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Guidelines for Visitors
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If you have spare time
You will be welcome at the ICARDA Sports and Social Club ( ISSC ) at Office 1 in Aleppo where football, tennis, basketball, ping-pong, squash, snooker and other facilities are available (same phone numbers as for ICARDA city office). Should you decide to explore the beautiful city of Aleppo, here are some useful tips.
The City of Aleppo
Aleppo is the second largest city in Syria. It is situated about 345 km north of Damascus. Aleppo has through history been the starting point of various civilizations which have contributed to its expansion. Its ancient name
HAL-PA (Halep) dates back to the 2nd millennium BC.
Aleppo's heritage is clearly visible in the National Museum, the majestic Citadel (the largest in the world), the khans, the longest covered souk in the world), mosques, churches, and old houses. The most famous and historic places to visit include:
- The Citadel of Aleppo
- The National Museum
- The Ommayyad Mosque
- The Old Souks (bazaars)
- Khan El-Wazir (Caravanserai)
- Old Churches in the Salibe District
- Al Nasri Old Bath House
- Various City Gates
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The Aleppo Citadel
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Ruins of the Ebla Empire, only a few Kilometers south of Aleppo, testify to a culturally sophisticated civilization actively engaged in agriculture and trade during the period around 2,400 B.C. |
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Qalaat Seman (St. Simeon), 60 Km northwest of Aleppo.
In the year 412 A.D. a monk called Simeon settled here to live a
monastic life. He lived for 37 years continuously confined to a
small cell on the top of a column 18 meters high.
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Situated on the Orontes River in Hama, about 140 Km south of Aleppo, the Norias (water wheels), used for irrigation in ancient times, are the largest wooden waterwheels in the world. |
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Palmyra (Tadmor). 155 km east of Homs.the ruins of this city lie in the middle of the Syrian desert. |
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Qalaat al-Husn. 58 km west of Homs. |