Aleppo

Aleppo, Syria

• Aleppo (Halab) is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, renowned for its rich trading history, monumental citadel, and vast covered souks that once formed the heart of the Silk Road.
• Aleppo Citadel: A spectacular medieval fortified palace atop a 50-meter-high artificial mound, featuring awe-inspiring Ayyubid and Mamluk military architecture, a grand entrance bridge, and throne rooms.
• The Ancient Souks (Al-Madina Souq) : A UNESCO World Heritage site comprising over 15 kilometers of vaulted, labyrinthine alleyways, where merchants once traded silk, spices, and soap from Damascus to Baghdad.
• The Great Mosque of Aleppo (Umayyad Mosque) : An 8th-century mosque housing the remains of Zechariah (father of John the Baptist), with a striking 11th-century Seljuk minaret (partially restored after recent conflicts).
• Al-Jdayde (Christian Quarter) : A historic district of narrow stone alleyways, hidden courtyards, and beautifully preserved 17th-century houses with painted wooden interiors and tranquil inner gardens.
• Khan al-Shouneh: A grand Mamluk-era caravanserai inside the souk complex, with a soaring domed ceiling and central courtyard, used historically for merchants' lodging and goods storage.
• Bimaristan Arghun al-Kamili: A rare 14th-century mental hospital and medical complex, admired for its exquisite muqarnas (honeycomb vaulting) and courtyard fountain, now a museum of medicine.