Citadel of Aleppo

Aleppo, Syria

One of the oldest and largest castles in the world, dramatically rebuilt by the Ayyubid prince al-Zahir Ghazi (Saladin's son). A UNESCO World Heritage Site badly damaged during the Syrian Civil War.

Historical Context

Al-Zahir Ghazi, Saladin's son and the ruler of Aleppo, rebuilt the citadel on a monumental scale in the early 13th century to defend against both Crusader and Mongol threats. The fortress survived the Mongol siege of 1260.