Aleppo, Ancient city in northwestern Syria
Aleppo is a large city in northwestern Syria that spreads between hills and open plains. Old residential areas with narrow alleys sit alongside wider boulevards, while minarets and domes rise above flat rooftops and courtyards.
The settlement began around 5000 BCE and changed hands between different rulers over the millennia. Arameans, Romans, Byzantines, and later Islamic dynasties each shaped the architecture and layout of the city.
Craftspeople still work in the souks using techniques passed down through generations, and visitors can watch them weaving fabric, cutting soap blocks, and hammering metal. Neighborhoods revolve around courtyards and mosques where locals gather for tea and maintain daily community routines.
The old town can be explored on foot, and comfortable shoes help with the uneven cobblestones. Many sites lie close together, so markets, caravanserais, and religious buildings can be reached during a single walk.
The citadel sits on a 50-meter (164 feet) high hill that people built up artificially over centuries. This construction makes it one of the largest and oldest fortified structures in the world.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
