Culture of Aleppo. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

A big part of the historic district and many architectural landmarks in Aleppo were destroyed during the war years. Nevertheless, some signature attractions have survived to this day. Start your acquaintance with the city with a visit to the Christian Quarter. This part of the city was established yet in the 16th century. Many houses that tourists can see today in the Christian Quarter were built more than 300 years ago.

Centuries ago, Christian communities lived in this part of the city, giving the name to the quarter. Today, tourists can see several old churches and luxurious residences here. The Museum of Popular Arts And Traditions is open in one of the beautiful and eye-catching historic buildings. Visit this establishment to see collections of unique crafts and antique artworks. Christian Quarter remains one of the major tourist destinations in Aleppo. Many historic buildings were transformed into hotels, restaurants, and shops.

The Citadel of Aleppo is one of the main and most famous historic symbols of the city. The fortification is old – built in the mid-10th century, the age of the Citadel of Aleppo is more than one thousand years. The citadel protected the city yet during the crusades. This is a large architectural complex. Fabulous palaces and mosques appeared in the territory of the stronghold in the Middle Ages. The citadel was the location of the armoury and numerous warehouses. In fact, the entire city was located inside the citadel. The first buildings outside the citadel wall appeared here only in the 16th century. Today, the Citadel of Aleppo is a renowned historic landmark of the international level. It survived in multiple battles but the fortress suffered much damage in 1828 because of a devastating earthquake. The restoration works in some parts of the citadel haven’t ended up to the present moment. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

You can visit some interesting archaeological and historic sites in Aleppo suburbs. The ghost town of Resafa is one of the most inimitable attractions of Syria. This ancient settlement is located not far from Aleppo. Resafa was a powerful and prosperous town until the 13th century. Today, fragments of the sumptuous old buildings remind of that period. In the 13th century, the sultan ordered all residents of Resafa to move to another city, and the gorgeous settlement became abandoned in a matter of days. As dunes surround the historic site, Resafa buildings became hidden in the sand over the centuries. If you visit this ghost town, you will be able to see old buildings made from incredibly attractive pink-shaded limestone. The ghost town looks particularly attractive at sunset.

Other abandoned ancient towns of Serjilla and Al Bara are no less interesting to visit. They are located close to each other, so the two settlements are usually visited during one excursion. Serjilla and Al Bara were founded more than one thousand and fifty hundred years ago. They reached their peak in development in the 4th century. At that time, there were many olive groves and manufactories that processed olives here. Ancient Romans established the first settlements in this region. During an excursion here, tourists have an opportunity to observe the ruins of ancient baths.

Old factories that processed olives are one of the most interesting elements of the archaeological site. The settlement of Al Bara is primarily famous for the pyramid-shaped Byzantine tombs that are located here. Scientists discovered an underground necropolis in this settlement, as well as ruins of several monasteries and churches. The two towns became abandoned approximately in the 7th century. Many buildings were destroyed during numerous earthquakes.

There are several interesting cultural centers in the vicinity of Aleppo, and the Mosaic Museum is one of them. This famous cultural establishment is open in the picturesque town of Maarat an Numan. The museum’s exhibition features an interesting collection of ancient mosaics. Some of them were made yet during the Ancient Rome and Byzantine periods. The age of some mosaics is approximately one thousand and fifty hundred years. The mosaics were brought from the abandoned nearby settlements. The gorgeous artworks immortalized mythological and historic events that were important for that time. Besides the mosaics, the museum exhibits other precious archaeological findings. Take a look at a collection of ancient pottery and household items, fragments of old tombs and sarcophagi. The building, in which the museum is open, is an important historic landmark. Finished in the 16th century, the building was initially a caravanserai that was popular with rich merchants and noble travelers.