As one strolls down the streets of al-Qaryoun, in the Old City of Nablus

As one strolls down the streets of al-Qaryoun, in the Old City of Nablus, the traces of a rich cultural mosaic intertwined with the region’s exquisite landscapes give us the impression of an area largely marked by a myriad of sub-cultures which have left their mark in more than one way.

The etymology of the appellation—Qarayoun—finds its roots in the Latin thesaurus , signifying a “waterway” in reference to the abundant water springs found in the region.

Dating back to the Ottoman era, Qaryoun’s buildings have stood so tall as they thrived the misfortunes of history and geography.

True, the stamps of damage wrought by Israel’s invasion of the village in 2002, which took away the lives of several Palestinian families, are still as visible as the dark birds in the blue sky. Yet, Qarayoun is standing as the archetypal bearer of Islamic heritage in the Israeli-occupied region. 

The source : The Palestinian Information Center