The Citadel of Aleppo is one of the most beautiful...

The Citadel of Aleppo is one of the most beautiful and creative castles and the largest and has a history of events as it was a springboard and a base for many rulers, kings and leaders and witnessed the most important events of the East from the era of the Arameans through many civilizations and even the Islamic era.

The hall was a fortress punishing its works by the Hittites, Arameans, Seleucids, Romans and Byzantines The city of Aleppo circled around a hilltop with a high castle overlooking the city from all its sides, and this Arab-Islamic castle is one of the most famous castles of the world, and undoubtedly it was erected on the ruins of ancient successive castles, as it was Rabieh is the most secure high rise for establishing the fortified government headquarters for the city of Aleppo throughout its long history.

The history of building the most important sections of the castle dates back to the era of the apparent King Ghazi bin Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi, who was his ruler in 1190 AD. His wife, his guest, Khatoon, who became the Queen of Aleppo, lived in one of the castle's palaces, and where she was buried.

The fortress is approximately forty meters above the level of the city of Aleppo, and its walls and towers are still standing, some of which date back to the era of Nur ad-Din Zangi, and the castle is surrounded by a trench with a depth of thirty meters.

We enter the castle from a huge gate through a rectangular defensive tower, ending with the large entrance to the castle, and it consists of a vestibule that ends with a huge door of forged iron, topped by holes for the goals and burners, and back to the era of Khalil bin Qalawun who renewed and restored it. Above the door is a stone arch with a carving along its length representing two snakes with a dragon's head.

After passing this entrance we reach another vestibule in its three walls, huge iwans, and in its northern iwan a door connects with a staircase leading to the defense hall, and the castle has a fourth wooden door topped by a lint that carries two opposite lions. After passing the door, we went through high terraces with rooms and warehouses. Then we reach the castle's inner passageway, with a group of buildings and shops, and a stairway leading to the royal palace.

If we follow the path, we will reach the Ibrahim Al Khalil Mosque, which was established by the good king Ismail bin Mahmoud bin Zangi in the year 536 AH / 1179 AD. And at the entrance to the mosque, and on its walls are historical writings. This mosque is followed by another building, a mosque with a high square minaret, established in the era of the apparent King Ghazi bin Salahuddin al-Ayyubi. Not far from this recently renovated mosque, a military barracks were established in the era of Ibrahim Pasha al-Masri in 1252 AH / 1834 CE. In the middle of this mound is a large hall, which we reach through seventy degrees below the surface,