Looking for tourist destinations in the Middle East? Aleppo city is one of the most attractive and best places to travel in Syria.
Aleppo is the second largest Syrian city and one of the oldest settlements on the Earth. The history of the city goes back about five millennia. Located north of Damascus, this ancient center of the Silk Road was inhabited predominantly by Christians. Today Aleppo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During your tour in Aleppo, it is worth to visit the ancient areas of Taib and Jade with many medieval houses, caravanserais, churches, schools, mosques, hammams (old baths), many of which date back to the 15th century, as well as Eastern closed bazaars.
Citadel of Aleppo is a top travel destination and the best example of medieval Arabic architecture. It dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. The Citadel has an elliptical base and is situated on a hill and can be seen from all over the city. You may come across some Roman and Byzantine ruins of the ninth century in this Islamic landmark.
Another attraction is the Basilica of St. Simon (Qalaat Sam’aan). It is not in the territory of Aleppo (about 30 miles north west), but is surely worth visiting. There you can see the remains of St. Simon’s pillar, which used to be a famous site of pilgrimage in Antioch at those times.
The Great Mosque of Aleppo (also known as Umayyad Mosque) of the 11th century, Al-Bahramiyya Mosque of the 16th century, Al Nuqtah and Al-Adliyya Mosques are famous travel destinations, that give the city a unique flavor and create an atmosphere of antiquity.
The National Museum of Aleppo should also be included in the list of your travel destinations. There you will discover materials and tools of Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages. In the courtyard outside the museum you will see statues dedicated to ancient Hettite and Roman mythological characters, also Assyrian, Aramaic, Arabic and Byzantine monuments.
One of the most attractive tourist destinations of Aleppo city is the Armenian Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs dating back to the 17th century. It is located in Jdeida quarter and is famous for its three altars. The Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs hasn’t any dome, but its bell tower is a unique sample of baroque architecture in Aleppo.
Don’t miss out the Public Park of Aleppo located on Aziziyeh area. It is the largest park in Syria.
The narrow roads of the covered Souq (bazaar) of Aleppo city is a top tourist destination and is considered to be the best in the whole Middle East. Some parts of the Souq date back to the 13th century. There tourists can buy various fabrics, herbs, silver things and souvenirs. By the way, bargaining is a common practice in Souq.