Bab al-Nairab, City gate in southern Aleppo, Syria
Bab al-Nairab is a city gate in southern Aleppo built with stone and decorative elements typical of medieval Islamic defensive architecture in northern Syria. The structure marks the point where the city connected to the southern route leading toward the village of al-Nayrab and beyond.
The gate was built between 1216 and 1237 under Ayyubid ruler al-Aziz Muhammad as part of expanding the city's southern defenses. Its construction marked an important phase in strengthening Aleppo's protective walls during the medieval period.
The gate takes its name from al-Nayrab, a village that remained connected to the city for centuries through this passage. Different communities used this route to move between urban and rural areas, shaping the life around it.
The gate sits at the southern edge of the old city and is reachable on foot from the central markets. Local guides can help navigate this area, as the historic passages and routes are not always clearly marked.
The gate kept its name across centuries even as the village of al-Nayrab changed beyond recognition. This enduring connection between the name and a distant settlement reveals how important the southern route once was to the city.
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