Mezzeh

Mezzeh (Arabic: المزة‎, also transcribed as al-Mazzah, el-Mezze etc.) is a municipality and a relatively new neighborhood of Damascus, Syria. It lies to the southwest of central Damascus, along the Mezzeh highway. It started gaining importance when the French constructed the Mezzeh airbase (Syrian Air Force) there, which was the main airport in Damascus until Damascus International Airport was opened. It also held the notorious Mezzeh prison until 2000. The current presidential palace is on the top of Mount Mezzeh and overlooks all of Damascus.