In 1979 the UNESCO listed the Old City of Damascus as a World heritage. At that time, the local authorities had defined the World Heritage as only the Walled City, excluding and neglecting all the historical areas outside the city wall.

Since then, a significant number of destructions of the historical areas outside the city took place. Many local voices urged the authorities to stop demolitions. Dr. Bianca’s initial mission in 1986 at the request of UNESCO was instrumental in exposing heavy redevelopment pressures and the imminent destruction of several sites in Suq Saruja and Midan quarters. In 2004, the authorities finally included the historical areas outside the Walled City as buffer zones city in an effort of protecting and preserving what could still be saved of the Old Damascene heritage.