The historic citadel of Aleppo ... One of the largest and oldest castles in the world

One of the oldest and largest castles in the world, Aleppo Citadel is a huge medieval fortified palace located in the center of the ancient city of Aleppo in northern Syria. People have used the castle hill since the middle of the third millennium BC. Occupied by many civilizations over time – including Armenians, Greeks, Byzantines, Ayyubids and Ottomans – most of what exists today is believed to originate from the Ayyubid period.

History of the Citadel of Aleppo

Around the middle of the third millennium BC, a temple was established for the ancient capital on the hill on which the citadel of Aleppo was built. However, the first use of the hill as a fortress, in the form of a Macedonian Acropolis, was probably during the reign of Seleucus I Nicator in the fourth and third centuries BC. The castle was again developed to serve as a temple on the hill - this time dedicated to Zeus - visited by the Roman Emperor Julian in 64 BC. During the seventh century AD it is said that the inhabitants of Aleppo took refuge in the citadel because the walls of the city of Aleppo were in a deplorable state. Unfortunately, invading Muslim forces took advantage of this weakness in 636 CE, when Aleppo was conquered. Subsequent repairs of the castle were carried out after a major earthquake. In 944 CE, the Muslims under the leadership of the Hamdanid tribe conquered the city of Aleppo and made it their capital, which strengthened the status of the citadel of Aleppo and increased its illiteracy to protect the city to a large extent in 962 CE when the Byzantines attacked it. In 1260 the Mongols captured the citadel of Aleppo under Hulagu Khan and again in 1400 - this time under Timur. All buildings inside the

Aleppo Citadel Today

The historic citadel of Aleppo remains an archaeological symbol in the city, part of the Old City of Aleppo that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. During 2010, the citadel suffered significant damage during the long battle of Aleppo. Since early 2017, with repairs to damaged parts, the citadel of Aleppo has been open to the public and boasts stunning views of the bustling Old City of Aleppo.

Getting to the citadel of Aleppo

You should check your government's travel advice before heading to Syria. However, Aleppo is only a 15-minute drive from Aleppo International Airport.

Front Throne Room in Aleppo Citadel

In 2007, the Aga Khan Heritage and Culture Authority (AKPA) returned the surviving Mamluk forecourt to the throne room. This rectangular court, with portals on the long sides and windows onto the castle, still provides access to the reconstructed throne room. The openings in the limestone walls are surrounded by polychrome marble and basalt, and the portal leading to the throne room has exquisitely carved coupler decorations. Atmospheric pollution has caused a deformed crust to appear on the limestone walls, which can lead to serious deterioration if left untreated. The stone walls were carefully cleaned, and the cracked stone blocks were repaired. The interior walls and front yard paving were improperly repaired with cement-based mortars, which were replaced by traditional lime-based materials. Finally, court drainage has been improved to prevent damage caused by the long-term presence of water.

The importance of the throne hall in the citadel of Aleppo

The throne hall was the most important Mamluk architectural contribution to the citadel of Aleppo. Although it did not survive in its original state, it remains one of the most visited spaces in the historic castle. The forecourt preserves the historical fabric from the Mamluk era and plays an important role in choreography to visit this magnificent audience room.