Religious, Spiritual sights in Aleppo
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Great Mosque
On the northern edge of the souq is the Great Mosque or Umayyad Mosque, the younger sibling (by 10 years) of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. It's also known as Al-Jamaa Zacharia after Prophet Zacharia, the father of St John the Baptist. Started by Caliph Al-Walid (r AD 705-15), who earlier founded the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, the work was completed by his successor Caliph Suleiman (r AD 715-17).
However, aside from the plan, nothing survives of the original mosque as the building has been destroyed and rebuilt countless times. Miraculously, the mosque's freestanding minaret has managed to survive in exactly its original form, as built from 1090 to 1092, although it…
reviewed
-
B
Al-Qaiqan Mosque
Take a quick detour left, immediately after Bab Antakya, up a flight of stone steps beside a hammam (often flagged by towels drying outside), to a street that follows the line of the old city ramparts. In addition to fascinating views, there's the little Al-Qaiqan Mosque with its doorway flanked by basalt Byzantine columns, a façade studded with column segments, and a block inscribed with Hittite script embedded in the south wall.
reviewed
-
C
Armenian Cathedral of the 40 Martyrs
Al-Jdeida is home to five major churches, each aligned to a different denomination. On Haret al-Yasmin, is the entrance to the 17th-century Armenian Cathedral of the 40 Martyrs. If possible, it's worth visiting on a Sunday to observe the Armenian mass performed here, which is still pervaded with a sensuous aura of ritual. It starts at 10:00 and lasts two hours.
reviewed
-
D
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.
reviewed
-
E
Al-Khosrowiyya Mosque
Al-Khosrowiyya Mosque is notable for being one of the earliest works of the famed Turkish architect Sinan, dating to 1537. It still serves as the main place of worship for the neighbourhood and each Friday streams of men and young boys make a beeline here to assume their places for noon prayers.
reviewed
-
Madrassa as-Sultaniyya
Opposite the Citadel entrance is the Ayyubid Madrassa as-Sultaniyya. The prayer hall has a striking mihrab (niche indicating the direction of Mecca) with eye-catching ornamentation achieved through multicoloured marble inlays. Unfortunately this part of the building is often locked.
reviewed
-
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.
reviewed
-
F
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 .
reviewed
-
G
Al-Bahramiyya Mosque
A few steps along from where the souq proper starts, on the right is Al-Bahramiyya Mosque , built in early Ottoman style in the late 16th century.
reviewed
-
H
Greek Catholic Church
On Saahat Farhat, is a small Greek Catholic Church, which dates to the 19th century.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
I
Maronite Cathedral
On Saahat Farhat, is the Maronite Cathedral, which dates to the 19th century.
reviewed