Aleppo

About Aleppo

Aleppo — Halab in Arabic — is **one of the oldest cities on Earth, with evidence of continuous human settlement stretching back at least 8,000 years** and possibly much further. Positioned at the northern end of the Fertile Crescent, at the **crossroads of trade routes linking Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and the Mediterranean**, Aleppo was for most of its history one of the great commercial cities of the ancient and medieval world. **Hittites, Assyrians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Mongols, Mamluks, and Ottomans all passed through, conquered, or settled here**, and each left traces on the city's architecture, cuisine, and culture. The result was a metropolis of extraordinary richness and complexity — a place where **Arab, Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish, Jewish, and Syriac Christian communities lived and traded in close proximity for centuries**. The old city of Aleppo, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, was centred on its medieval **Citadel — an imposing fortified hill rising from the city centre that has been continuously used as a fortress for at least 3,000 years** — and on the Great Mosque of Aleppo, founded in the 8th century. Around them spread a remarkable network of covered souks: **13 kilometres of continuous covered market, one of the largest and most complete in the world**, selling spices, soaps, silks, gold, and Aleppo's most famous export — **soap made from olive oil and laurel oil, produced in the city for at least a thousand years**. The local cuisine — widely considered among the finest in the Arab world — is equally distinctive, reflecting the city's position at a cultural crossroads. **Aleppo suffered catastrophic damage during the Syrian civil war, particularly between 2012 and 2016**, when the city was divided between government and opposition forces and subjected to sustained siege and bombardment. The old city, including the Citadel, the **Great Mosque (whose minaret was destroyed in 2013)**, and significant portions of the historic souks, was severely damaged. **Reconstruction is underway, but the process will take decades** and the future remains uncertain. Most governments continue to advise against travel to Syria. Aleppo is included here as a recognition of one of the world's most historically significant cities and the resilience of its people.

Highlights

• ✦ Ancient city with a citadel that's a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• ✦ Great Mosque of Aleppo and vast covered souks
• ✦ Severely damaged during the Syrian Civil War

Practical info

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to visit Aleppo right now?

No. Foreign ministries around the world, including the UK, US and EU states, advise against all travel to Syria, including Aleppo, given the aftermath of prolonged conflict, unexploded ordnance risk in places, and unstable security and governance conditions. Always check your own government's current, official advisory before considering travel, since this situation evolves. There is no responsible tourist itinerary to offer for Aleppo at this time.

What happened to the Aleppo Citadel and old souks during the war?

Aleppo's historic old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site including its medieval citadel and covered souks, suffered severe damage during Syria's civil war, particularly from 2012 onward, including destruction of parts of the Great Mosque and sections of the markets. Restoration and stabilisation work has been undertaken by heritage organisations and local authorities in the years since. The scale of damage means much of what once drew visitors is either destroyed, altered or still being rebuilt.

When might Aleppo become accessible for tourism again?

There is no reliable timeline; it depends on Syria's broader political stabilisation, reconstruction progress, and the point at which foreign governments lift or ease their all-travel-advised-against guidance. Heritage and reconstruction organisations, including UNESCO, publish periodic updates on the state of the old city that are a more current source than general travel content. Any return of tourism would likely be gradual and initially limited.

How can you learn about Aleppo's history without visiting in person?

Documentaries, UNESCO heritage reports, and museum exhibitions on Silk Road cities and Ottoman-era architecture cover Aleppo's significance as one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Some pre-war photographic archives and 3D reconstruction projects document the citadel and souks in detail. This is currently the realistic way to engage with the site given the advisory situation.

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• Syria
• Damascus

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