Hama, حماة‎ , was a lovely town which already lost much of its old heart when, during an uprising by some religious fanatics, the old town was partly erased by the government. That was in 1982, on old pictures one can see what has been lost. A few well-restored buildings showed what it must have been like. I visited the town twice in 2009, in April and September. The war prevented further visits shortly after, and Hama has been damaged terribly during the fights. Much of what I show may not exist anymore. So the remainder of my texts is history.
For the rest the town has a nice “souq”, and a modern part that is not so modern that it becomes offensive. It is an excellent basis for some trips in the region to spots like Afamia or Apamea, or to several of the many “Dead cities”. The most famous aspect of the town are its “noria’s” or waterwheels. Driven by the flowing river they scoop up water in small “boxes” attached to each of the many spokes of the wheel, that are emptied at the top and would be used for irrigation. An ingenious invention, aesthetically pleasing, they nowadays are mainly a tourist attraction.
On my second 2009 visit I was delighted by the many people see separate gallery enjoying the first day after Ramadan.