The courtyard
Light and dark patterns.
Dosseman — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dosseman — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Arian Zwegers — CC BY 2.0 · Dosseman — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dosseman — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Great Mosque of Aleppo, also known as the Great Umayyad Mosque of Aleppo, is the largest and one of the oldest mosques in the city, in the Al-Jalloum district near the entrance to Al-Madina Souq. It is part of the Ancient City of Aleppo on the UNESCO list. An old tradition holds that it contains the remains of Zechariah, father of John the Baptist. It was first built in the early 8th century under the Umayyad caliph Sulayman, but the present building dates from the 11th to the 14th centuries. Its minaret of 1090 was among the city's great landmarks, but it fell in 2013. The mosque suffered serious damage, and restoration, including the rebuilding of the minaret, began about 2017. You see a broad courtyard paved in geometric patterns of light and dark stone, with two domed fountains and arcades of stone arches. The photos here show the mosque before the damage, so you may find a different scene, above all at the minaret and prayer hall. This is a place of worship, so keep quiet and avoid prayer times if you are only visiting. It is about 500 m in a straight line from the Citadel of Aleppo and about 600 m from Al-Madina Souq. Dress modestly, and women should cover their hair. We could not confirm which sections are open at present, so ask at the door. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Syria, and British consular help is not available there, so check official guidance before making any plans.
Light and dark patterns.
Two domes in the courtyard.
Rows of stone arches.
Al-Jalloum district, near the entrance to Al-Madina Souq, Aleppo, Syria
The old minaret fell in 2013 and rebuilding has begun, so check its current state on a visit.
No, they show the mosque before the damage, and the scene may differ today.
