Aleppo Citadel
Visit the Citadel of Aleppo, one of the greatest medieval fortresses in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a massive hill-top fortification that has dominated the city for over 3,000 years.
- 1
Citadel Bridge Entry
Cross the monumental stone bridge to the citadel entrance, the fortified gateway complex with its serpentine passage designed to slow attackers, the defenses of this extraordinary fortress tested by Crusaders, Mongols, and countless other armies.
- 2
Throne Hall
Enter the Throne Hall within the citadel complex, the Mamluk-era palace where the reception rooms, decorated with marble and carved plaster, reflect the wealth and ambition of the rulers who made Aleppo one of the great cities of the medieval Islamic world.
- 3
Ancient Temple
See the remains of the ancient temple of the Storm God at the summit of the tell, the Bronze Age religious site that made this hill sacred before the citadel was built, the archaeological layers going back to the third millennium BCE.
- 4
Rampart Walk
Walk the citadel ramparts for the panoramic view over Aleppo old city, the minaret of the Great Mosque and the covered souks spread below in a UNESCO urban landscape being rebuilt after the devastating civil war damage.
- 5
Underground Passages
Explore the underground passages and water cisterns within the citadel where the garrison could survive long sieges, the engineering of self-sufficiency in this remarkable fortress remarkable even by the standards of medieval military architecture.
- 6
Reconstruction Progress
Observe the ongoing reconstruction of the citadel and old city after the severe damage of the Syrian civil war, the international heritage community working to restore what was once described as the finest medieval Islamic urban landscape in existence.
Walk this route with audio
Stories play automatically as you reach each stop — no tapping needed.
