Aleppo reconstruction focuses on historic monuments as traders return
Rebuilding efforts in Syria’s former economic capital are prioritising heritage sites, with the citadel reopening and merchants gradually resuming activity.
Reconstruction efforts are underway in Aleppo, Syria’s former economic capital, with a specific focus on restoring historic monuments following years of devastation. According to reporting by France 24, the city is experiencing a gradual return to normalcy, marked by the reopening of its iconic citadel and the slow return of traders to the area.
The old city suffered catastrophic damage during the intense fighting between regime and rebel forces from 2012 to 2016. This destruction was compounded in 2023 when a severe earthquake caused further damage to the historic infrastructure, adding to the challenges facing local authorities and residents attempting to rebuild.
Efforts are currently concentrated on the labyrinthine streets that stretch across 14 kilometres, an area that once housed approximately 4,000 shops and around 50 caravanserai inns. The scale of the loss is significant, with some 60 per cent of the historic souks, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, having been badly damaged or destroyed.
Despite the extensive physical damage, inhabitants are actively engaged in rebuilding their battered city. France 24 reporters Dana Alboz, Sophie Guignon, and Yaser Shahrour noted that traders have been gradually returning to the souks, signalling a tentative step towards economic recovery in the region.
The reopening of the citadel to the public represents a key milestone in these restoration efforts. While the full extent of the damage to non-historic infrastructure remains unspecified, the prioritisation of heritage sites suggests a strategic approach to revitalising the city’s cultural and economic identity.
