Qasr Ibn Wardan

About this place

Qasr Ibn Wardan is a 6th-century Byzantine site in the Syrian Desert, about 60 km north-east of Hama. It stands alone in a wide desert plain, next to a small village of the same name across the road. The Byzantine emperor Justinian I built the complex in the mid-6th century as part of a defensive line, with Resafa and Halabiye, facing the Sasanian Empire. It held a palace, a church and barracks, of which nothing remains. Its style came straight from Constantinople and has no match elsewhere in Syria, perhaps chosen to impress the desert tribes. The builders brought basalt from far away, and the marble columns are thought to have come from Apamea. The finest surviving part is the palace's southern façade, with alternating bands of black basalt and yellow brick, and windows and arches over two storeys. You also see the remains of the church with its fallen dome and tall arches, and stone carvings and columns scattered in the courtyards. The Norias of Hama are about 52 km away in a straight line. The road crosses desert, so carry enough water. Some photos here predate the recent war years. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Syria, and British consular help is not available there, so check official guidance before making any plans.