Syrian Air

  Ministry of Tourism

     The City Of Aleppo

Aleppo was named after the Syrian hermit St. Simon, or St. Sam'an (390-459 A.D), who lived a life of worship and simplicity. He used to sit on a stone column from which he preached to his students gathered round him. After his death, his body was moved to Antioch, and the Emperor Zenon ordered that a church be built in the same place and named after him. It was one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the east. Aleppo has played a vital role in the history of the area from the time of the Akkadian and Amorite. It was situated at the junction of the ancient trade routes. It's considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the history. An earthquake ruined the city in 1822 A.D. It has many ancient places, such as the Old Covered Markets, Khans, Public Baths, mosques, churches and the Citadel, the most important site in Aleppo. Aleppo Citadel: 294,792 visitors in 1999 . It's the biggest, oldest and perhaps the most impressive historical monument in Aleppo. It's situated on a hill of 40 meters height. Its ruins relate many successive civilizations, which Aleppo witnessed since thousands of years. The Citadel has always been extremely important both strategically and military. Saluqos Nikator was the first to use it as a defense center in 312 B.C. It was rebuilt in the days of Sayf Ad-Dawla Al-Hamdani. The present shape dates back to the 13th century A.D. with additional restoration during the Mamluk period. St. Simon citadel 88,570 visitors in 1999 . It's also called (Sam’an Citadel). After the death of St. Simon his body was moved to Antioch and the Emperor Zenon ordered that a church be built in the same place and named after him. Following that, walls and towers were built around the church, which was turned into a fortress known as St. Simon Citadel. It became the center of conflict between the Byzantines and Hamdanies until the year 986 A.D. when Sayf Ad-Dawla Al-Hamdani finally captured it.