| Citadel of Aleppo | |
|---|---|
قلعة حلب | |
| Aleppo, Syria | |
 The Citadel of Aleppo in 2010 CE | |
  Citadel of Aleppo | |
| Coordinates | 36°11′57″N 37°09′45″E / 36.19917°N 37.16250°E |
| Type | Castle/Citadel |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Syria |
| Controlled by |  Syrian Arab Republic |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | Partially ruined (some parts repaired and destroyed) |
| Site history | |
| Built | 3rd millennium BCE – 12th century CE |
| In use | Until 21st century CE |
| Materials | Limestone |
| Battles/wars | Syrian Civil War |
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The Citadel of Aleppo (Arabic: قلعة حلب, romanized: Qalʿat Ḥalab) is a large medieval fortified palace in the centre of the old city of Aleppo, northern Syria. It is considered to be one of the oldest and largest castles in the world. Usage of the Citadel hill dates back at least to the middle of the 3rd millennium BCE. Occupied by many civilizations over time – including the Greeks, Armenians, Romans, Byzantines, Ayyubids, Mamluks and Ottomans – the majority of the construction as it stands today is thought to originate from the Ayyubid period. An extensive conservation work took place in the 2000s CE by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, in collaboration with Aleppo Archeological Society. Dominating the city, the Citadel is part of the Ancient City of Aleppo, an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986 CE.[1] During the 2010s, the Citadel received significant damage during the lengthy Battle of Aleppo.[2][3] It was reopened to the public in early 2018 CE with repairs to damaged parts underway, though some of the damage will be purposefully preserved as part of the history of the citadel.[4] The citadel was damaged by the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.
- ^ "Ancient City of Aleppo". UNESCO. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved Mar 7, 2012.
- ^ @edwardedark (29 July 2014). "Video: rebels blow up historic building in front of Aleppo citadel today" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Syrian heritage destruction revealed in satellite images". BBC News. September 19, 2014. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
- ^ "Aleppo Citadel reopens its doors as thousands of visitors regain their memories in". SANA. 16 June 2018. Archived from the original on 18 January 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2022.