-
Madrassa Halawiyya
Opposite the western entrance of the mosque, the former theological college Madrassa Halawiyya was built in 1245 and stands on the site of what was once the 6th-century Cathedral of St Helen. The prayer hall opposite the entrance incorporates all that remains of the cathedral, which is a semicircular row of six columns with intricately decorated, acanthus-leaved capitals.
-
Maronite Cathedral
On Saahat Farhat, is the Maronite Cathedral, which dates to the 19th century.
-
Mausoleum of Al-Malek az-Zaher Ghazi
At the Ayyubid Madrassa as-Sultaniyya is the Mausoleum of Al-Malek az-Zaher Ghazi, a son of Saladin (Salah ad-Din), and one-time occupant of the Citadel.
-
Mosque of al-Kamiliyya
A great triumphal arch is thought to have stood on the site of Bab Antakya and part of its remains were used in the construction of nearby Mosque of al-Kamiliyya .
-
Museum of Popular Tradition
A little further down from Beit Ghazzali is yet another house, Beit Ajiqbash (built 1757), now a home for the Museum of Popular Tradition , with fascinating artefacts relating to everyday life in bygone times. The splendid architecture and intricate decoration make this a must-visit.
-
National Museum
Aleppo's National Museum , in the middle of town opposite the tourist office, is rather nondescript apart from the extraordinary colonnade of giant granite figures that fronts the entrance. Standing on the backs of stylised creatures are wide-eyed characters, replicas of pillars that once supported the 9th-century-BC temple-palace complex at Tell Halaf, near the border with Turkey in the northeast of the country.
-
Saahat al-Hatab
If there's a heart to Al-Jdeida, then it's Saahat al-Hatab in the oldest area of Salibeh, lined with shops selling oriental jewellery.
-
Sharaf Mosque
To the north of Saahat al-Hatab is Sharaf Mosque, one of the neighbourhood's earliest monuments, built in the reign of the Mamluk sultan Qaitbey (r 1468-96). At the western corner, just the other side of Orient House Antiques, a stylised sculpture of two robed women marks the turn for Sharia al-Sissi.
-
Shibani School
The Rehabilitation of the Old City of Aleppo, a permanent exhibition in the splendid 16th-century Shibani School, illustrates the work underway to make the city more liveable. The guide Mustapha may even take you to the rooftop to enjoy the spectacular views.
-
Souq
Not as extensive as Cairo's Khan al-Khalili or as grand as Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, Aleppo's Souq is nonetheless one of the most atmospheric in the Middle East. Its appeal derives largely from the fact that it's still the main centre of local commerce. If an Aleppan housewife needs some braid for her curtains, a taxi driver needs a new seat cover, or the school kids need backpacks, it's to the souq that they all come. Little seems to have changed here in hundreds of years, and while recent years have seen an increase in tourism, the local trade has yet to be displaced by sightseers.
-
Advertisement
-
Syrian Catholic Church
Al-Jdeida is home to five major churches, each aligned to a different denomination. Immediately west of the museum is the Syrian Catholic Church, built in 1625 and happy to admit visitors who come knocking.
