Damascus is rediscovering its architectural gems, but hasty restoration puts history at risk. Layers of civilization are slowly peeled back to reveal such historic treasures as colonnaded Roman roads and late-Ottoman era houses, three of which are being restored as a boutique hotel for $20 million. "We think of the revitalization of cultural assets in order to use them as a catalyst for development," says Ali Esmail, CEO of Aga Khan Cultural Services in Syria.