Dominated by its 10th century citadel, Aleppo seems a more relaxed place than Damascus and is ideal as a base to explore the surrounding area. Here you will find the monastery of St Simeon the Stylite who, around 450AD, preached from the top of his 45ft pillar for 30 years. There are also the Dead Cities where largely intact Roman houses still stand in their natural surroundings. Inside the city there are museums, a large souq and a superbly refurbished hamman or Turkish bath.
Named after the Zamaria family who lived in this 'Dar' or home, since the early eighteenth century, this beautiful Islamic courtyard house exhibits the splendours of ottoman architecture, which flourished in the seventeenth century.
This distinguished 16th Century charming palace showing the delightful Aleppine architecture is located just outside the city walls.
