Aleppo population. Syrian Civil War

Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the center of the homonymous, most populated governorate of the country. With a population of 2,301,570 inhabitants (2005), Aleppo is also one of the most major cities Levant. For many centuries, Aleppo was the largest city in Greater Syria and the third largest in Ottoman Empire, after Constantinople and Cairo. Aleppo is one of the most ancient continuously inhabited cities in the world, it was inhabited already, most likely, by the 6th millennium BC. Excavations at Tell al-Sauda and Tell al-Ansari (south of the old part of the city) show that the area was inhabited at least in the second half of the 3rd millennium BC. Aleppo is mentioned in Hittite inscriptions, in the Mari inscriptions on the Euphrates, in central Anatolia, and in the city of Ebla, where it is described as one of the main centers of trade and a city of military art. The city has a significant place in history, as it is located on the Great Silk Road, which passed through Central Asia and Mesopotamia. When the Suez Canal was opened in 1869, goods began to be transported by water and the role of Aleppo as a trading city declined. Shortly before the start of the civil war in Syria, Aleppo experienced a brief period of rebirth. In 2006, the city won the title of "Capital of Islamic Culture".

It is located in the northern part of Syria, between the Orontes and the Euphrates, on the steppe river Kueika (arab. قويق‎), at the northwestern foot of a barren hill, in a wide basin surrounded on all sides by high limestone walls, at an altitude of 380 meters in three hundred and fifty kilometers northeast of Damascus.

Information

Country: Syria
Governorate: Aleppo (Aleppo)
First mention: 2500 BC e.
Former names: Halman, Beroya
Area: 190 km²
Center height: 390 m
Official language: Arabic
Population: more than 2.4 million people (2008)
Confessional composition: Muslims, Christians
Timezone: UTC+2, summer UTC+3
Telephone code: +963 21

Geography

Aleppo is located 120 km from the Mediterranean Sea, at an altitude of 380 m above sea level, 45 km east of the Syrian-Turkish border. The city is surrounded by agricultural land in the north and west, where the cultivation of pistachio and olive trees is common. In the east, Aleppo surrounds Syrian desert. The city was founded a few kilometers south of the location of the old city, on the right bank of the Quake River; the old part of the city lies on the left bank of the river. It was surrounded by 8 hills, forming a circle with a radius of 10 km, in the center of which was the main high hill. A fortress was built on this hill, dating back to the 2nd millennium BC. These hills are called Tell as-Sauda, Tell Aisha, Tell as-Sett, Tell al-Yasmin, Tell al-Ansari (Yarukiya), An at-Tall, al-Jallum and Bakhsita. The old part of the city was fenced ancient wall consisting of nine gates. The wall was surrounded by a wide deep ditch.
With an area of 190 km², Aleppo is one of the fastest growing cities in the Middle East. The city development plan, adopted in 2001, provided for the expansion of the total area of Aleppo to 420 km² by the end of 2015.

Climate

The climate of Aleppo is very close to the Mediterranean. At the same time, the mountain plateau on which the city is located significantly reduces the warming effect of the Mediterranean Sea during the winter months, which makes the winter in Aleppo much colder than in other Mediterranean cities, although it is shorter. By average temperature January winter is comparable to winter on the southern coast of Crimea, while stable night frosts are observed at night, with a warm day, although the weather changes very often.
In some years, serious cooling is possible, reaching -5 ° C, and occasionally -10 ° C. Snow often falls, some winters are snowy and are accompanied by the formation of temporary snow cover. Windy, wet weather dominates in winter. Summers are very hot and almost rainless. However, it also comes and ends earlier than in the Mediterranean cities. The temperature averages +36 °C during the daytime, but often rises to over +40 °C. Spring in Aleppo comes conditionally in the second half of February and lasts until the end of April. Autumn in Aleppo is very short, and it is only November.

Population

The majority of the inhabitants of Aleppo are Muslim Arabs. The Christian population consists of Armenians, Greeks, Maronites, Syrian Catholics; there are Jewish and American Protestant communities.

Architecture

Aleppo has a mixture of several architectural styles. Numerous invaders, from the Byzantines and Seljuks to the Mamluks and Turks, left their marks on the architecture of the city for 2000 years. There are various buildings of the 13th and 14th centuries, such as hotels, Muslim schools and hammams, Christian and Muslim buildings in the old part of the city and the Zhdeyde quarter. This quarter contains a large number of houses from the 16th and 17th centuries that belonged to the Aleppo bourgeoisie. In Aziziye there are houses of the 19th and early 20th centuries, in the Baroque style. In the new Shahba quarter, various architectural styles: neo-classical, Norman, oriental and even Chinese styles.
Aleppo is completely paved with stone, in some places with large white boulders.
While Old city characterized large quantity mansions, narrow streets and covered markets, in the modern part of the city there are wide roads and large areas such as Saadallah Al Jabiri Square, Freedom Square, President Square and Sabaa Bahrat Square.

Sights of Aleppo

The oldest monument in the city is the 11 km long aqueduct, built by the Romans. A huge wall 10 meters high and 6.5 meters thick, with seven gates, separates the city from the suburbs. The covered gostiny yard (bazaar) opens onto several streets, the whole consists of vaults and is illuminated from above through windows made partly in special domes. In Aleppo there are 7 large churches, along with 3 monasteries, and the El Ialave Mosque in the old Roman style, originally built as a church by Empress Helena. The main export items and at the same time the main products of the country are wool, cotton, silk, wax, pistachios, soap, tobacco, wheat, which are exported mainly to France and Turkish harbors. The industry is limited to silk products. Residents of Aleppo generally consider themselves Sharifs, that is, descendants of Muhammad. Another pride of the inhabitants is the Citadel, the base of which rises 50 meters above the city. For a long time, the whole city lay within the citadel, and only in the 16th century, after the transfer of Aleppo under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, the city began to gradually grow outside the fortress walls.

Aleppo Citadel, a large hilltop fortress towering 50m above the city. Dating back to the 1st millennium BC. e., some details were completed in the XIII century. It was damaged by earthquakes, in particular, in 1822.
Khalauie Madrassah, built in 1124 on the former site of the Cathedral of St. Helena. Then St. Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, built a large Byzantine cathedral there. When the crusader invaders sacked the city, the chief judge of the city converted St. Helena into a mosque, and finally into middle of XII century, Nur ad-Din founded a madrasah here, that is, a religious school.
Al-Matbah Al-Ajami, an early 12th-century palace located near the citadel, was built by the emir Maj ad-Din ben Ad-Daya. It was renovated in the 15th century. In 1967-1975, the Museum of Folk Traditions was located here.
Cultural center of Ash-Shibani of the XII century. ancient church and the school of the Franciscan Missionary Mary, located in the old city, currently function as a cultural center.
Moqaddamiya Madrasah, one of the oldest theological schools in the city, was built in 1168.
Madrasah Zahiriya. Built in 1217 south of Bab el-Maqam, by Az-Zir Ghazi.
Sultaniya Madrasah, started by the governor of Aleppo Az-Zahir Ghazi and completed in 1223-1225 by his son Malik Al-Aziz Mohammed.
Al-Firdaus Madrasah is a mosque called "the most beautiful mosque in Aleppo". It was built by the widow of the Governor of Aleppo Az-Zahir Ghazi in 1234-1237. Notable is the courtyard, which has a pool in the middle, surrounded by arches with antique columns.
Aleppo National Library. It was built in the 1930s and opened in 1945.
Grand Seray d'Alep is the former residence of the city's governor; was built in the 1920s and opened in 1933.
Khanqa Al-Farafira, a Sufi monastery built in 1237.
Bimaristan Argun al-Kamili, a shelter that operated from 1354 until the beginning of the 20th century.
Dar Rajab Pasha is a large mansion built in the 16th century near Al-Khandaq Street. the house has recently been restored and turned into a large cultural center with a theater hall inside.
Beit Jonblat is an old palace built at the end of the 16th century by the Kurdish ruler of Aleppo Hussein Pasha Jan Polad.
Al-Uthmaniya Madrasah, an Islamic school located in the northern part of Bab An-Nasr. It was established by the Ottoman Pasha Al-Duraki in 1730, and was originally called the Ridaiya Madrasah.
Beth Marrash. An old Aleppo mansion located in the Al-Farafira quarter. Was built in late XVII 1st century by the Marrash family.
Chapel of Bab Al-Faraj. Built in 1898-1899 by the Austrian architect Cartier.
Beit Achiqbash, an old Aleppo house built in 1757. Since 1975, the Museum of Folk Traditions has been located here, displaying Aleppo art.
Beit Ghazaleh. 17th century mansion, decorated by the Armenian sculptor Khachadur Bali in 1691. An Armenian school was located here in the 20th century.
Beit Dallal, that is, the "house of Dallal", was built in 1826 on the site of an old monastery, currently functioning as a hotel.
Beit Ouakil, an Aleppo mansion built in 1603, attracts with its unique wooden decorations. One of these decorations was brought to Berlin and exhibited at the Pergamon Museum, known as the Aleppo Room.
Gift Basil. House early XVIII century, turned into a business school in 2001.
Dar Zamaria, built at the end of the 17th century and family-owned Zamaria from the beginning of the 18th century. It is currently a boutique hotel.

A source. wikipedia.org

The governorate of Aleppo occupies the arid regions of the Aleppo plateau with altitudes of about 400 m and the Manbij plain. The extreme southeast of the governorate lies within the northern part Syrian desert. To the south are the plains of Hama. Southwest - the territory of the Idlib plain. In other words, in general, the entire governorate of Aleppo is the land of rocky plains.
The most major river these places - - in the east. On the river is the El Asad reservoir, built specifically to irrigate these arid areas and reduce dependence on Agriculture this area from the water level in the Euphrates.
This is all the more important given the semi-desert climate prevailing over the entire territory of Aleppo Governorate. The aridity of the region is caused by the fact that the Amanus and Alavite mountains, located along the Mediterranean Sea, largely prevent the penetration of the Mediterranean air masses. This, in particular, was the reason for the formation of several large salt lakes, such as El-Jabbul - the largest natural lake in Syria. When there is water in the lake, many flamingos fly to its shores.
If you know that even in such conditions, traditionally this northwestern region is the most fertile and densely populated part of Syria, then you can imagine how dry and hot it is in the rest of the country.
The exact period of settlement of this territory is still unknown (archaeological excavations were interrupted by the civil war now raging in Syria), but people lived here as early as the 6th millennium BC. In the V millennium BC. e. there already existed a large settlement, and by 2500 BC. e. there are references to a wealthy city. The Hittites called this city and the surrounding area Halap, the inhabitants of the state of Akkad - Hallaba, the Babylonians - Khalpu or H-r-b. Since the time of Ottoman rule, the Turkish form of the name Halep has taken root, transforming into European languages in Aleppo. As for the meaning of this word, it still remains a mystery to scientists.
At least three times this region has become a place major battles, on the outcome of which depended where the history of the entire Middle East would turn.
In 638, with the beginning of the Muslim invasion of Syria, an army invaded here under the command of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad - Abu Obeida and Khalid ibn al-Walid. The city was the last center of resistance to Muslims in Syria. The city itself surrendered immediately, but its garrison took refuge in the fortress and desperately resisted for five months, inflicting big damage besieging until hunger and thirst forced him to surrender.
In 1400, the troops of the Turkic conqueror Tamerlane entered here. At that time, Aleppo was under the rule of the Egyptian sultan, and was ruled by the Syrian emirs. Realizing that they would die of thirst in the city, the emir led the army out of the city and gave a decisive battle to Tamerlane in the open field. The defeat was crushing. The emir's troops retreated to Aleppo, which fell a few days later and was looted.
In 1516, on the plain of Marj-Dabik, not far from Aleppo, they converged on fierce battle troops under the command of the Ottoman sutan Selim I the Terrible and Egyptian army Mamluk Sultan Tuman Bey. After bloody battle the Mamluks were defeated, and Aleppo and all of Syria were annexed to the Ottoman possessions.
Currently, there is an ongoing battle in which government forces, opposition forces and terrorist groups oppose each other, and the losses have already many times exceeded the number of victims of ancient battles.
Aleppo governorate consists of two natural regions: the plains of the north and northwest, where the bulk of the local population lives, and the deserts of the south, where even lizards do not survive among salt marshes.
Dead cities- the historical district of the governorate of Aleppo, where there are many ancient buildings left by people. And throughout the rest of the territory - modern cities destroyed to the ground by the civil war.
Aleppo is the most populated governorate of Syria; almost a quarter of the total population of the country lives here (at least lived before the civil war), despite the fact that the governorate itself occupies only about 10% of the total area of Syria. The bulk of the population lives in the city of Aleppo and its environs, in the east - in the valley of the Euphrates River, as well as in two areas adjacent to the border with Turkey. The south is a continuous waterless desert.
Living in Aleppo is not easy, survival depends on the availability of water, which comes mainly from the Al-Assad reservoir on the Euphrates or falls as rain. True, other rivers also flowed through the territory of the governorate, but most of them begin in Turkey, and there almost all the water is used for irrigation and no longer enters Syria. The Syrians had to build powerful pumps in the city of Maskanakh, they pump water from the Euphrates and fill the dry riverbeds.
As in the city of Aleppo, where the majority of the inhabitants are Muslim Arabs, the population of rural areas is also represented mainly by Arabs. Kurds and Syrian Turkmen also live in the northern Mintaqi (districts) of the governorate. The presence of the Armenian population in the cities, as well as Syrian Christian Arabs, is noticeable.
Despite the fact that the governorate has a large city of Aleppo with a developed economy, in general it is the poorest of the 14 governorates of Syria: the level of prosperity in rural areas two times lower than the national level, and in cities - three times. Under the conditions of the civil war, the population, which at once lost everything it had, increased many times over.
At the same time, the governorate of Aleppo is the most fertile region of Syria. Before the civil war, one fifth of the country's wheat crop and almost the entire crop of barley and lentils were harvested here. All this is due to the fact that here is the Euphrates valley and a fifth of all cultivated land in the country.
This also explains why this northwestern region is the largest number archaeological sites and ruins of ancient monuments: people preferred to settle where they could sow and reap.
Particularly rich in antiquities is the region of Mount Simeon and the neighboring plain, which was once a busy caravan route between the ancient Syrian cities of Antioch (now in Turkey) and Idlib in the governorate of the same name. This area, called the Limestone Massif, has the largest collection of Late Antique temples built in a unique Syrian architectural style.
Here are the so-called dead cities - the ancient villages of Northern Syria, numbering about 40 (the most famous are Serjilla and El-Bara). They include about 700 abandoned buildings - pagan temples and Christian churches, baths and water tanks. In 2011 villages are included in the list world heritage UNESCO.
The city of Aleppo - the capital of the governorate - lies near the Syrian-Turkish border. It is the second in economic and cultural significance city in the country after Damascus. The city prospered due to the production of textiles, the production of chemical plants, it was the center of a vast agricultural region. Currently, as a result of the ongoing battle since 2012 for Aleppo city badly destroyed. The historic center of Aleppo, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, was seriously damaged, churches, old markets and mosques were blown up, and museums were looted.

general information

Location: northwestern Syria.
Administrative status: governorate (region) in Syria.
Administrative division: 10 mintaki (districts).
Administrative center: the city of Aleppo (Aleppo) - 2,132,100 people. (2004).
Cities: Manbij - 99,497 people (2004), Safira - 63,708 people. (2004), El-Bab - 63,069 people. (2004), Ain al-Arab - 44,821 people. (2004), Afrin - 36,562 people. (2004), Aazaz - 31,623 people. (2004).
Languages: Arabic (North Syriac Shawi dialect), Kurdish, Turkish, Armenian.
Ethnic composition: Syrian, Palestinian, Iraqi Arabs, Kurds, Turkomans, Armenians, Greeks.
Religions: Islam (Sunni) - 70%, other (Orthodoxy, Catholicism) - 30% (2011).
Currency unit: Syrian pound.
Rivers: Euphrates, Dhahab, Kuwaik, Sajur.
Reservoir: El Asad.
Major airport: Aleppo International Airport.
Neighboring countries and territories: in the east - the governorate of Raqqa, in the south - the governorate, in the west - the governorate of Idlib, in the north and northwest - Turkey.

Numbers

Area: 18,482 km2.
Population: about 4,868,000 people (2011).
Population density: 263 people/km2.
Urban population : 53% (2011).
The length of the border with Turkey: 221 km.
The most high point : Mount Bulbul (Kurdish mountains, 1269 m).
Average height above sea level: 380 m.
Minimum Altitude: Makh swamp - 249 m.

Climate and weather

Subtropical, semi-desert.
January average temperature: +7°С.
July average temperature: +29°С.
Average annual rainfall: about 400 mm.
Relative humidity: 60%.

Economy

Minerals: salt(Lake El Jabbul).
Industry: metalworking, cement, food, light (silk-winding, cotton-cleaning, wool-cleaning, leather and footwear).
Agriculture: crop production (wheat, barley, lentils, cotton, pistachios, olives, grapes, vegetables), animal husbandry (meat and dairy, sheep, goats).
Service sector: tourism, transport, trade.

Attractions

Natural

Euphrates River Valley, Syrian Desert, El Jabbul Salt Lake, Makh Swamp, Kurdish Mountains, Mount Simeon.

historical

Ruin ancient cities Cyrus (III century BC) and Emar (3rd millennium BC), Ancient villages of Northern Syria (Dead cities) (I-VII centuries), St. Julian of Anazarvsky monastery (399- 402), the ruins of the monastery of St. Simeon the Stylite (476-490), the Church of Kalot (V-VI centuries), the basilicas of Harab Shams (IV century) and Mushabbak (about 470), the temple of Ain Dara (X-VIII centuries BC).

architectural

Um Julud and Shaba Dams (Dhahab River).

Aleppo city

Roman plumbing, Great Umayyad mosques (VIII-XIII centuries) and Jami-Kykan (XIII century), covered markets (from the XIII century), Aleppo fortress (about the XIII century), El-Halaviya mosque-madrasah (XII century .) and Firdaus (1235), fragments of medieval walls and five gates (1390 - early 16th century), Khan as-Sabun (early 16th century), Beit Jonblat Palace ( late XVI c.), Khalebsky National Museum(1960), Archaeological Museum.

Curious facts

■ The outcome of the battle of 1516 on the plain of Marj-Dabik near Aleppo decided Turkish artillery- the best in the world at that time. The Circassians were arrogant about cannons, considering them "non-male" weapons, and relied on the Mamluk cavalry, which surpassed the Turkish in all respects. But a sophisticated connoisseur of close combat tactics Ottoman sultan Selim I the Terrible hid the cannons behind the interconnected wagons and blockages from a previously brought tree and began to fire from all trunks when the Circassians decided that victory was already in their hands. The losses of the Circassians were terrible, and their sultan died in battle.
■ Before the war, Aleppo, the governorate's capital, was a major trading city, with the city's largest covered market stretching for 17 km.
■ The name of Mount Simeon in the northwest of Aleppo Governorate is associated with the name of Simeon the Stylite, a 5th-century Christian saint who lived in a monastery on the top of the mountain and became a Syrian follower new form austerities - pillars (many years of living on a pillar). Prior to this, the mountain was called Nebu - in honor of the Mesopotamian god of wisdom Nabu. The word "Nebu" is still found today in the names of some local villages: Kafr Nebu, Nebbul.
■ The dead cities of northern Syria - dozens of abandoned villages with beautiful stone buildings - were once a prosperous area, whose inhabitants grew rich through the trade in grapes and olives. The villages were abandoned by the inhabitants in the 7th century, when the Arab conquerors invaded these lands and cut off the trade route between the ancient Syrian cities of Antioch and Apamea.
■ Science has not yet found an explanation for the mystery of Ain Dara - ancient temple on the territory of modern Syria of the Hittite period (X-VIII centuries BC). A meter long human feet are carved into the stone floor of the temple.
■ The city of Ain al-Arab is also known as Kobane. According to local legend, the name came from workers hired by a German company that built railway. And to the question "Where do you work?" was the answer "In the company", which was perceived by the ear as "In Kobani".

Country	Syria
Governorate	Aleppo (Aleppo)
Confessional composition	Muslims, Christians
Center height	390 m
Coordinates	Coordinates: 36°12′00″ s. sh. 37°09′00″ in. / 36.2° N sh. 37.15° E (G) (O) (I) 36°12′00″ s. sh. 37°09′00″ in. / 36.2° N sh. 37.15° E d. (G) (O) (I)
Official language	Arab
Official site	link
Former names	Halman, Beroya
Telephone code	+963 21
Population	over 2.4 million people (2008)
Timezone	UTC+2, summer UTC+3
First mention	2500 BC
Nicknames	Alep al-Shahba

Aleppo (Arabic Halab, Armenian Aleppo, Greek, Latin Beroea) is the largest city in Syria and the center of the country's most populated governorate of the same name. With a population of 2,301,570 inhabitants (2005), Aleppo is also one of the largest cities in the Levant. For many centuries, Aleppo was the largest city in Greater Syria and the third largest in the Ottoman Empire, after Constantinople and Cairo.

Aleppo is one of the oldest ever populated cities world, it was already inhabited, most likely by the 6th millennium BC. Excavations at Tell al-Sauda and Tell al-Ansari (south of the old part of the city) show that the area was inhabited at least in the second half of the 3rd millennium BC. Aleppo is mentioned in Hittite inscriptions, in the Mari inscriptions on the Euphrates, in central Anatolia, and in the city of Ebla, where it is described as one of the main centers of trade and a city of military art.

The city has a significant place in history, as it is located on the Great Silk Road, which passed through Central Asia and Mesopotamia. When the Suez Canal was opened in 1869, goods began to be transported by water and the role of Aleppo as a trading city declined. Now Aleppo is experiencing a renaissance and is gradually returning to the spotlight. The city recently won the title of "Capital of Islamic Culture 2006".

It is located in the northern part of Syria, between the Orontes and the Euphrates, on the steppe river Kueika (Arabic), at the northwestern foot of a barren hill, in a wide basin surrounded on all sides by high limestone walls, at an altitude of 380 m and 350 km to the north -east of Damascus.

On both sides of the high-flowing and sometimes swiftly rushing river, luxurious gardens are spread, abounding in fruits and famous for their excellent pistachio plantations. This is the only delightful place in the deserted environs of the city, which, with its numerous domes and minarets, neat, paved streets and stone houses still belongs to the most beautiful cities East.

Information

Various public organizations: MOF Moscow - Aleppo

Population

The majority of the inhabitants of Aleppo are Muslim Arabs. The Christian population consists of Armenians, Greeks, Maronites, Syrian Catholics; there are Jewish and American Protestant communities.

Current state

Aleppo is the most populous city in Syria, with a population of 2,181,061 (2004). According to official estimates announced by the Aleppo City Council, the city's population reached 2,301,570 by the end of 2005. More than 80% of the inhabitants of Aleppo are Sunni Muslims. These are primarily Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens. Other Muslim groups include Circassians, Chechens, Circassians, Albanians, Bosnians, Bulgarians, and Kabardians.

One of the largest Christian communities in the Middle East, Aleppo is home to many Eastern Christians, mainly Armenians, Syriac Christians and Melkite Greeks. Currently, more than 250 thousand Christians live in the city, accounting for about 12% of total strength population. A significant number of Syrian Christians in Aleppo are from the city of Urfa (Turkey) and speak Armenian. A large community of Orthodox Christians belongs to the Armenian Apostolic, Syrian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox churches. There are a lot of Catholics in Aleppo, including Melkite Greeks, Maronites, Latins, Chaldeans and Syrian Catholics. Several districts of the city have a predominantly Christian and Armenian population, such as the old Christian quarter of Zhdeide. Modern Christian areas are called Azizia, Sulaymaniyah, Gare de Baghdad, Urube and Meydan. There are 45 functioning churches in Aleppo belonging to the aforementioned denominations.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Aleppo Citadel is arguably the most picturesque medieval fortress in the Middle East. This imposing building rises above the city on a 50 m high hill, with some of the ruins dating back to 1000 BC. It is said that this is where Abraham milked his cows. The city is surrounded by a moat 22 m wide, and the only entrance is located in the outer tower on the south side. Inside there is a palace of the XII century, built by the son of Salah ad-din, and two mosques. Especially beautiful is the Great Mosque with a separate minaret of the 12th century, decorated with openwork stone carvings.

The old city around the citadel is a stunning labyrinth of narrow twisted streets and secret courtyards. The Bazaar is the largest indoor market in the Middle East. It seems that stone arches stretch into the distance for long kilometers, and everything you can imagine is sold on various stalls.

Aleppo is famous the best examples Islamic architecture in Syria, the city is called the country's second capital. This is one of the most interesting cities in the Middle East.

Best time to visit

March to May or September to October.

Do not miss

Archaeological Museum of Aleppo.
Bab Antakia is the old western gate of the bazaar.
Maronite Cathedral.
Armenian Church.
Church of St. Simeon - 60 km from Aleppo, built in 473 in honor of Simeon the Stylite, who spent 37 years on top of the column, trying to get closer to the Lord.
This is one of the oldest churches in the world.

Should know

Despite the fact that the population of Aleppo is 70% Arabs (Shia Muslims) and Kurds (Sunnis), it is home to the largest Christian community in the Middle East after Beirut. After the establishment of the State of Israel, the socio-political atmosphere of "ethnic cleansing" led to the fact that the Jewish community of 10 thousand people was forced to emigrate, mainly to the United States and Israel.

And the capital of the "gray" (ash-Shahba) province.
"Gray" not only in name, but also gray in the absence of greenery.
In the center of the city rises a hill, on which, according to legend, Abraham stopped on his way to Egypt.
The legend also tells that Ibrahim, the prophet of Abraham, lived here, and he had a gray (shahba) cow, he milked the cow and distributed milk to poor people. Every evening these people asked:
"Haleb Ibrahim al-baqr ash-shahba?" - "Did Ibrahim milk a gray cow?"
Hence the name of the city: Aleppo (Khale bash-Shahba).
Now on the hill rises the Citadel, which is the symbol of Aleppo.
Apart from the Arabs Aleppo there is a large Armenian colony: Armenians moved to the northern regions after the massacre in Turkey in 1915-16, Aleppo even received the nickname "Mother of emigration").
Aleppo ancient city, the first mention of it refers to early III in. BC Later, the city was conquered by the Hittites, and in the VIII century. BC. came under the control of Babylon.
The heyday of Aleppo fell on the IV - I centuries. BC. At this time, Aleppo was rebuilt and received Greek name Beroya. Then the Greek layout of the city took shape, the acropolis appeared, trading area Agora and temples.
During the Roman and Byzantine periods, the layout of the city did not change much.
In 637, the city was captured by the Arabs. Aleppo was major center first the Umayyad provinces, and then the Abbasid Caliphate.
From the 11th century the city became the main center on the famous Great silk road connecting East with West.
The crusaders never managed to capture Aleppo, but in 1401 they could not resist the invasion of Tamerlane's troops.
In 1516 Aleppo became part of the Ottoman Empire. But even this did not affect the economic and intellectual level cities. Allepo stayed for a long time largest city Syria. After the end of World War I, Syria passed from Turkish rule to French mandate.

open
Summer 9.00 -18.00
Winter 9.00 – 16.00
Ramadan 9.00 -15.00
Day off - Tuesday

Citadel. Aleppo.

Once upon a time there was a Greek acropolis on the site of the citadel, Byzantine church, muslim mosque. The citadel suffered from earthquakes and sieges more than once.
The fortress acquired its current appearance in late XII – early XIII in. under the son of Salah ad-Din Malik Zahir Gazi, who ordered to dig a moat and cover the slopes of the hill with stone lining.
The fortress is surrounded by a 30-meter moat. The entrance to the citadel is guarded by two towers. The bridge tower, 20 meters high, was built in 1542 and protects the bridge, based on 8 arches and forming a staircase, under which an aqueduct passed, supplying the fortress with water. The bridge leads to the gate tower, which is the only entrance to the citadel.
The fortress is a grandiose superbly fortified structure. A narrow street runs through the entire citadel, along which there were buildings (little remains of them), underground premises of the Byzantine period were used to store water, and a prison was also located underground.

Citadel. Aleppo. Syria.

There were two mosques in the citadel: the small mosque or the mosque of Ibrahim, built in 1167. The mosque stands on the site of the church, and so - on the site of a stone, where, according to legend, Ibrahim liked to rest. The Great Mosque built in 1214 was destroyed by fire in 1240; a stone mihrab and several rooms have been preserved from the original building.

Citadel. Aleppo.

Citadel. Aleppo. Syria.

The throne room of the Mamluk rulers (XV-XVI centuries) has been preserved. The hall is arranged in the upper tier of the gate tower.

The busy Jami al-Omawi street leads from the Citadel.

On it is Khan al-Wazir- the largest and most famous caravanserai of Aleppo, built in 1682.

Khan al-Wazir (left) and the Jami al-Fustok Mosque (1349) (right). Aleppo. Syria.

At the end of the street is the main mosque of the city - Mosque of Jami al-Omawi (Umayyad). The mosque was built on the site of Saint Helena in 715, modeled on the Damascus Umayyad Mosque. The building often suffered from fires and destruction, modern building refers to 1169.

Near mosques Jami al-Omawi there is a mosque-madrasah Khalyaviya - it was the oldest Cathedral Aleppo, erected in the VI century. in honor of Elena - mother Byzantine emperor Constantine.

Aleppo is famous for its covered markets, which cover the Jami al-Omawi Mosque on three sides and stretch for a total of 9 km. Markets began to take shape in the 16th century. and include shops, workshops, hamams, mosques.