is east.